IM opened up to me as a possibility when I started thinking about my new year's resolution to myself to bring a little more cash into my family's household budget. I see it as an opportunity to learn an additional money making skill as well as enjoying myself through writing (which I love!). My professional background is pretty far from this area so I'm also really enjoying being in a different environment with a different way of going about things.

I figure the things I have going for me to be successful is a lot of experience in research, a pretty deft hand at writing, a strong desire to learn and a hard working streak that doesn't let up until I've mastered what I set out to do. I do worry sometimes about my tendency to spread my interests too thin ;-) but hopefully this program will keep me focused.

I live in Sydney, Australia, and am married with two children and my family is by far my greatest ever achievement. If anything they are also my greatest inspiration for trying something like this because they give me strength and confidence in looking at the world in different ways and taking on new challenges. The whole point of even pursuing something like this is for me, the possibility of spending more quality time with my family.