On the Spot with Mark Bower

Working for a manufacturer of disco equipment, based in Sheffield. Back then I was obsessed by music and was convinced I'd spend the rest of my life playing in bands.

If you weren't in your present position, what would you be doing?

An early dream was to have my own range of guitar amplifiers. Either that, or a struggling artist, musician, poet... something desperately romantic like that.

What was your worst mistake?

Becoming involved in a business venture with a third party investor without getting all the legal paperwork sorted out. Things got a bit messy and I ended up losing the business.

Describe your ideal day away from the office?

A fancy lunch, followed by crashing out somewhere in a nice hotel with plenty of red wine and a great pool, sauna and steam room.

Name the one person you would most like to have diner with?

Richard Branson or maybe the American motivational guru, Tony Robbins. At least that way I could try to pick their brains and hopefully learn something useful. Or maybe Michael Palin. I'm a huge Python fan.

What was your best subject at school?

I loved anything to do with biology. Still do, as it happens.

What would you do if you won the Lotto?

Travel the world, write "the novel", record some music, practise my photography, build a cottage in Scotland on the shore of a loch and probably end up getting involved in all kinds of other businesses.

What's your top time-saving tip?

Get someone else to do the things you don't have time to do.

What is your favourite time of day and why?

I'm often slightly out of sync with the world in that my most productive time is usually between 11pm and 3am. Not helpful when you have to be up at 7am.

What is the best thing about Yorkshire?

Attempts at humour aside, I'd have to say the countryside.

What would you like your epitaph to be?

I'd hope it would be something along the lines of never giving up on your dream of what's possible for your life.

Mark Bower is managing director of digital agency Coolpink in Leeds.