What's the 'craic': my conversation with Pascal Derrien
Shortly after the beBee interview series began, I was asked if there were any bees I particularly wanted to learn more about. There were and right at the top of my list was a fellow from Ireland by the name of Pascal Derrien. He seemed a complex fellow with a brilliant wit coupled with an apparent bottomless pit of insight. What follows is a record of my on-line conversation with him. As it turns out, my initial thinking about Pascal was right. He's well worth you spending a few moments to learn more about this good fellow.
What's the history of your name? Were you named after Blaise Pascal?
Nope, Don, I was not named after Blaise Pascal even though I cannot resist sharing one of his quotes. ‘’Since we cannot know all that there is to be known about anything, we ought to know a little about everything’’.
So the little I know about my name is that it comes from Brittany which is situated on the north-west side of France. This is where my father was born and raised and I was always told when I was younger that we had illustrious ancestors including an ‘’Archi Duke’’ who lived in the 17th century, he probably fell from grace during the revolution insofar as my grandparents were working class individuals at the lower end of the spectrum. For example, I remember my grandmother was not speaking or reading French really well and was most at ease in Gaelic or Breton. On my mom’s side, I have Austrian roots.
Love the Pascal quote even if you are not his namesake. So perhaps you could tell us how you came upon beBee and what first snagged your attention and subsequent decision to participate?
Pretty simple and straight forward in January this year (2016) I was looking around for a way to channel some of my posts and after a bit of research I came across Medium (which I have abandoned since) , beBee and another one which I cannot remember for some reasons anyway I started a profile and channelled some of my posts as buzzes because there was not publishing platform at the time so when it opened in April I was already there. The logic behind is that I was looking at diversifying the experience and wanted to evolve in more international circles as LI is dominated by English-speaking countries.
Also curious why you seem to denigrate your considerable writing skills? Your commentary is always trenchant and on point.
First thanks for the compliment but guess what? I think it is a bit overrated. But, well, it is nice to hear I suppose. Second and while I know it was not your intent you have touched a nerve in a way. I am normally very transparent so I will do my best to explain what is going in my complicated mind.
First I value humility as an engine. I don’t like bragging about stuff nor do I need any form of recognition to address my insecurities. I don’t even have a title on my corporate business card. As far as writing is concerned I do it for fun and honestly I think I am far from being the finished article (pun intended) in that domain. The thing is that I also don’t deal well with certainty. I am assertive alright but I have always dealt with uncertainty so claiming I am a writer would be like a fraud to me. Don’t get me wrong. I know I can produce some OK stories and I could probably write a book about all the shit I had to deal with in my life between age 5 to 17. I have touched on some points but I am not ready to unfold it in its entirety. It would probably make Angela’s Ashes look like chick lit. Finally, since I write in a language which I don’t necessarily master all angles eloquently it would seem presumptuous to me to call myself a writer. As I often say - I commit posts!
This is the way I function I suppose. But it is not confined only to writing, same in sport. I used to cycle competitively (I was crap) or for running I don’t say I am a runner even though I ran two marathons in one month last year and so fucking what? I think too many people take themselves seriously there is too much noise and I try not to add my superficiality to it….now this does not work all the time since I am vain enough to have an interview about me - call it French paradox.
And one more question at this point - I have often used the term 'great craic' and it elicits puzzlement. For the benefit of those who may not have experienced the phenomenon can you give us your Irish perspective and definition?
After years of research and observation here is my two cents. The craic can be mighty or plain depending on the time of the day. What’s the craic is really the equivalent what’s up but it is more than that. You cannot live without the craic in Ireland. This is a big no no. Sometimes we have good craic with our American friends (we call them Yanks) who visit Ireland. In the west of Ireland (since most of the road signage is in Irish) they have a great game which consists of directing American tourists in the opposite direction of where they are meant to travel…… it is a bit mean but great craic altogether!
That definition should help facilitate an understanding of the craic and also why so many Yanks find Irish navigation such a challenge! On my first visit to your wonderful country I must admit that while the navigation aspect wasn't too difficult (maybe that's a difference with Canucks and Yanks) negotiating some of the turns with a lorry bearing down and an ivy-covered stone fence on one side was a learning experience and one which allowed me full expression of pretty much every profanity known in the English language!
I do love your line about Angela's Ashes and while it has piqued my curiosity will leave it alone until such a time you feel ready to share.
In reviewing your work history I was intrigued when it appeared that just a few years ago you made what looks like a major career shift from all-out private enterprise to more socially-oriented work. A. Am I correct? B. If I am, what motivated that change?
This has special interest for me as my wife, after an 18-year career as a fast-rising marketing executive in the international design agency, packed it up to start her own mindfulness-based stress resilience company. It's been a real challenge but one where she finds greater reward in actually making a difference. Does that resonate at all with your experience? And, while I have your attention: your profile on SOCENT contains this snippet "With a strong humanist ethos Pascal always put the organic growth of an organisation first while balancing out the strategic need of execution.”
Are you able and willing to expand upon this notion? How does one reconcile a demand for quantitative growth with the more qualitative nature of humanism?
I think the beBee profile is confusing or maybe I am doing too many things. I still work for MS (MicroSoft) by day and sit on three boards by night and contribute to an online rock mag. Actually I have a few other gigs coming my way so maybe I can bundle your questions.
First thing first I am, have been, and will always be a fervent partisan of Social Justice. The guys on the board of Socent (http://www.socent.ie/about-us/who-are-we/) are incredible individuals. I am humbled I can modestly be of any assistance to them but really they run the show.
Back to your question. I suppose, I kind of think of Social Enterprise as Responsible Capitalism We have evolved big time from binary left and right and other extreme viewpoints (still there you may say) but for argument’s sake let's say that my take is that you can achieve business objectives, offer a service, generate profit and make life for your fellow brothers and sisters better without being a complete jerk. I also think you can manage teams in a corporate situation or non-social enterprise-driven set-up without being a complete (warning bluntness on the way) shit head. The big test for social enterprise is sustainability and scale but, by and large, we have evolved big time since the '70s. Social enterprise clichés, it is no longer be seen as a bunch of hippies selling flowers on the side of the road.
To conclude on this I have always have had the ability to have a foot in and be at ease in different communities. I can be at a reception in an Embassy and the following day attend an Open Mic session in a punk squat. So for me crossing over is somewhat natural. I guess this was my subliminal intent with the sentence above
Hope it makes sense ?
So if I understand you're sort of a cross between Sid Vicious and Ban Ki-Moon with a healthy dose of Bill Gates and Chris Froome tossed into the mix? That's quite the impressive pedigree.
I think you have described me pretty accurately there. That’s scary.
Treading sensitively on this, but I am curious if you find a marked difference in the nature of the contributions on this site from a geographic perspective? One of the issues that caused me to move away from LI was the incessant banter of an almost entirely North-American centric perspective. beBee appears to encourage a more global view including insights from Pakistan, India, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, England, Australia, and elsewhere. Am I smoking dope or does that resonate with you as well?
Not sure what you smoke but it seems whatever it is it is making you very perceptive. I suppose you are right. I guess beBee’s team being European does set the tone. I guess having a cross section of individuals being represented and heard is probably influencing who and how we engage and respond to various topics. The site also caters actively to other languages and I can follow French and Spanish articles while the latter is not es Bueno que me gustaria
I think there is a great cultural diversity which sits well with me. For example, I am a big fan of John Irving whom I have been reading since I was a teenager, Khaled Hosseini and Philippe Djian (a French writer halfway between Bukowski and William Boyd.)
Your most recent posting blew my socks off. (https://www.bebee.com/producer/@pascal-derrien-leinster/the-cave-in-the-basement) Incredibly raw and powerful. If you will allow me to probe a bit more: how do you think this experience informed the role you perform in life today especially with regard to your humanist ethos?
Oh man thanks. Very nice of you. I got a few messages offline along those lines. Wow! Tricky question. I am a simple guy so I think for me it has been a question of always knowing or at least making the effort to understand what is the decision point and what is the cut-off point. For example: I am refusing point blank to be a victim but would also not allow others to be victimized. Not sure I am making sense but it is kind of clear in mind.
Penultimate question - for anyone visiting your incredible country, what is not to be missed? For me, it was the Cliffs of Moher and the drive to the sea through the Burren.
My daughter calls your favourite spot the Cliffs of No Hair and she never even met you. I keep discovering new spots all the time. I am particularly fond of Ardmore in the south-east, the Wicklow Mountains 10 minutes from where I live and obviously the Connemara
And the last question, which we always try to make a little more lighthearted - Guinness or Murphy's? Jameson or Midleton? Baked or Champ?
I stopped drinking any form of alcohol years ago but when I was still indulging in a pint or two I had a soft spot for the black stuff. People say the azote gas in the Guinness makes you happy. Not a big fan of strong alcohol but I could tolerate Jameson every now and again and it is 'baked' to your last question by the way.
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Comments
Lisa Gallagher
7 years ago #40
Lisa Gallagher
7 years ago #39
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #38
thank you Sara Jacobovici I kind of think of vulnerability as a strength at times not the running for the self pity contest side of things :-)
Sara Jacobovici
7 years ago #37
Sara Jacobovici
7 years ago #36
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #35
thanks Mark indeed everyday's effort this humility thingie :-)
don kerr
7 years ago #34
thanks for visiting!!
don kerr
7 years ago #33
great idea.
Javier Cámara-Rica 🐝🇪🇸
7 years ago #32
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #31
muchas gracias Chief bee Javier beBee :-)
Javier Cámara-Rica 🐝🇪🇸
7 years ago #30
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #29
many thanks Laura Mikolaitis looking forward to be reading yours :-)
don kerr
7 years ago #28
Thanks for stopping by and for your kind remarks.
don kerr
7 years ago #27
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #26
ah you are very kind Miss Franci Eugenia Hoffman :-)
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #25
there is only one Kevin Pashuk :-) and that's why I follow him :-)
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #24
thanks Jim Murray I am afraid I may confirmed your fears :-)
don kerr
7 years ago #23
Me too Jim Murray Thanks for reading and commenting.
don kerr
7 years ago #22
Many thanks Kevin Pashuk
Jim Murray
7 years ago #21
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #20
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #19
thanks Donna-Luisa Eversley needs to reduce the coffee a bit he had to stay awake while I had to gather my thoughts a relatively slow process.... :-)
don kerr
7 years ago #18
Thanks so much for the comment and taking the time to learn more about my new Irish pal!
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #17
thanks Vincent Andrew much appreciated :-)
Dean Owen
7 years ago #16
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #15
thanks so much Praveen Raj Gullepalli :-)
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #14
cheers Paul W
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #13
thanks Phil Friedman is good :-)
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #12
Julie Hickman you are not jus a yank you are the ULTIMATE Yank (just messing) many thanks for the nice words :-)
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #11
Thanks Deb Helfrich working on it.....in my head :-) often and mostly happens when I run or cycle
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #10
thanks David Grinberg :-)
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #9
David B. Grinberg
7 years ago #8
Pascal Derrien has been a long-time VIP in my social network. His gracious support is always most appreciated. Thanks for all YOU do, Pascal!
don kerr
7 years ago #7
Thanks David Grinberg Only as good as the subject.
David B. Grinberg
7 years ago #6
don kerr
7 years ago #5
Hey Julie Hickman Some of my best friends and most of my relatives are Yanks! Thanks for reading and commenting.
don kerr
7 years ago #4
Much appreciated Phil Friedman
don kerr
7 years ago #3
Thanks Paul Walters YOu got me off to a good start.
Phil Friedman
7 years ago #2
Paul Walters
7 years ago #1