Man on the Street: Bill O’Boyle
Occupation: Director of Private Capital, Snowball Effect
Age: 33
What’s your morning routine?
My mornings are fairly family-orientated these days, with two kids under the age of two at home. The goal is to wake up early enough to make a cup of tea for my wife and I before the toddler routine starts. Once that starts, it’s all about filling my older boy up with food, getting him cleaned up, dressed and out the door.
Of course, I squeeze in a shower and get myself dressed before heading to the office via daycare. Breakfast, coffee and a digest of the news all starts once I get to the office.
What are the top three things on your bucket list?
Absolute top of my list is a trip to space. I have always wanted to head outside of the earth’s atmosphere and look back at our little planet and the stars beyond.
Second would be to sail around the world in a yacht with a group of mates.
Third would be to explore the depths of the sea in a mini submarine.
What advice would you give your 20 year-old self?
Go to more concerts. Believe it or not, they get tiring as you get older.
How do you stay motivated?
My mum has always been my motivation. She taught me everything I know and instilled a good work ethic in me. I’m motivated to work hard to be able to provide for and enjoy life with my family.
Listening to interesting people on podcasts always gives me a boost of motivation as well.
What is the secret to success?
Surrounding yourself with people who know more than you and who are willing to spend their time teaching you what they know.
What is the worst mistake you’ve made and how did you fix it?
In my first year working at a bank, I accidentally cancelled a very large funding line to a big corporate in NZ that will remain unnamed. Panic set in immediately when the company realised the funding had disappeared.
I had to front up to a senior person at the bank who could fix it. I apologised profusely and took the grilling on the chin, making sure I would never ever repeat such a hefty mistake.
What is your advice for people to fund their dream?
I always wish I was taught to put a tiny bit of money aside on a regular basis from a young age. It wasn’t until my teenage years that I began to appreciate the concept of compound interest, and it is fair to say I missed a fair amount of compound value by spending a little too aggressively in my 20’s.
But hey, memories and experiences are priceless, so I have no regrets.
What is the best bit of advice, or quote, that resonates with you?
An Oscar Wilde quote; “True friends stab you in the front”. This characterises my relationship with my good mates well and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
