What were the drivers for you wanting to work with a Business Coach?

We were working seven days a week – and clocking up around a hundred hours, which was ridiculous, and we weren’t making a lot of profit. My husband was leaving the house before our children woke up and getting home after they’d gone to bed. It might sound like a cliché, but we wanted a lovely lifestyle for our family and we just weren’t getting that quality time we so desperately wanted. Our biggest WHY for working with a business coach was ultimately our children.

A friend of ours was in a similar situation with their business – they recommended Jas to me. When you work for yourself, it’s as if your accountability goes out of the window – there’s no referee. And sometimes, you need one – especially when you’re a husband and wife team. He has his view and you have yours. Sometimes you need to step out of the business and take a pragmatic view. We’re also very keen to learn and knew that having a coach to guide and teach us would be invaluable.

Why did you choose REACH Business Coaching?

A friend encouraged me to go along to one of Jas’s Cycle of Business events. We couldn’t afford to commit at the time. So, about a year later, I dragged my very cynical husband (kicking and screaming) to another event. Simply put, it was a gamechanger!  We loved Jas and Angela’s values – plus they have kids, so they knew where we were coming from. We knew we were looking at minimum, a twelve-month commitment if we wanted to see the results and it is an investment – but we felt confident it was the right thing to do.

What were some of your specific challenges and outcomes?

Because of the hours we were working, Jas advised us to employ someone – which is challenging when cash flow is tight. Creating and paying for a new role was very daunting and a huge worry for us.  Why pay someone when we can do it ourselves? However, after many talks with Jas and following his guidance we hired Dani as an administrator/PA. We followed REACH’s recruitment process and Dani was the result.  She is outstanding and, after recently recruiting another PA, we have just promoted her to office manager. For seven years we didn’t have a proper holiday.  If we did have the odd week, we would be constantly checking into work.  Now we go on at least a two-week holiday every year and we don’t check our emails. That’s because we recruited well and have a great team in place to give us that peace of mind.

Jas gave us the courage to expand our business. He helped me to understand the numbers – especially our cash flow in terms of where we were. He encouraged us to put up our prices and to know our worth. He helped us to maintain our accountability and take our learning forward. He encouraged us; he’d very often say – ‘I know you can do this!’. I definitely suffered from imposter syndrome, but Jas made me see that I am good at what I do, and I deserve to have the great business we have got.

We love the REACH Planning Days too – I don’t know of another community like it where you’ve got all these businesses who come together and share processes and best practice without being guarded. We all share the same values and everyone in the room wants to help each other grow and be successful.

Jas helped us to price our business services properly – so when we put up our prices, we had no complaints. Previously we had no financial cushion, but we do now. We’ve been able to re-equip our business and have recently invested in two new Litho presses and reprographics software and hardware. It’s tough in the printing sector right now, but we’re still growing. In fact, during 2017 and 2018, our net profit increased by 58%.

What is it about Jas you’re buying into?

He’s got a heart of gold. He’s very open and transparent with his own financials, which helps us to learn. They’re just our kind of people. Passionate, genuine and knowledgeable with strong values. We honestly see Jas and Angela as friends. I’ve met other business coaches in the past, but I’ve never felt the same way about them.

Jas has a saying – ‘a life worth living’ and that’s exactly what he has given us.  When we were working all those crazy hours, I was filled with ‘mum guilt‘ – I’m not ashamed to say I have cried a few times in our sessions with Jas and he has been like a councillor and therapist!  That’s the heart of gold. He makes sure our business can be the best it can be, but he also takes care of us as people too.

We are celebrating our 50^th year and I’m not sure we would be here without Jas’s help, encouragement, ideas and, at times, tough love. They are the best and we certainly have a business to be proud of and a life worth living!

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What were the drivers for you wanting to work with a Business Coach?

I needed someone to hold me accountable. My business was bumbling along just fine, I was setting my own goals, but I was also letting them slip. It was all too easy to let myself off the hook. There were a lot of things I didn’t do in the early days. Then, about three years ago, I met Angela and she invited me along to one of their seminars. I remember taking away a lot of really useful information that I could apply in my business. I did a few things – implemented this and changed that. Then, about ten-months later, I went along to a second seminar. That was in November 2017, and this time I signed up. I knew before I went, that’s what I was going to do, because I was serious about growing my business. I’ve never looked back.

Why did you choose REACH Business Coaching?

I’d worked with a business coach before, but he didn’t really have the full credentials to back him – whereas Jas does. He’s really easy to get on with and he has clear goals about work life and family life balance, which is really important to me. When I became part of the REACH community, I was completely sold on the experience.

What were some of your specific challenges and outcomes?

I wanted to grow the business, but I wasn’t sure how to do it. I didn’t have a lot of processes in place, which was more problematic than you can imagine. What I really needed was mentoring around the massive changes we were going through, which included the team and the business culture – and then partnering with two other businesses.

Jas worked with me on getting all sorts of processes in place. We now work on the philosophy of ‘Client Delight‘, our recruitment process is in good shape, and I’ve learned how to have better one-to-ones with my team. On top of this, he guided me on developing recurring revenue and project timelines.

What Jas has done, is help me to grow my business and keep it stable. My turnover increased from £177,000 to £250,000 in just over two years – and we’re on target to boost this further, to £450,000 for 2020.

My original goal was to go from working 80 hours a week to 40 – but realistically, some weeks I’m still doing 60.

What is it about Jas you’re buying into?

Jas and Angela have become good friends. I feel confident asking Jas questions, whether they’re to do with personal advice or business advice. When I’m working with him, I know I’m in a safe space – whatever’s going on. He listens well.

The other advantage for me, is that he works with other businesses in different industries – so when Jas shares what works well for them and what doesn’t, this helps me too, as it’s all so relatable. I trust him with anything. Once, when I had a turndown in work and needed advice, he was there to speak to me outside of the session. You can’t ask for more than that.

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What were the drivers for you wanting to work with a Business Coach?

We were experiencing a lot of transition in the senior management team and it was important to us, to be able to form better relationships between us all. Three of us were stepping up and taking over the business from our older senior partners. We are in our thirties and forties and the previous partners, in their sixties. Some of the staff had been with the business a long time and were quite used to the way things were – it was very important for us to ensure that the staff were on board with changes that we proposed to make under the new regime. We realised too, that we had to get a grip on the financial dealings of the business – it was critical for us to have crystal clear clarity on our cash flow and of financial performance across the business.

Why did you choose REACH Business Coaching?

Our accountant recommended them to us. So, we went along to some of their seminars to find out more about them and we liked what we saw. We sent some of our senior staff members too and that has worked really well. Because they understand what we’re trying to achieve for the business, they’re in a much stronger position to cascade this back to their teams by explaining the thinking behind it – we’ve enabled them to do this. It’s important to us that everyone in the business is buying into our vision for the future.

What were some of your specific challenges and outcomes?

There were two key issues for us – staffing and financial.

When we were experiencing staffing issues, Jas taught us to stand back from the business and look at these issues as a separate entity – in other words what does the business need. He helped us to take the emotion out of it.  And this really worked because it meant we weren’t getting so involved, we were looking at the situation with more clarity. Having a third party guide us through these issues has been a huge benefit. He’s helped us to navigate the ship.

He really put the spotlight on our financial situation too. Especially the structure and performance of our business. Jas took us back to basics by looking at our income, outgoings and profit – as well as looking in detail at analysing trends and performance. We then put measures in place to improve our income. We’re in a much better place to deal with any financial difficulties. We’re better informed, we’re much more knowledgeable and we’re in control. Stepping back and taking time to reflect on the business – so, looking at what the business needs rather than getting on with caseloads – has been a defining moment for us.

In the time that we’ve been working with Jas we’ve been able to spend time focusing on increasing fee income, reducing costs, improving profit and ultimately setting ourselves achievable and realistic financial goals for the future of the business – to the benefit of our staff, ourselves and our families.

What is it about Jas you’re buying into?

He’s plausible. He’s believable and he instils confidence in you – you’ll often hear him say ‘you can do this’. We come out of our meetings with Jas completely energised. Sometimes before we go into our meeting with him, our minds are fixated on how busy we are, the caseloads we’ve got to get through – but spending time with Jas is critical to our business. He’s also available when we hit a snag and need someone from outside the business to pull us back on track.

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What were the drivers for you wanting to work with a Business Coach?

Well, to be honest, I’d never considered coaching. I’d never even heard of it. One of our customers bought a hot tub from us and we became quite friendly. He’s got his own business and he recognised the challenges we were faced with. He knew Jas would bring structure to our business. He’d been coached by Jas and knew the possibilities.

We were a successful small business that had become too difficult to manage. We needed more structure to help us grow. We were peddling hard and there we no more hours to give. We were at burnout. The impact on our family life was tough and testing. And yet… I still didn’t pursue coaching. In the end, Angela called me and said why don’t you come along to one of our events and find out more – so we did, and I’ve never looked back.

Why did you choose REACH Business Coaching?

I got a feeling straight away that Jas knew how to help us. It’s big investment but something told me he would be able to help put things right. So, we went with it.

What were some of your specific challenges and outcomes?

Financially, we were pretty good. But some of the frustrations building up within me, were the mistakes we were making with recruitment. There’s only so far you can go on your own. I was working seven days a week, and these were long days. I’ve got a young family too and something had to give. So, time, energy and expertise were my real challenges. When you’re growing your business, it can become addictive, so you throw more of yourself at it. I was midlife crisis material, for sure!

Jas has a brilliant recruitment process. When we employ new staff, we have a process for recruiting them, a process for integrating them into the business and a process for managing them. And it works. The difference this has made to the business is staggering.

In the three years we’ve been working with Jas, our turnover has gone from £600,000 to £1.5 million and our profit has more than tripled. My coaching with Jas has paid for itself. As a business, our employees are happier because there’s a good structure in place and the business is being managed properly. We’ve been able to systemise the business too. I didn’t think it was possible to do this with a small business, but it works. It’s a much better working environment. 

I’ve grown in confidence and so has Laura, my wife – our skill set is stronger. Jas has pushed us out of our comfort zone – and we love the results.

There’s an added bonus for us as well – the REACH community. Jas organises some great events, like their Planning Days. This gives us an opportunity to get together with lots of other like-minded people who are approaching their businesses with the same set of values as us. The spectrum of professions is wide. You’ve got all these people in one room who are willing to share their best practice with you – what works for them and what doesn’t. The value this adds to us, is huge.

What is it about Jas you’re buying into?

His skill base. His knowledge. And his extensive expertise. He’s worked with all sorts of businesses. He genuinely cares. Sometimes, our one-to-one sessions feel more like counselling sessions and getting my head straight. They are such lovely people to work with. Jas is so disciplined with everything he does – it’s both impressive and infectious.

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What were the drivers for you wanting to work with a Business Coach?

To be honest, we’d never considered working with a Coach. We didn’t think we needed to. We always thought we’d find our own way in business. In truth, we were sat on the fence. We were growing and becoming busier and starting to question how we were going to cope with this busyness. Someone suggested we needed systems and processes. I think we actually said, ‘why do we need those?’ The same person recommended we go along to one of REACH’s free seminars to find out more. We thought we’ve got nothing to lose, so we went.

Everything Jas talked about completely resonated with us. We couldn’t believe what we were learning. Suddenly, implementing systems and processes made complete sense. We absolutely knew we needed coaching, so we met with Jas in a no-obligation meeting, and when he asked if we’d like to have one-to-one coaching with him, Jordan and I looked at each other and said ‘Yes’.

When you’re busy, it’s very easy to try and justify why you haven’t got the time to commit to something like this. That event was an instant game changer. It might sound like a cliché, but it’s true. Initially we were like rabbits in headlights – but it has been SO worth it.

Why did you choose REACH Business Coaching?

For lots of reasons. We made a connection with Jas and that’s so important. He’s real and relatable – a genuine family man. He completely understands the dynamics of a husband-and-wife team. We trusted him – no question. He’s open, honest and we have never once felt judged by him or, intimidated by him. He treats us as equals.

We started working with Jas two-months before COVID struck – and when most people are thinking about cutting back on expenditure, we knew we were never going to cut back on coaching with Jas. Working with him through this pandemic has transformed us and our business. If you’re seriously thinking about coaching – now is the time to do it.

What were some of your specific challenges and outcomes?

There were a few!

Everything we knew about the business was in our heads. We didn’t have systems or processes in place. It’s hard to believe how much more efficient and consistent we’ve become since introducing them. What we have now is something to benchmark against, and work towards. It’s made our life a lot easier.

Bringing new people into the business is also simpler. That’s because Jas’s recruitment process is phenomenal. It will blow your mind. You think you’ve got these things covered – then you meet Jas and realise you haven’t.

Another challenge was our client pipeline. When we started working with Jas, we had one client. A very good client – but only the one. We had several million pounds worth of business lined-up with them. Then, in one phone call, we lost a good chunk of it. Not because of something we’d done, but because of a business decision they made. Jas coached us on the importance of building a pipeline of clients and work – and with his guidance, that’s exactly what we’ve done.

Something else we didn’t have was a marketing strategy. We do now. We have a robust strategy that works; and we’ve completely rebranded. We know more about our market than we’ve ever done – which means we have total clarity on where we add the most value to people who want us to build homes. Jas got us through this pandemic by holding us accountable. He’s built us up, reminding us along the way why we’re doing it. He’s been an incredible shoulder to lean on.

What is it about Jas you’re buying into?

He’s coached us, challenged us and guided us. He encouraged us to expand our business through an unprecedented year. We understand what drives us – and what our values are. The new systems and processes we’ve introduced have given us a stable structure to grow. We understand our numbers – our cash flow and forecasts. He’s taught us the importance of gratitude – he’s changed our mindset. The difference Jas has made to us and our business is quite simply staggering.

Working with a Business Coach is an investment. We’re investing in Enrok. We’re investing in Laura and Jordan. We’re investing in our clients. What benefits us, benefits them and that can only be a good thing. Interestingly though, when we say to people we’re working with a Coach, they question why we’re doing it. It’s as if they see Coaching as a weakness – or that we’ve got something wrong and someone has to fix it for us. But it’s the complete opposite. We recognised we needed help to grow, to become even better at what we do; and more successful. We’re proud of the decision we made.

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What were the drivers for you wanting to work with a Business Coach?

I left school at 16 and started working in the family business. When I eventually took it over, I realised I’d got to the age of 40, and hadn’t made any changes to it – none at all. The business hadn’t moved. At one time we had a game plan – but the day I started working with Jas, we had no plan in place. That’s why I needed a Coach.

Why did you choose REACH Business Coaching?

My brother-in-law had been working with Jas for 18-months and through his coaching, he was literally transforming his business. I knew I needed to take a look, so I went along to one of REACH’s seminars. I liked what I heard. When I met with Jas, I shook his hand and went with it. That was two-years ago, and I’ve never once looked back.

I liked Jas. He knew how to run a business and make them good. I had a young family and so did Jas and Angela, so they understood the pressure I was under. Angela is great to work with as well. She’s very professional and friendly and has a lovely way about her – all the follow up support and communication is spot on. They do what they say they’re going to do.

What were some of your specific challenges and outcomes?

We didn’t have any systems or processes in place. The business was me – everything was in my head. On top of that, I was working seven days a week doing early mornings and late nights. I was working for the business. It was all I’d known since I was 16. Instead of working on the business, I was working in it. I realise the difference now.

So what’s changed? I now run my business by appointment only and I’m pretty much finished with customers by 4pm. I no longer work Saturdays or Sundays. By working with Jas, I’ve changed the way I work. He’s shown me how to achieve a higher profit margin out of selling vehicles. He’s changed my beliefs in how a business should be run.

I’m now a total believer in ‘processes and systems’. Those two words add huge value to your business. In the future, I’m looking to take on another business. I tried it once before, but the venture failed because I didn’t have these things in place. I’m now confident about setting up another company and feel sure it’ll be a success this time around.

Something else I did, was cut back on staff. It was a business decision, and it was the right thing to do – but you can’t always see it at the time. We’re a smaller team, but we’re solid, happy and motivated.

I have two young sons and a daughter who mean the world to me. One day, I’d like to think they’ll join me in the business, or perhaps they’ll want to start their own business. Either way, I’ll want them to be coached. That’s because they will need someone to lean on and talk to. So I hope Jas is still coaching! I don’t want them to struggle like I did.

How have you adapted during COVID as a business and individual?

It’s true to say, we wouldn’t have got through this pandemic without Jas. In the first few weeks when we went into lockdown, I lost my motivation, but Jas was there to pick me up. Without him, I think I would have quit. Now though, the business is better than ever. We’re in a much stronger position. In fact, when you compare the month of January in 2020 to the same month in 2021, we increased our profit by £40,000.

Working with Jas is the best investment I have ever made in business.

He’s very good at working on your mindset. In three months, Jas had completely changed mine. The knock-on effect meant it impacted my business in a positive way, which in turn impacted the mindset of my staff – it’s important for me to be able to make them feel motivated. But it did this too. I took up exercising. I lost weight. I started reading books – seriously, I’d never read a book in my life. That’s the impact he has on you. I’m now looking forward to the future.

He’s not only transformed my business, but my home life. I’m not stressed anymore, and I can sleep at night. The bank is also under control. It means I get to spend more quality time with my wife and kids.

What is it about Jas you’re buying into?

How simple he makes everything. I didn’t finish my education at school. I didn’t think I had an academic background. But Jas has made the whole process simple and straightforward. He doesn’t complicate things. With Jas, you get insight and honesty. It’s one step at a time in the right direction.

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