I want to tell you a story…and you’ll notice that this isn’t in video form, audio form or as a social media story, but written for you to read if you want to. People say you need to be true to yourself and ‘be yourself’, so you won’t find me crying into a camera, pretending I’ve got celebrity friends, tagging anyone I know for attention, or even talking about myself in the third person, so I just want to share with you what I’ve realised in 2020…nearly 30 years of being in a business for some reason or another. So, I had a moment in my business this year and nearly quit…

In the first 20 years of my working life I’ve helped businesses and their owners, share holders and teams, make a lot of money. More than 7 figures in some cases. And I always thought I was OK at doing that. I had my first life changing moment when I was blessed with a son and my business life began to change. I took on higher profile roles to support my family, but it broke me spiritually and physically.

I chose the path of self employment, started, ran and sold my business. And it’s here that not only was this the 2nd big change in my life and my perspectives, but it’s also where I learned the most, lost the most, made the most and grew the most. I’ve decided that what you learn as a small business owner, the experience should be renamed, ‘The School of Business Hard Knocks’. No other course, programme, qualification or letters after your name will prepare you for what you learn ‘on the job’ as a small business owner.

My Reflections for Small Businesses in 2020

My first immediate reflection of 2020 and the onslaught of national and local lockdowns was that the ‘self styled’ guru’s, mentors and coaches all went to ground, because their system or process had never factored in such things as a collapse of an industry, niche and economy, let alone a pandemic which killed people. National representative bodies who in the first half of the year went missing other than appearing on the radio or TV to tell the government to hand out more money because they were ‘concerned’ about the effects it would have…”, rather than getting together and working out plans and solutions. Over to the mass media…who in reality have no idea what small business, freelancers and entrepreneurs actually do for this country and the economy and thus lumped us in with the big corporate collapses of companies built on debt and sand, again providing us with soundbites, showing us over and over again, that none of this had anything to do with them and providing no solutions, just air time to people who wanted to moan about it. Over to the government, who also had even less of an understanding of what small business owners, freelancers and entrepreneurs did for the economy and panicked when they realised the only solution they had was to offer us money and hope it would all go away.

Meanwhile, the stark reality, without the ra-ra motivational mentors, was that businesses were going under and fighting for their lives without anyone to give them a solution, a plan or options to get out of the predicament they found themselves in. Their experience, knowledge and skills laid bare, like open wounds. And it’s because of this I re-discovered that thing that made me get into this business of coaching the business owners. I now realise I can make a difference by sitting, listening and offering solutions…actually let me rephrase that….real solutions to business owners problems in so many different ways.

I, with the help of some other amazing, skilled and experienced experts put together the ‘Your Best Kept Business Secret’ Platform for small businesses. (Follow on Facebook HERE) It’s FREE and offers articles, videos and podcasts on PRACTICAL things you can do for your business that will help you take the first steps towards not only continuing to make your small business viable, but putting it in a position to grow and get the business your hard work truly deserves. Articles and solutions are published every other day with real interviews from people that are relatable and can mirror what real business owners are dealing with at that time.

The mastermind groups that I will continue to grow in 2021, have had stunning results, showing that when business owners get together and have accountability to themselves and to others, they can achieve great things…and I mean great things.

Something I (Re-) Discovered

Looking back over the last 9 months, I’ve counted nearly 45 business that I and the people around me have helped. I am exceptionally proud that not only are they all still here, but they are growing, most better than pre-pandemic levels. And this was the second realisation I had. I’m here to serve you, and not my ego. My reason ‘why’ if you like, is to help business owners like you get the best business you deserve. You may see videos, podcasts, posts, pictures, etc., of me, but this has NEVER been about me, will never be about me and should never be about me…I’m just the head of a business that serves YOU.

I, we, us…are here to help small business owners in the UK get a business their passion, skill, creativity and hard work truly deserves. Together WE are the start of the economic fightback. The future of our economy and the start of something special x