Bob Last & Jamie Byng

Posted on by Nicola Balkind

Bob Last, producer & Jamie Byng, MD of Canongate in conversation with Small is Beautiful co-producer Roanne Dods


bob-last jamie-byng

For the next talk of the day, Roanne Dods interviewed Bob Last and Jamie Byng about the nature of work, motivation, and the way that businesses grow, change and morph over time.

 
"Digital is blurring the boundaries between elements in the arts, so the need to morph is more crucial than ever, to remain true to the thing you're working on" – Jamie Byng

 

On Measuring Success


For Jamie, sometimes it's picking up the finished book. Or it can be selling Estonian rights for one book, or worldwide rights for another. Ultimately, he finds the word "success" irrelevant.

Bob sees himself as an enabler. His curiosity allows him to rethink what he might do, too.

 

On Integrity


Bob: "Integrity isn't something you seek, it's something others see in you and label you with, which can be a drag. It's an unhelpful straightjacket. But if I understand integrity at all, it's about a project having it's own internal dynamic that is pursued in the most uncompromising way, which very often ends up being the most commercial because it's compelling."

Jamie: "I'm more interested in irreverence and sincerity than integrity. Avoiding cynicism. If you're overly focussed on the market you're more likely to do it for cynical reasons. That's were you run the risk of the whole thing falling apart. We've only got so much time on this planet, you may as well do the thing you love."

 

On the moments of success that keep you going


Jamie: "At the Hay Festival, we did these events that came out of two books I was involved in, we gathered people to perform letters from this book. Seeing Benedict Cumberbatch and others perform them to 1700+ people in a tent, that was something we'd been moving towards – and we nailed it. That gave us a lot of confidence to push boundaries, as people who make stuff happen that's worthwhile. It's like DJing: I love seeing the impact playing records to people has."

 

Words of advice for people starting up and wanting to hang onto that grit?


Bob: "Moments where externally you're told something has been successful. I'm restless for about a nanosecond before tackling the next thing. It is always going to be like that. You're going to be restless and you're going to need that. It's a journey with no end. There's not a place you can aim to go to (and finish). I personally set out that way and was oblivious to it, then I had to understand it."

Jamie: "Whatever you do, just stay calm. Be excited but stay calm, there's only one thing you can ever do at a time. Be careful and thoughtful about how you deal with the many challenges that come your way. Have the confidence that you're doing something that matters. Be curious about meeting people and talking to people. Collaborative nature is so crucial. Always be kind. Always be honest."

 

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Watch their conversation in full:




Bob Last & Jamie Byng from Small is Beautiful on Vimeo.

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Here's more from the conversation with Bob Last and Jamie Byng through our Twitter live feed!