If I Could...

Local businessman, mentor and councillor Brian Dawson is passionate about helping Marlborough businesses succeed. Brian wouldn’t change his job, but if he could, he would tell his younger self a few valuable life lessons, and travel more.

If I could tell my younger self one thing it would be…

Do a degree and then travel. I’ve done all my study part-time. I see the amazing relationships my school friends developed during university days and while they were travelling, and I missed out on that. Also worry less. It all works out okay. Lastly, be fit and active. Don’t wait until your forties to discover all the benefits of walking in the hills and going to the gym.

If I could change one thing about Marlborough it would be…

Convincing our young people that our region is the best place for them to live. Whether it be helping them find the right job, study options or their own business. Many will of course want to see the world, which is fantastic, but we want them to choose Marlborough after they have done that. There are some early opportunities to explore with this, including connecting as many tertiary students away studying with local businesses in their profession. These students working in these firms during each holiday and seeing what is going on locally.

If I could have any job, it would be…

What I am doing at present - working for Business Trust Marlborough and Angel Investors Marlborough. I get to provide business advice and support to hundreds of businesses every year and help connect local investors with local, national and international investment opportunities. It is the most interesting and rewarding work I have ever done. Everyone I work with is either a business owner or looking to be a business owner. They are all highly motivated and incredibly determined.

If I could swap lives with someone, it would be…

My son. He has recently qualified as a commercial pilot and has his whole life in front of him. To be young and talented in today’s world with so much opportunity must be truly exciting. People can travel like never before and young people better understand than my generation the need to have more balance in life. It’s not just all about work.

If I could be on a reality TV show, it would be…

Survivor. The enforced lack of food would be good for my weight. I like the strategy involved and the intrigue. I’m pretty competitive. The immunity challenges would be fun.

If I could have lunch with three people, they would be…

My wife Tricia, my son and my Dad. My son never got to meet my father and Tricia only met my father once. He has been gone 30 years now. It is one of my great regrets in life that Alex never got to meet George. My dad was a great storyteller. Whether it be about illegal card games or horse racing in the old days where results were a bit more pre-determined than they should have been. The hands would go, and you couldn’t help but get caught-up in what he was saying. Dad was always ‘spreading kindness’ as he put it. A word that is often used today but not something that was said so much back then. So, if I could wave a magic wand, those are the three people I’d like to join me for lunch.

If I could predict the future, in ten years’ time…

We will be living in Marlborough. We will be active early-stage business investors (Angel Investors). I will be a volunteer business mentor for Business Trust Marlborough. Tricia and I will also be taking the time to travel and see the parts of New Zealand and the world that we haven’t seen yet. We’ll also see Alex as often as we can.