By Business & Finance 
Operations director at Getcover.ie David Hughes takes the Business & Finance 60-second challenge.
Q. What was your first job?
My first job was as a cloakroom attendant in a nightclub at the age of 14. I earned a tenner a night and I felt like a millionaire.
Q. What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?
It’s got to be family. I’m immensely proud of the boys. Although, if the truth be known, I can only take a tiny percentage of the credit for that.
Q. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Don’t be afraid to fail. It’s the best way to learn. I’m an expert at it.
Q. If you could step into the shoes of one businessperson for the day, who would it be and why?
Politics aside, Elon Musk. In a creative sense, he’s inspirational.
He has big dreams and he’s not afraid to go after them. It would be fascinating to know what’s going on in in his head.
Q. In three words or less, how do you define success?
Effort, effort, effort.
Q. How do you motivate yourself and your staff?
For me it’s about all the little steps towards achieving a goal. Celebrate all of them without losing sight of the main objective.
Also I’ve always believed that encouragement is far more powerful than coercion. In GetCover personal growth is important.
There is always something else to learn and we try to encourage our people to grow with the company.
Q. How do you relax?
Shouting at the side of a rugby pitch or at the TV. I also like tinkering in the garden shed – it’s very therapeutic.
Q. What’s your motto?
I’m not sure who said it first but “The harder I try the luckier I get”. It’s a bit of a cliché, but true nonetheless
Q. What are your aspirations for the future of your business?
Get bigger without losing sight of our values. GetCover is an innovative company, but we are also very customer focused.
We need to keep the balance right as we continue to grow.
I’ve always believed that encouragement is far more powerful than coercion
Getcover is Ireland’s longest established online insurance provider, operating since 1999.
It provides private motor, home and travel insurance policies to Irish and UK policyholders through its web portal. The company is wholly Irish-owned and operates from its premises in Leopardstown Office Park, Sandyford, Dublin 18.
David Hughes work includes product, systems and operational development/management for the company.
