Kai Roer is a European Information security practitioner with a special talent for people.
He is the author of the success book The Leaders Workbook, already translated into seven languages, and sold around the world. Grab you copy now! For each copy sold, one US$ is donated to the JCI Nothing But Nets Campaign.
He is also a popular motivational trainer who delivers trainings on three continents. His professional background includes developing organizations around Europe. As a trainer, Roer pays attention to details, and takes pride in creating a positive learning experience for all participants.
Kai is a guest lecturer at the Norwegian School of Management (BI), as well as well known in the international information security community where he is considered one of the opinion leaders.
You may enjoy Kai's two blogs too:
http://www.bebetter.no - a blog about trainings, motivation and fun stuff - this is where you will find passion!
http://www.roer.com - a blog about information security for large and small - corporation and private. Much about privacy.
When and why did you begin writing?
It is a secret, but I
have been writing since I was a kid. I loved reading, and read most classics
before I went to high school. As a youth, I started to write short stories and
poetry. Poetry turned into songwriting (I even published a CD with a band, back in 1994). At that time, I
would read my poetry at bars and small events, and people would laugh and
enjoy. As I became a professional, I used my writing skills to write copy - marketing
and sales, and also technical documentation and white papers. Over the years, a
need to write something more, something else, evolved, and I turned some of my
writing into blogging. Today, I maintain two blogs.
Describe your book ‘The Leader's
Workbook’ in 30 words or less.
The Leaders Workbook inspires
leaders around the world to reflect upon their leadership and their role as a
leader.
What books have most influenced your
life most?
Many! I read a lot, I
have always done so. I started reading at age of four (not that I remember),
and according to my parents, my preferred book back then was the Laws of
Norway. Since I still live in this country, that very book still influences my life very much!
Books that have impacted my life include:
Stephen Denning, Squirrel Inc., a short fable about storytelling as a leadership
tool.
Dr. Stephen Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
Tom Rath, Strength Finder 2.0
Some fiction books that impacted me:
Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts, a fantastic story!
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, by Jules Verne. This book made me
realize that dreaming of the extraordinary is a great thing!
And many more.
Do you see writing as a career?
Writing is indeed a
part of my career. But not the only thing I do. I tend to get bored if I do
only one thing, so I need to do many things in order to live a happy life.
Is there anything you find particularly
challenging in your writing?
Of course, writing
when I have to, without having the slightest of inspiration for one. I also
seem to need a certain level of calmness around in order to write. And I am not
able to do like many writers - just sit down and start writing whatever. I am
the kind of writer that waits until the story just forces itself out, and when
that happens, I just need to sit down and start typing.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Travel, speech, do
trainings, run triathlons, meet people, eat, enjoy a nice red wine, plan for
further success, listen to music, make videos, be with my son, ski, fish, did I
mention eating and traveling?
Did you learn anything from writing your
book and what was it?
Yes, I learned that
my writing is at a much higher level than I dared to expect. I write in
English, which is not my first language. I choose to write in English simply
because of the sheer volume of potential readers. And I do not expect my
writings to be at the same level as natives. Still, during the editing and
proof reading part of my book, there were very few errors present. Which was a
bit of a surprise for me?
I also learned that I am able to finish a taunting task like writing a book,
and then let it out there for anyone to critique.
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