World Class Business Mentoring

What is a Business Advisor and how much do they cost?

I know it can be confusing, so I will try and clarify. I am a full time business coach/mentor and growth consultant. My job each day is to help my client grow their business.
A business tutor can teach you about business, usually by delivering workshops, online or face to face. This is the cheapest method; normally about £550-£800 for a short course, you can sometimes get this free, check out your local enterprise partnership or local council.
A business coach (£50-£150 PPH) can guide you in your business. They may not have a background or experience in your particular business. However they will have a vast knowledge in how to help develop and grow it. Or assist in finding funding for growth.
The next one up would be a business mentor (£150-£400 PH) like a coach but they do have a background and proven track record in your industry.
Mentors and coach’s help you look at the whole picture; it’s like teaching someone to swim. They can teach you to swim, but can’t swim for you.
A business consultant.
They will do the work for you (like an accountant). For example a business consultant would do a diagnostic for a client to identify where they may be able to improve their business. Like a combination of marketing, compliance, sales, organizing logistics, post sales, then systemizing it all. The whole 9 yards.
If a client then asks if you can do this for them, that is consulting.
Price is like anything, you pay for what you get. Consultants can charge £1,000 to £2,000 per day. There are other options like; consultancy for equity, or as a non executive director, you share them with other non related companies, they may be happy to share in any future growth they assist with. This one is a bit of a no brainer; if they create an extra £10 profit will you give the person who made this possible £5. Most people miss this completely! If you want someone to help you increase your turnover by 10, 20 30% or more, how much is that worth to you?
All the above are business advisors, and can help guide you through the day to day pitfalls of running or growing a business.
To what extent is determined by their skill, their understanding of their clients’ needs and how to meet those expectations. Also, if the advisor and client get on with each other (it may not be a good fit).

The most important thing, when looking for advisors is do your background checks, speak to them, and ask challenging questions. One obvious and simple question is; have they ever run their own business? There seems to be a lot of advisors out there who have never run a business, knocked a door or made a cold call, yet have watched a you tube video or read a book and happy to share their knowledge with you for a price. Some are just cheer leaders. Don’t get me wrong it’s important to feel good, but will it put money in your pocket?
Also don't be too surprised if they turn you down. The good ones have a healthy case load. I have turned many clients away because we just don't gel (and that's very important for both parties). That said I’ve never met one that won’t spend the time to answer a question or have a quick chat. Sorry for the long explanation, I hope it helps.

What business support is available, can I get it free …………………

I know it can be confusing, so I will try and clarify. I am a full time business mentor. My job each day is to either help people start their business, or help them grow it.
A business tutor can teach you about business, usually by delivering workshops, online or face to face. This is the cheapest method; you can sometimes get this free.
A business coach can guide you in your business. They may not have a background or experience in your particular business. However they will have a vast knowledge in how to help develop and grow it.
The next one up would be a business mentor. Like a coach but they do have a background and proven track record in your industry.
Mentoring and coaching are like teaching someone to swim. You teach your client to swim, but can’t swim for them.
A business consultant normally does the work for the director or business owner (like an accountant). For example I would do a marketing diagnostic for a client to identify where they may be able to improve their marketing to bring in more leads. If a client then asks if you can do this for them, that is consulting.
All are business advisors, and can help guide you through the day to day pitfalls of starting or running a business. To what extent is determined by their skill, their understanding of their clients’ needs and how to meet those expectations. Also, if the advisor and client get on with each other (it may not be a good fit).

So business advisors would help identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to a business, and assist the director on finding solutions to these problems, or maximizing strengths.
Price is like anything, you pay for what you get. If you want someone to help you increase your turnover by 10, 20 30% or more, how much is that worth to you?
The most important thing, when looking for advisors is do your background checks, speak to them, and ask challenging questions. There seems to be a lot of advisors out there who have never knocked a door or made a cold call, yet have watched a you tube video or read a book and happy to share their knowledge with you for a price. Some are just cheer leaders. Don’t get me wrong it’s important to feel good, but will it put money in your pocket?
Also don't be too surprised if they turn you down. The good ones have a healthy case load. I have turned many clients away because we just don't gel (and that's very important for both parties). That said I’ve never met one that won’t spend the time to answer a question or have a quick chat. Sorry for the long explanation, I hope it helps.

Can You Count on Your Sales Team?
A Reflection on Sales and Marketing Dynamics

In the realm of sales and marketing, the dance remains the same. It's a familiar routine: market the product or service, convert attention to leads, leads to sales, and repeat. Over the years, strategies and tactics have evolved with the rise of ecommerce and AI, altering the route to market. However, amidst these changes, one fundamental question persists: Can you count on your sales team?

Having spent a lifetime in sales and marketing, I've witnessed the ebb and flow of this dance. From traditional methods to the advent of direct sales, the landscape has shifted. I recall a time when I led a door-to-door sales team for ECO. Initially, everything seemed promising—the leads were pouring in, and optimism was high. Yet, it didn't take long for cracks to appear. The leads were labeled as "bad," jobs didn't materialize, and frustrations mounted. Skepticism permeated business dealings, and trust waned.

I'm not here to assign blame; rather, I'm reflecting on a pervasive issue in the industry. Sales teams point fingers at marketing for delivering subpar leads, while marketing bemoans the lack of autonomy to test strategies. Managers are caught in the crossfire, and directors are left bewildered by the dysfunction. It's a cycle that repeats all too often.

So, how do we fix it?

First and foremost, fostering a culture of teamwork and mutual respect is paramount. Before dismissing a lead as "bad," walk a mile in the shoes of those on the front lines. Appreciate the effort it takes to generate leads, whether through door-to-door canvassing or cold calling. Every lead holds potential; it's a matter of perspective.

Moreover, recognize that marketing teams aren't mind readers. They're diligently seeking the optimal route to market, albeit with varying degrees of success. Allow them the space to experiment and learn from their endeavors. Collaboration, not finger-pointing, is the key to success.

Lastly, clarity in expectations is essential. Managers must articulate their goals and objectives clearly, leaving no room for ambiguity. It's time to move beyond shrugged shoulders and vague directives. Open communication breeds understanding and alignment within the team.

In conclusion, the synergy between sales and marketing is indispensable for organizational success. Instead of viewing each other as adversaries, let's embrace collaboration and unity. Only then can we truly count on our sales teams to deliver results. After all, in this dance of sales and marketing, harmony is the ultimate goal.

When you are helping someone with their business plan, do you charge by the hour or the job.

I'm looking for a bid writer on a no win no fee basis. I have a lot of work for a lot of clients for the right person. Only experience bid writers apply please.

Business Tutor/Coach/Mentor or Consultant

I know it can be confusing, so I will try and clarify. I am a full time business mentor. My job each day is to either help people start their business, or help them grow it.
A business tutor can teach you about business, usually by delivering workshops, online or face to face. This is the cheapest method; you can even get this free.
A business coach can guide you in your business, but does not necessarily need to have a background or experience in your particular business.
A business mentor usually has a background and proven track record in your industry. Mentoring and coaching are like teaching someone to swim. You teach your client to swim, but can’t swim for them.
A business consultant normally does the work for the director or business owner. So for example I would do a marketing diagnostic for a client to identify where they may be able to improve their marketing to bring in more leads. If a client then asks if you can do this for them, that is consulting.
All are business advisors, can help guide you through the day to day pitfalls of starting or running a business, and to what extent is determined by their skill, their understanding of their clients’ needs and how to meet those expectations. Also, if the advisor and client get on with each other (it may not be a good fit).

So business advisors would help identify the strengths and weaknesses of a business and assist the director on finding solutions to these problems, or maximizing strengths. Or sometimes just act as a sounding board. Price is like anything, you pay for what you get. The most important thing, when looking for advisors is do your background checks, speak to them, and ask challenging questions. Also don't be too surprised if they turn you down. The good ones have a healthy case load. I have turned many clients away because we just don't gel (and that's very important for both parties). Sorry for the long explanation, I hope it helps.

Can you count on your sales team?

That’s the question I would like to ask. I have been in sales and marketing all of my working life, and the dance has been pretty much the same. Market the product or service, convert attention to leads then leads to sales, then repeat. Tactics and strategies may have changed with the explosion of ecommerce changing in most cases the route to market, but the dance has stayed the same. Then there was direct sales, doorcan/telecan. Marketing, lead generation and sales all in one (I loved doing that).
A few years ago I put and led a door-can team for ECO. I brought the leads in, everyone was happy. Then it began to fall apart. This lead was not good and that lead was no good, this job never got fitted, this one did but they never made enough money, it all just fell apart. I’m not blaming anyone; it seemed to be the thing then, in that game. We started hearing things like work ready orders because I have had my fingers burnt in the past, and it went on, sceptical business dealing with sceptical lead generators. So I ran for the hills, never to return.
I went back to direct marketing, where if a business posted an advert and didn’t get the return they expected, they questioned the content and strategy. They didn’t say to the media vehicle I’m not paying you because I didn’t get what I expected (even though I never told you what my expectations where in the first place).
How did it all become so disjointed? Sales teams blaming the marketing for getting them rubbish leads, then marketing complaining because they are not allowed to test the market (is it a test or a fail). Then the mangers blame the teams. Then the directors shrug their shoulders and say “what going on guys”. Sound familiar?
So how do we fix it?
Well, the obvious is you need to work as a team, and show mutual respect. Before you trash a lead, try knocking doors all day, or spending the day on the phone, to get a lead, believe me you will value that lead more. It may surprise you when I say. There is no such thing as a bad lead, there is no such thing as a bad canvasser (think about it). Understand your marketing team doesn’t know the optimum route to market. They are looking for it for you! Let them. Finally get your managers to clearly explain what they expect from their teams. No more shrugging shoulders.

How many sleeps left before.......
Brexit!!!!
What impact do you think Brexit will have on your economy, and how in particular do you think it will effect your business?

The world is getting smaller. We are a family of man. Let's burst the bubble. Let us all come together and act like a family. Let us all pull together to get through this.
“I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”