Learnings gained and lessons learned over the years. As a result, of working alongside entrepreneurs and investors of growth-focused companies. Consequently, I have gained valuable insights and awareness.
Learnings gained through experience – My Lessons Shared
1. The importance of mutual trust and loyalty
The most meaningful learnings gained through experience. By and large, has been that successful business relationships are based on mutual trust, loyalty, collaboration and shared purpose. Without these fundamental building blocks, management teams are missing out on a critical ingredient. Notably, one does not learn these essential attributes. They are fundamental to each team member’s personal qualities and past experiences. Therefore, it is important to ensure a cultural fit and shared objectives. Together with, all team members in the organisation.
2. Independence has a price
I have worked with clients during the crucial administrative, development and build-out phases of their businesses. However, until recently I never appreciated the high risk and personal exposure of being an independent, corporate advisor. When employees of large corporations are involved in a failed transaction. Consequently, the company they represent settles the loss and reputation damage. As a result, their representatives are protected by the corporate veil. Conversely, working in an owner-managed business as an independent advisor, you are the brand. Moreover, you are the one accused guilty by association when a client fails or is accused of wrongdoing.
3. You are not your client
Most notably, one of the most significant lessons learned is that people are not always as they seem. Working as an arm’s length service provider to a start-up involves stepping into the entrepreneur’s shoes. Therefore, sharing their passion, buy into their vision and experience their growing pains. To emphasise, it is never the arm’s length experience intended.
Ultimately, through association, you are rewarded for their successes through recommendations and new client opportunities. On the negative side, an association can be damaging whereby their failure taints you. Especially, when the failure is a result of questionable integrity issues and commercial agendas unbeknown to you.
4. Motivations are not always as they seem
My most relevant learnings gained through experience. Markedly, occurred five years ago. Significantly, I had an encounter with a client which caused me substantial reputation damage. The implications for my personal life, growth and values have been massive. In a way, I am thankful for the experience. As a result, I have gained valuable insights into my vulnerabilities and ignorance. Not to mention, an understanding that everybody is driven by varying values and standards of integrity. You need to be selective when you choose your partners, business associates and clients.
Reflections on personal growth
For me, what is essential to reflect on is what I have gained from this. It has been a significant learning curve and has made me much wiser. In particular, in terms of vetting people’s intentions and consistently questioning their integrity and purpose throughout a business relationship. These qualitative due diligence processes we often take for granted when the project objective stacks up.
Henceforth, I now value the relevance, especially after experiencing first-hand how greed and vested interests can outweigh integrity. This experience and the resulting challenges that I have encountered along the way have left me stronger. Furthermore, I am confident that through my experience I am well-positioned to implement and enforce a reliable and trusted operational ecosystem for any business.
Purpose wins over profit
Owner-managed businesses that I have worked with and learned from. Chiefly, through founders demonstrating a mindset of purpose before profit.
Fushi
Rannesh Jansari started Fushi meaning “eternal life”. He obsessed over making pure health drinks for customers in London’s Harvey Nichols. Today, he sells a range of well-being products that encompass the entire natural health spectrum. I recall when I first met Rannesh, he had a defined purpose. Expressly, to combine his cultural heritage of Ayurvedic family recipes handed down from his grandparents. Whereby, they blended oils and infused herbs to create pure natural remedies for their customers.
Rannesh and Fushi still take inspiration from both the old and new. Above all, they are passionate about delivering pure, honest and carefully created products. www.fushi.co.uk
VirtualIt
David Somen, an accomplished IT businessman had the vision to offer cost-effective, seamless IT support. Specifically, focused on ensuring problem-free implementation for clients. For David, it was about taking care of the essential but non-core aspects that most businesses struggle with. Accordingly, he believed clients just want their IT to work to get on with running their business.
Over the last 20 years, VirtualIT’s services and expertise have become sought after by a diverse client base throughout the UK. www.virtualit.biz
Propertyfinder
Estate agents Nick and James Leeming understood the benefits of the internet. Specifically, as a platform long before most others in their industry. They founded Propertyfinder. Significantly, to offer estate agents the opportunity to use the Internet. In particular, as a platform to grow their business. As a result, they envisaged marketing properties in a more efficient, accurate and reliable manner. In effect, reducing an agent’s timeline to move a property. By, providing a mechanism to market properties instantly and more cost-effectively than in traditional media.
This gave birth to a new digital channel for agents to reach more users. Propertyfinder led to other players entering the market such as www.rightmove.com. Subsequently, it was acquired along with Assertahome to form www.zoopla.com currently valued in excess of £1 billion
A highly recommended read on mastering our habits
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