Chris Walker has been a member of the community since the beginning; even going back to AIIM’s Information Zen online community. He’s always willing to share his thoughts and opinions with the community at large; as well as serving as a sounding board now and then for me. He’s good to follow on Twitter (Chris_p_Walker); even on a Friday when the conversation can become . . . random. [BE FOREWARNED: pay attention to the conversation before clicking on any of his links to photos. Trust me.]
Duhon: What do you do and how did you get there?
Walker: I’m an Information Management consultant at Oracle. I got here because I didn`t score high enough in Cal2 to become an accountant. I actually got into Info Mgt consulting by accident. I applied for a Business Intelligence position but it was filled, so they asked if I wanted to take on an ECM role and I just sort of said “Why not?”
Duhon: What was your best day at work? Worst?
Walker: Best days at work are when the clients have the “aha” moment. It’s also pretty cool when you can redeploy a member of staff to save their job and make two teams stronger.
Worst days are when good people have to be let go through no fault of their own.
Duhon: What are you proudest of?
Walker: My family. No contest.
On a professional basis it’s when I get to see stuff that I’ve done make a positive difference to users and organizations.
Duhon: What is your No. 1. goal today—and what is your greatest ECM-related challenge?
Walker: The biggest challenge is either trying to keep up with everything or trying to get organizations to commit to proper information management because it really is good for them. Kinda like trying to get kids to eat their vegetables.
My goals for the day change depending on what I’m working on, but in a general sense it’s really to know a little more than I did the day before.
Duhon: What are your three favorite websites?
Walker: Twitter – without it I wouldn’t have made the connections I have, nor would I be as well informed as I am (some may translate that as opinionated – they’re not entirely wrong).
Tsn.ca during NHL hockey season / Autosport during the Formula 1 season
CBC / CTV / National Post news sites
Duhon: What are the three greatest books ever written—and what’s on your nightstand today?
Walker: I’m currently reading the Song of Ice and Fire series and really enjoying it. It’s a surprise to me since I’m not into the fantasy genre.
Not sure about the three greatest, but three of my favourites are:
-
Catch 22 (Joseph Heller)
-
Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
-
the John Rebus novels by Ian Rankin.
Duhon: What are the three greatest movies of all time—and what’s the last one you’ve seen?
Walker: It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Pulp Fiction
Tie - Monty Python & The Holy Grail / Monty Python’s Life of Brian
I just watched Holy Grail with my daughter on the weekend. She’s 12 and couldn’t stop laughing at the “horses”.
Duhon: What was your first concert—and what are the three greatest songs on your iPod?
Walker:1 st concert was Jethro Tull a very long time ago in Montreal. Best concert I ever went to was Deep Purple in Dresden, Germany in August of 2001.
Sugar Magnolia by the Grateful Dead (the greatest love song ever)
Supper’s Ready by Genesis (the live version from Second’s Out)
Any one of hundreds including Homecoming (Green Day), Sympathy for the Devil (G’n’R & Rolling Stones versions), Monkey Man (Rolling Stones), The Lemon Song (Led Zeppelin), Sunshine (Nazareth). It’s a really long list and what’s at the top changes with my mood. I’ve also really gotten into Me First and the Gimme Gimme’s. They’re a punk super-group that covers a bunch of stuff from Country to show tunes to ‘70s top 40 and lots in between.
#ECM