Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in career and leadership development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Simon Crockett, Founder of The Career Leadership Academy, located in London, United Kingdom.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a collaboration of experienced career management and leadership development coaches with deep knowledge of best practices in supporting talent to achieve their potential. We offer a range of services designed to support our client's journey toward their personal career goal and individual development as managers and leaders.
What makes TCLA different is our "high-touch" Tailored Coaching Approach, designed not just to provide relevant content but to enable our client to help you develop the practical insight required and apply it to your own personal circumstances.
Our clients are individuals seeking a career change or enhancement, to create better self-awareness in managing their relationships or those that want to develop their capabilities and impact.
Tell us about yourself
All organisations have a culture and frameworks, and there are a number of career tracks that tread familiar paths. Some entrepreneurs can be innovative and seek to create something new and build from that. Other entrepreneurs have personal drives and values that are not necessarily met in corporate environments; these I call "Corporate Refugees."
I am a Corporate Refugee. I know what I am good at and what I enjoy, where my value lies, and I chose to follow that rather than be laden with politics, egos, unproductive energy drainers, and other things that distract me from what I feel fulfilled by.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As a business owner, cash is king. Being cash positive and profitable in the first year, from a standing start, is my biggest accomplishment, but possibly equal to that was finding other people who have the same views and chose to follow me.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I don't think there is a single hardest thing:
- Creating the revenue stream to make the business sustainable (there is always a lag time between the activity you put into marketing/business development and receipt of funds, and the conversion of activity to funds received is never 100%)
- Finding, attracting, and keeping the people that buy into the vision, and add value, will make the difference between success or not. Bad hires ruin cash flow and team morale.
- Creating the balance between innovation and investing in additional staff, future products, and services (cost) and consolidating current staff, products, and services (revenue)
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you have a well-thought-out business plan. Research your concept and the market (buyers, competition, and route to market) and understand the lag time to positive cash flow.
- Focus and deliver exceptionally to your initial "Anchor" clients. They can hold you afloat while secondary and additional buyers are identified and converted. They also provide references to additional potential clients, especially as you grow your market reputation.
- Get as much of the preparation done before you walk away from your current income. You need to be ready without too much downtime eating into your own cash reserves.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://thecareerleadershipacademy.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoncrockett/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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