All “experts” are not created equal.
John
I did what you did: created my own business. Mine was a marketing agency. Working through highs and lows, over 8 years I grew the profits to over £1m and sold it (and also another sub-brand) to an AIM listed group. And then, I did it again - built a digital marketing business which was sold to a large US corporation in 2011. Using my network and experience of working with major clients like Sky, BMW, Vodafone, RBS and Harley-Davidson, I ventured into consultancy supporting the management teams of both large and small businesses to accelerate their growth.
At home I have 3 lovely kids (and 2 grown-ups) and an amazing wife. We’re all besotted with our little dachshund, Gaston!
Why me?
Business owners are the engine of our economy. I have immense passion for small businesses and deep respect for the owners with the vision (and balls) to go their own way. Helping to drive their expansion and entrepreneurial success stokes my spirit and gets my mojo working!
The main factors you should consider are:
1. Chemistry – it only works if we get on.
2. Genuine Expertise – I call it being comb-shaped. Expertise in multiple key disciplines and critically, the ability to join the dots and connect these specialisms to generate connected solutions to business problems.
My capabilities include digital performance marketing, customer value management (CRM & customer experience), commercial planning, data & technology, your brand, business transformation and so much more beyond - but to keep it simple….
it’s ultimately about helping you generate more (profitable) revenue. Selling more (products and services) to more (customers) for more (price and margin).
3. A proven track record - I have successfully built and sold multiple small businesses. This means I also understand the pressures of paying the bills and pragmatic month to month survival - not just whimsical textbook strategy. Your long term doesn’t exist unless you win in the short term.
I have consulted for start-ups, scale-ups and consistently driven growth for them. I’ve also done this for large enterprises so I know the strategies, tools and techniques of big business that can be adapted to small business to give you an unfair advantage.