Journalist Robin Swithinbank has covered luxury and timepieces for almost 20 years. He has contributed to The New York Times International, The Financial Times, The Telegraph, GQ, Robb Report and more.

1. Describe briefly your childhood.

Peripatetic. My father was a priest and my mother ran her own fashion business, selling and renting maternity wear. By 11, I’d lived in nine different houses. But my parents instilled a strong family ethic, and every one of them felt like home because that’s where we were.

2. As a child did you have any driving ambition?

I’m honestly not sure. I recall wanting to be good at things, and to be recognised and known, but no particular ambition. And then when I was 13 I decided I wanted to write, and that that meant becoming a journalist.

3. What is your first significant memory as a child?

Because we moved so often, I can timestamp lots of memories, a couple from before I was two. But most are just screenshots. When I was three, my grandfather died suddenly. We were on holiday and I remember my mother sitting my sister and me down so she could explain what had happened and why she was going home early. The emotion allied to that makes the memory more significant than the others.

4. Have you ever had another profession?

I was briefly a Christmas tree salesman. Not sure I’ve ever been more content. Most of it was manual, and all the customers were happy. The most terrifying job I’ve ever had was reading the news on local radio. I had no training and no technical support. They sat me in the chair in front of a microphone and counted me in. I’m amazed it didn’t go wrong more often.

5. What made you decide to go in the direction you are currently in?

Simply, because I find it satisfying. Earning a living using a creative talent is a privilege. There are many brilliant writers out there, better than me, who never earn a cent for their words. Three years ago, I went freelance so I could shape my life better. So I’m twice lucky.

6. What’s the worst job you’ve had to do?

I did a week’s work experience at a firm of solicitors when I was 16. Easily the most boring week of my life.

7. What’s been the hardest moment in your life so far, and how did you overcome it?

I’ve had my fair share of family tragedies and professional failures. Every one of them has taught me something useful. There are endless aphorisms about tragedy and failure. To sum up, they can be very good for you.

8. Who has had the strongest influence on you?

I think I’m quite easily influenced. Too easily sometimes. And that can backfire. But at the same time, I think it helps me understand people, which can be handy in interviews.

I’m inspired by success, by which I rarely mean fame and fortune. If you’ve figured out your priorities, and your life reflects those, you’re successful. More specifically, I’m influenced by enthusiasts, great thinkers and people who make sacrifices for others. The ‘me first’ culture we keep hearing about in contemporary culture is absolute rot.

9. What are you most proud of?

Married nearly 20 years to my teenage sweetheart, two amazing kids and a home we all feel safe in. And sometimes my dog sits when I tell her to.

10. What advice would you give to a 20 something someone thinking of taking a similar path as you?

Figure out your priorities based on what leaves you feeling most content and then make choices and decisions based on those. There’ll be specifics, but for most of us these are related to faith, family, health, friends and work. If that leaves you wanting to be a journalist, work for someone you respect for at least five years, learn how to do a great job, file on time and be nice. Read great writers every day. Say yes lots. Say no, too. Say thank you. Don’t get hung up about it if it goes wrong.

11. Name three things on your bucket list.

I’d like to build something with my hands. A log cabin, maybe. I’d like to write a book people think is quite good. And I’d like to be in a movie. Doesn’t have to be good.

12. Where do you think the watch industry is going to be in 10 years time?

The speed of change in this industry is like nothing I’ve seen in the near 20 years since I first stumbled into it. Appetite for luxury watches is greater, too. Questions of sustainability, the circular economy, gender, customer experience, China, retail, watch fairs and many more will rattle on, but I’m most interested to see who’ll dominate in 10 years. Some brands are charging into the future; others are sleepwalking into irrelevance.

IG - @robin_swithinbank