By Business & Finance 
John Ring, Operations Director with XtraPension, the Galway-based document-processing company, is helping individuals worldwide secure and maximise their UK State Pension entitlements. XtraPension’s service simplifies the process of boosting UK State Pension income, which can be worth up to €14,000 annually from the age of 67.
What was your first job?
Lounge boy in the Cat & Cage Pub in Drumcondra. I was offered a barman apprenticeship after a week so they were obviously desperate!
What pushed you to pursue a career in this field?
After 25 years of doing digital marketing daily, I thought maybe it was about time to use the skills of my digital agency team to maximum effect after my wife spotted the most unique opportunity we’re probably ever going to see – to help a tiny % of up to 7M people globally essentially get free money from the UK state.
What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?
Walking barefoot on 10 metres of red hot coals or growing a business to 20+ staff across 4 continents in 15 months with no external investment!
Career wise, would you do anything differently?
I probably would not have set up Brazil’s first automated online divorce business with no Portuguese.
In one sentence, how would you define success?
Be humble, laugh at yourself, be a good Dad, and strive to have retained earnings.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Doesn’t matter how brilliant you are. If you’re a nightmare to work with, you’re useless” Tony Daly, Maths Teacher, Marino c. 1989
How do you handle adversity?
“Change – like the seasons – is natural. Accept it”, according to my Dad. That’s the best summary I can think of for dealing with adversity. Something is always going wrong in life. Your response is what matters.
How do you motivate yourself and your staff?
For myself, motivation comes from knowing I’ll make money if I help lots of other people get money, and I really want to help people – especially the millions of smart people who have a mental hurdle when it comes to maths and pensions. For the team, motivation is knowing we’re changing client’s lives for the better, as well as looking after them based on how they perform. Everyone is able to instantly see any colleague’s daily performance in numbers across different aspects of the business. Fortunately this business facilitates that.
How do you relax?
Two hour walks on a beach, or three pints of Moretti.
What is your favourite (non-business) book?
Great Irish Speeches by Richard Aldous. Edmund Burke never ceases to inspire 300 years later.
What are your aspirations for the future of the business?
I’d eventually love XtraPension to become the world’s first global State Pension consultancy firm, but we’ll start with the UK.
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