O2E Business Academy
www.o2e.co.nz
Promising to be the most productive and enlightening 6 months for your business so far.
The only fully personalised business program in the country.
Over the six months Academy program we will take you on a personalised journey for you and your business. During every monthly masterclass the industry leaders personally tailor their content to be relevant to your business and industry enabling you to address critical factors impacting your business allowing you to refocus and align your approach and strategies that are specific to your business.
NZ’s Leading Industry experts from the world of, Sales, Productivity and Workflow, Finance Staff management, and Marketing will guide you through where your business is now and what you need to address and deliver in order to make your business all that you want it to be.
In addition to this you have the benefit of one on one accountability coaching to ensure that what you learn in the academy can be implemented into your business and to give you the focus and incentive to action any changes that need to be made.
Leading the way
Small group sizes – allows for closer interaction and more personalisation
100% personalised to your business
Access to top of their field industry leaders and experts to help you on your business journey
One on one tailored business advice and coaching
Confidential and safe environment
Proactive forum to build long term business relationships
Structured learning environment
Collaboration and sharing of challenges, experiences and problem solving with peers
Dedicated time each month working on your business to ensure you keep moving forward
Your own dedicated key accountability partners – Ensuring stuff gets done.
Is this for you?
You have already established a working business, have customers, and generating income. You are ambitious and dearly love to continue to grow your business. You are also self-aware enough to know that there is lot more to learn in order for that growth to become a reality.
Our systems, philosophies, experts & networks are primed for your success. Whether you are looking to improve your knowledge, confidence, systems & processes, staff morale & engagement, marketing cut- through, boost productivity and quality of work, increase revenues, or spend more quality time with likeminded business people, then applying the principles taught in the O2E Business Academy will get you there.
One of the very unique features of the O2E Business Academy is that it is 100% personalised to your business. – this ensures you aren’t just getting a cookie-cutter approach to business, but tangible knowledge that you can apply immediately.
Better Business. Guaranteed.
There are no other courses that we know of where we guarantee results that you will experience from our course. The unique format of the Academy not only ensures that it’s members experience growth in their businesses, but they also see measurable improvement in focus & direction, increased revenue, marketing success, better business processes and productivity, understanding of business culture & how to engage staff, positive collaboration with other like-minded business owners, accountability, moral & energy.
Success in business isn’t luck
We will arm you with the tools you need to be successful, new skills, strategies, systems and direction to enable you to master your business growth.
Program Overview
Over the course of six months we will get you focused in on these six areas that will skyrocket productivity, performance and growth:
Month 1 – Business Masterclass - Goal Setting and Understanding Vision/Mission/Values
The importance of knowing what you stand for, and why this is important when building the foundations of your business. Where you are going in the short term and long term. What is it that you need to prioritise first?
Structured Peer Advisory - Learn from, share with and collaborate with your peers and fellow Academy members
One on One Personalised Business Coaching
Month 2 – Business Masterclass - Marketing
Where to focus your marketing efforts and money. Understand your clients, their buying processes, and how to target the right buyers.
Structured Peer Advisory - Learn from, share with and collaborate with your peers and fellow Academy members
One on One Personalised Business Coaching
Month 3 – Business Masterclass - Personality & Business Profiling
Understanding your strengths (and weaknesses) so that you can build a strong successful team that will be aligned to achieving your business goals.
Structured Peer Advisory - Learn from, share with and collaborate with your peers and fellow Academy members
One on One Personalised Business Coaching
Month 4 – Business Masterclass – Business Culture & Leadership
Having a good business culture really helps you stand out in the marketplace, not only for your staff, but for your clients. As business owners we want to be good leaders, and build a great team culture helps us with this. Learn how to build a great workplace culture that will drive engagement, productivity and ultimately profitability.
Structured Peer Advisory - Learn from, share with and collaborate with your peers and fellow Academy members
One on One Personalised Business Coaching
Month 5 – Business Masterclass – Sales
How to get the right sales mindset. Keys to building profitable customer relationships. What essential sales skills are needed to bring in revenue to your business.
Structured Peer Advisory - Learn from, share with and collaborate with your peers and fellow Academy members
One on One Personalised Business Coaching
Month 6 – Understanding your financial numbers
What do we need to measure and understand? How do we ensure that we have everything under control, and are making a profit.
Structured Peer Advisory - Learn from, share with and collaborate with your peers and fellow Academy members
One on One Personalised Business Coaching
www.o2e.co.nz
INCREASE REVENUE
Shift your mindset and give yourself the tools you need to create massive growth in your bottom line.
IMPROVE MORALE
Share your strategies and new direction with your teams, and get them on board with the changes.
INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY
By removing roadblocks and implementing new systems you can work more efficiently. Reducing stress and increasing productivity.
SHARE YOUR VISION
With advanced knowledge and a renewed energy O2E will give you the confidence to share your business vision with your team. your clients and customers..
Meet our Experts
CRAIG OLIVER - O2E ACADEMY
Craig is the founder and program director of the O2E Business Academy. It is his vision to create a platform for growth minded business owners to collaborate, have access to tailored knowledge, and industry leaders, while also sharing their business journey with like-minded people.
He is an accredited New Zealand Business Mentor, and has workplace coaching qualifications from the New Zealand Coaching & Mentoring Centre.
Over the years Craig has worked in both the corporate and private sectors, along with being a business owner across various industries. He has worked with business owners across New Zealand and Australia. Craig is connector of people. It is this professional network, and experience that enables him to add true value to our O2E Business Academy member.
Craig is our lead professional accountability and success coach. He has the ability to help business owners gain confidence, get focused and maintain motivation to get push through the challenges and build the businesses they deserve.
DONNA YEATS - THE MARKETING CONSULTANCY
Donna partners with Craig to help deliver the O2E Business Academy. She is our Marketing Expert, and is also able to offer marketing strategy and coaching services.
Donna has over 26 years’ experience working with brands and businesses to produce comprehensive end to end marketing strategies. In addition to being on the leadership team of the O2E Business Academy she operates her own business The Marketing Consultancy. She helps her clients validate their ideas, set business goals, research the audience, understand the clients operating landscape and competitors and get a clear direction for development. Donna is an industry leader in producing enhanced communication, streamlined solutions and cost effectiveness resulting in business growth.
Donna’s experience of working with some of world’s biggest brands enables her to apply her knowledge and experience to all levels of businesses from start-ups to multi-nationals to help them grow, become more profitable and deliver greater profitability.
MIKE CLARK - THINK RIGHT LTD
Mike Clark is our Subject Matter Expert on Sales. He is an excepentional trainer. Having experienced, worked in and with a huge range of business roles and focuses, Mike has an intuitive understanding for what needs doing in a business to move it forward. His love of people and his perceptive ability to enable them to see what they can do to lift their game, gives him a definitive edge when training, whether in-house tailoring to the unique challenges each business faces, or in a general training role.
Mike is always working to expand his knowledge and experience and has an absolute love of learning. When working with people and businesses, his diverse experience and relentless focus on taking action has given him opportunity to present around the world. With an emphasis on being intentional towards empowering people to become exceptional, the programmes Mike has written and presented have connected across industries, age groups, roles and cultures.
Business people of all ages and roles relate well to Mike's underlying message of resilience and action, responding positively to his recommendations and learning from experience that has them moving forward refocused, more effective and smarter.
IAN ‘‘HARV” HARVEY - COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE
Harv is a company founder, regenerative farmer, blogger, podcaster, mentor/facilitator and an expert in the power of harnessing collective intelligence to hone your effectiveness - be that in your business or personal life.
Harv is our Subject Matter Expert on Personality Profiling. He teaches us the about understanding the team and individual sdynamic’s required to build a successful organisation. Based in the Manawatū, Harv’s company: Collective Intelligence, is one of just 30 certified B Corps in Aotearoa (alongside companies like Kathmandu, Sharesies, Banquer and Ethique) and it inhabits the business wellbeing space. Harv, along with his team of facilitators, offers bespoke, team-based training and support to professionals who want to adapt, survive and thrive. His laboratory? A community of curious, competent, ambitious and authentic professionals drawn from 70+ business fields and curated into diverse teams that wield the power of collective intelligence to evolve themselves (and others). His experience? Over 25 years of refining his uniquely New Zealand approach of professional development into the peer-to-peer learning model that he is known for today.
Harv’s a sought-after startup bootcamp judge and business event speaker and a champion of diversity, courage and creativity in the workplace.
BERNARD POWELL - FOUNDER AND AMBASSADOR FOR PREMIER GROUP INTERNATIONAL
Bernard’s personal BHAG is to change the world by helping people to build happy and engaged workplace cultures!
Bernard is our Subject Mater Expert on building business cultures that facilitate success. He has been described as a ‘pocket rocket’ of a speaker. His energy, enthusiasm, authenticity and general good nature is infectious and clearly shows on stage. He will have any audience laughing, smiling and leaving the venue feeling more confident and energised than when they arrived.
One of the key benefits, and things we enjoy about having Bernard as part of our team is that he actually owns and runs a working business on a day to day basis. This allows him to bring this experience to our clients and share with them real life practcal examples, ideas and actions they can implement into thier own businesses.
Bernard shares with us how Premier Group, a fast-growing kiwi company, by developing a happy and engaged workplace culture, won the prestigious IBM Kenexa Best workplace award in 2016 and 2017 and also the Westpac service excellence award in 2016.
He is super passionate about family, health and fitness, playing piano, singing, landscape design, gardening, beach, travelling and sharing the Premier Group story to help and inspire others.
CERISE KLENNER - KLENNER CONSULTING LIMITED
Cerise is our Subject Matter Expert for our Finance & Accounting Masterclasses. Cerise has over 13 years’ experience working in both the Chartered Accountant and commercial world. she operates her own accounting business Klenner Consulting Limited. Cerise is a member of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and recently received her Certificate in Public Practice.
Cerise has a particular passion for working alongside small business owners and individuals to create effective business strategies and maximise their financial well-being. “Being at the forefront of customer relationships is what I enjoy most” she explains, “I love helping businesses grow, whether thats by giving tax advice, or being a sounding board for business decisions”.
With a strong accounting and tax background, Cerise provides her clients with expert advice, professionalism, responsiveness and peace of mind. She is not the “norm” accountant stereotype and uses her extensive knowledge and business acumen to listen to her clients and find solutions for their business needs
Don’t just take our word for it
Morgan and Catherine Fahey from Smart Build Solutions on the O2E Business Academy
Is your business exactly where you want it to be – right now? Or are you drifting a bit, knowing your SME has the potential to grow but you’re not sure how to take it to the next level.
Or perhaps your current business practices are not quite aligning with where you want to be in, say, five years’ time, and you need some guidance on how to spark the catalysts of positive change.
These scenarios were expressed by Morgan and Catherine Fahey of Smart Build Solutions. Their search for best-fit systems to get that momentum happening was the spur for them to apply for our O2E Ordinary 2 Extraordinary Business Academy.
Background
Morgan and Catherine Fahey have owned Smart Build Solutions for almost two years. During this time, Morgan has explored the full gamut of building service offerings and has literally said “yes” to most customer requests.
That broad-strokes practice left Morgan querying whether being Jack of all trades to everyone was working as a viable branding option, and one which could be sustained financially - as well as physically.
Juggling the art of running a business; making good decisions, finding resources to keep up with the job sheet, maintaining creative drive and trying to stay financially afloat and with family responsibilities thrown into the mix is a challenging mandate.
A major stumbling block adding to Smart Build Solutions’ sole trade workload was the necessity to start all processes from scratch due to a lack of standardised administration systems.
The upshot for Morgan and Catherine was an overwhelming and impractical workload, confusion over where their business was placed in the market, a sense of isolation, and the realisation that their future direction consisted of murky and muddled waters.
Smart Build Solutions had unanswered questions such as:
How to identify core service offering and market position
How to simplify and systematise processes
How to stop feeling the need to say “yes” to all work opportunities
How to create structure and begin utilising template systems
How to better promote business brand
How to create a more sophisticated and comprehensive quoting procedure
How to cope as a do-it-alone husband-wife partnership (while raising a young family)
How to clarify role demarcation
How to find direction about future pathways.
Why choose O2E Business Academy?
O2E was set up by Craig Oliver of Project HQ and assisted by Donna Yeats of The Marketing Consultancy to help SME’s improve and enhance business practice, share journeys, feel supported, and receive qualified guidance and usable advice.
At first Masterclass meeting Catherine and Morgan liked the way Craig set the scene immediately: confidential, welcoming, safe, calm, friendly, nurturing.
Small group size and a variety of participants all with different needs meant a comfortable and mutually constructive environment. Catherine and Morgan quickly lost their initial concern that they wouldn’t ‘stack up’ against the other business owners or have anything worthy to contribute.
The time framework of the Academy was perfect for busy business owners. Attending a session one day per month encouraged a mindset change to embrace the commitment to take time off tools and work on their business instead of in it.
The programme was tailored to provide solutions to each business's specialised issues, and these were explored more at the 1 on 1 sessions which followed each Masterclass.
At the 1 on 1’s, Craig would set homework as well as translate his interpretation of the Masterclass; dissect the information, make it 100% relevant to Smart Build Solutions and supply a customised, tailor-made delivery.
The subject matter experts facilitating each class were specialists in their fields and offered practical, far-reaching, and immediately applicable tools for better business practice.
The Takeaways
For Smart Build Solutions, an unexpected bonus emerging from the financial masterclass was connecting with a better-fit accountant, Cerise Klenner (Klenner Consulting Ltd).
And to boost their existing low-key, untargeted marketing strategy, Donna Yeats’ (The Marketing Consultancy) marketing tuition encouraged Catherine and Morgan to finetune where to best spend their promotional budget. They decided to redesign the format of their social media posts to include variety and humour, and to place more content gathering responsibility onto Morgan at the frontline.
Receiving the tools and know how from the Masterclass tutorials and subject matter experts, plus interacting with other course participants gave the wherewithal and impetus for Smart Build Solutions to change and adapt existing practices to better serve their business goals.
One valid system Morgan and Catherine learnt about was how to implement an Operations Board to assist them in setting yearly, quarterly, monthly and weekly goals.
A session on personality profiling gave Catherine clarification and reassurance that she’s in the right role and the right ‘flow’ for her natural aptitudes which lean towards initiating and administrating systems and procedures.
One major coup was the discovery and adoption of a comprehensive Quotation Template. This has allowed Morgan to:
a) Communicate to clients in a more professional way
b) Present the plans, price and schedule of work
c) Depict the job process in detail
d) Itemise each costing to maximise transparency
e) Show true value in each step
f) Share the build journey.
Results? Yes, no, maybe?
YES!
1. Morgan and Catherine have transitioned from general building services to finding a market niche that fits well with their creative passions, skills, resources and future-forward goals.
2. Building great outdoor living spaces, beautiful backyards, retaining walls, decks and renovations is now a specialised focus for Smart Build Solutions. Identifying where their core values lie and being confident in saying ‘no’ when asked to divert from this.
3. The assurance gained from the creation of a quotation proposal package to present to clients means Morgan now has hugely increased faith and pride in the service he provides and the confidence to validate his work every step of the way.
4. Investing in a stronger brand presence encompassing advertising, social media, new website, signage on vehicles and new business cards.
5. O2E gave much-needed support, like-minded encouragement, networking opportunities and a feeling of connection to Morgan and Catherine’s isolated sole trade situation.
6. Decisions made about the structure of a five-year plan forward.
So, did O2E live up to its promises?
The promoted points of difference about the features and format of O2E Business Academy all came through, according to Catherine and Morgan.
Small group sizes created trust, intimacy and comradeship
The professional networking was valuable and expansive
The guest speakers were relevant and engaging
The 1 on 1 sessions timely and pertinent
The Masterclass learnings were able to be implemented
The lessons were personalised to suit each business; translated, shaped and accessible, so therefore immediately applicable.
Final words:
Morgan: “If you’re having problems with what direction your business is heading in, get on the phone and talk to Craig.”
Catherine: “O2E has given us the tools and the guidance to take our business to where we want it to go.”
Mike Rubick of Playball NZ on the O2E Business Academy
Owning your own business is a challenge in itself, so imagine if you were to leap from running just one SME to managing 20. Mike Rubick took on that challenge when he expanded his Playball Taranaki franchise operation to include the entire New Zealand contingent.
It was a huge step, and rather than undergo a baptism by fire, Mike chose to listen to his parents’ (invested) advice and seek help. That assistance came in the form of Craig Oliver, via Venture Taranaki’s business mentoring service.
In his new role as master franchisor for Playball NZ, Mike has the responsibility of managing the overarching NZ business and defining how all franchises should be set up and run.
For those unsure on how a franchise works (https://www.business.govt.nz/); “it’s a way to expand your business into other markets, by granting someone else – your franchisees – the right to run a copy of your original business in another location for an agreed amount of time.”
As the master Playball franchisor, Mike’s obligations to his other franchisees mean he has to provide:
trademarks and branding
operating systems
full training
co-ordination of group buying
marketing
communication and documentation.
These practices all required some attention, but a few stood out as needing intensive improvement so Mike and Craig worked together for around six months, one on one. When the O2E Academy came about, Mike jumped in, rugby boots and all, to hone and further develop his business acumen and leadership skills.
Points of pain
There were plenty. Mike particularly cites:
A need to transform the staticky communication flow from UK-based head office into a clearer, more dynamic and regular format; a need to create a unified marketing and branding strategy (both digital and hard copy; to establish “we’re all on the same page and this is how it is now” cooperation from all his franchise owners; to document a coherent health and safety protocol and HR system; to take a closer look at goal setting for future growth.
In addition, coordinating the 20 other franchisees scattered throughout New Zealand felt like herding cats to Mike, and liaising with such a diverse Playball network highlighted the need to learn effective people management skills.
Mike’s desire to become a better leader meant strengthening his authority and mana to a level where he could feel confident in:
Saying ‘No’ to achieve work-life balance
Delegating
Finding his merit and reflecting that in the Playball brand
Respecting his own knowledge and experience
Growing some balls (playballs, that is)
Relating to a cross range of demographics
Negotiating new business systems to franchisees.
Ordinary to Extraordinary Academy
The structure of the O2E Academy suited Mike to a T. The group meeting was followed by a more tailored panel session, which was then consolidated by a 1:1 a couple of weeks later. Convening once a month was time-friendly and easy to assimilate. At this point, Mike was dealing with up to 1000 school kids per week on top of administering the NZ franchises, and the pressure was on.
Homework was presented in front of the group, so no blaming the dog for eating it, because Craig’s a bit like the teacher who expects good things; growls if they aren’t delivered, praises when they are. It was important to complete set tasks (all relevant to Mike’s Playball Taranaki / NZ franchises) and to be accountable for following through with new business strategies as formulated.
Sharing problems, stories, and issues in a safe, group situation meant tons of experienced brainpower on hand to offer solutions. Some participants were ex-franchise holders who understood the system and its variables - invaluable. The professional input from each session convenor or guest speaker meant all topics were pertinent and informative.
The group acted as trusted sounding boards for each other, and other happy outcomes eventuated in the form of new social friendships and opportunities for increased networking.
What Mike took on board
Learning what not to do!
Tried and true troubleshooting techniques
Learning how to optimise communication to franchise holders
Learning how to develop branding e.g. by linking into the existing international Playball website https://www.playballkids.com/
Establishing unified and inclusive systems to represent the entire NZ Playball franchise
How to reign in individual franchisees to present a fair and non-mutually competitive service
How to initiate up a targeted marketing strategy including posters, flyers, print media
How to navigate the extreme differences of the Playball user demographic and communicate effectively
Highlighting relevant points of difference to help with pitching
Establishing H&S and HR systems
How to see value and charge accordingly
How to work smarter, not harder.
The intangible becomes measurable
Mike’s experience and passion for the Playball industry (sparked back in the day as a uni student) offered a natural career path. His progression from student to teacher to business owner to master franchisor reflects the attention he’s paid to opportunities, both offered and created.
However, Mike joined the O2E Academy with a few problems likely to create thorny issues down the track. With several businesses on the go, all with heavy people management and administration requirements, he was astute enough to see that for Playball to function well, certain practices needed sorting.
Mike also knew that to develop the leadership qualities necessary to achieve his Playball goals, he’d have to discover and believe in his worth - as a businessman and as an individual. Strengthening self-belief comes from confidence, and the Academy delivered this in spades. Mike’s intangible change in attitude is well on its way to morphing into tangible results.
Return on Investment? Coming right up.
Becoming a leader in your field opens up a whole heap of new doors. For Mike, having the confidence to explore what’s to be gained from working smarter will smooth the way to achieving financial security - which then allows for expansion. Mike reckons the benefits of the Academy and of having a mentor alongside are like “having a mate on the journey - someone who’s not afraid to kick you up the arse” but who teaches the tools to achieve all your vital goals.
Final words:
“I’d recommend the Academy to anyone. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Mike Rubick, Playball Taranaki, Playball NZ
Jared McLeod of McLeod Architecture on the O2E Business Academy
After five years running McLeod Architecture, Jared McLeod felt the wheels of his business were starting to spin without traction. It wasn’t that they were about to fall off anytime soon, just that Jared was super busy, taking on a lot of work but not progressing as he’d hoped. He began questioning how to change tack to steer his enterprise in a better direction.
The main problem was that Jared had no idea of his desired destination point, let alone the course of action required to get there. Adding to his indecision was the temptation to pursue and develop a new product venture and so with an identity crisis looming Jared decided to seek advice from Jane Moffitt at Venture Taranaki.
Jane recommended he ‘step this way, sir’ and into the mentoring hands of Craig Oliver from Project HQ. During this time Craig partnered with Donna Yeats of The Marketing Consultancy to create the O2E Business Academy and when the opportunity to join presented itself, Jared marched right on in. Perhaps it was one of his most serendipitous walks because SME, McLeod Architecture is now a company with clear ideas and a confident future.
“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” - Abraham Maslow “… when sometimes you need a screwdriver!” – Jared McLeod
Some business owners might see joining a program such as the O2E Business Academy as an extravagance. Finding the time, raising funds, and committing to a new regime sounds challenging, but for McLeod Architecture, joining the O2E Academy gave excellent value. It offered practical scenarios and a teaching format that entailed monthly masterclasses co-hosted by a variety of industry-leading subject matter experts, plus structured peer advisory sessions, and one on one coaching that’s 100% personalised to each participant.
The one main requirement for the O2E Academy is the desire to learn and Jared describes Craig as a great guy who genuinely cares, though not one who does ‘dickheads’ well. Craig’s no disciplinarian, but participants need to be receptive to positive and progressive change and show the workings in adapting new, proven systems to suit their business model. The collaborative structure of the Academy offers exclusive access to the various subject matter experts and is designed to open participants' eyes to the possibility of how change can lead to revolution.
Jared enjoyed the fact that the nature of the O2E model is also designed to capitalise on the breadth of experience on tap from around the table amongst the other exclusive fellow members. Talking about current issues and problems not yet encountered means participants are exposed - and forearmed - to circumnavigate some potential pitfalls. Extracting info from the skill sets of newbies and older heads allows participants to draw conclusions and put discovered solutions to good use.
The fortnightly follow up (one-on-one) sessions are tailored specifically to individual businesses and it's here that the nuts and bolts of newly learnt attitudes and processes are applied.
O2E Academy: The best of all worlds.
O2E participants are encouraged to remember that their business enterprises are vehicles to enable life goals (not just work goals) come to fruition.
The initial passion for running an SME might have created the impetus to throw it into the real world, but once immersed, it’s easy to lose perspective and become distracted by minutiae. Even easier to lose sight of the holistic purpose behind work - to earn a decent living, experience a rewarding lifestyle and achieve the plans you dreamt about BB (Before Business!)
Jared reckons his time on the program has refigured his motives and restructured his methods. The opportunity to talk to other like-minded folk made him realise that the myriad of problems typically beset by business owners are common burdens. When on the Academy, that strain doesn’t need to be born alone. The group situation (comprising a trusted, empathetic, and nonjudgmental crew) provides the support and relief that ‘it's not just me … I'm not the only one'. In Jared’s words, this was 'comforting and liberating'; reaching out is reassuring and inspires the confidence to move ahead.
Big gains for a manageable effort.
At each monthly masterclass, the Academy provides professional input via regular guest speakers and industry-leading subject matter experts. For McLeod Architecture, each of these leaders added immense value. What's really powerful, was how they tailored their advice and teachings to each individual business owner on the Academy. Getting Jared’s business back on course meant interpreting then following accessible processes as offered by the Academy’s teachings.
He particularly engaged with:
Goal setting
Corporate identity
Market positioning
Business vision and how to shape it
Target marketing to desired clientele
Digital marketing; website overhaul
Expanding current client base by referral.
Jared’s decision to hire a bookkeeper came from a masterclass facilitated by Ian ‘’Harv” Harvey of https://www.collectiveintelligence.co.nz/ on understanding the power behind personality profiling. Jared has an architectural eye for exact detail in drawing plans (his builders thank him for that), however, the nitty-gritty of monthly GST and other accounting tasks were not jobs he enjoyed. He can now hand over this aspect of his business and stay focused on developing designs that afford best customer satisfaction.
Additionally, working with Donna (http://themarketingconsultancy.co.nz/) on his marketing has resulted in a new focus for Jared’s branding and customer relationships, along with online and direct marketing strategies, and they are now working together on building a tailored website to showcase Jared’s work and expertise.
His new-found strategy confidence also has him right on target to:
Identify and balance low-value jobs with high value
Implement more streamlined systems
Position himself as an expert in his industry
Continue to create perfect plans
Consolidate position and purpose
Implement a proactive marketing plan to target the clients he enjoys working with
Improve job time tracking
Prioritise and update timelines
Develop better email templates
Develop more comprehensive pricing (quotation) processes.
Jared says it’s a work in progress, but McLeod Architecture now knows its worth and is making small, steady advances with clear goals in sight.
Final words:
“The O2E Business Academy is a short course which gives you long term results. Why reinvent the wheel or spend time doing huge amounts of study when you have the answers right here! It's real-life stuff and it's tailored to YOU."
Jared McLeod, McLeod Architecture
Charlotte Ward of Silk Spa & Charlotte Talks on the O2E Business Academy
The creative dedication that typifies Charlotte Ward’s approach towards life’s ever-evolving journey frames anything she takes on, underpinned by a “you can choose which fork to use” attitude - even when all else seems like chaos.
When Charlotte embarked on the O2E Business Academy in 2019 with Craig Oliver and Donna Yeats http://themarketingconsultancy.co.nz/ she was in the throes of launching a new business venture, Charlotte Talks https://www.charlottetalks.co.nz/ and still fully involved with her established business, Silk Skin Spa https://www.silkskinspa.co.nz/.
What next when the gloss wears a little thin?
Having owned Silk Skin Spa for over ten years meant the glee of that first kiss was long gone. Not that Charlotte’s complacent; she truly values her beautiful salon and the people who help her run it, but as time goes on, sometimes prosaic wins over progress.
Her ongoing commitment to building Silk Spa’s client loyalty, upskilling staff, and achieving community and professional recognition is there in perfect portions.
But Charlotte’s not a goal setter; she’s an ideas person, a creative and one who doesn’t enjoy having her feathers trimmed. She’s the type of entrepreneur who needs to fly unfettered by routine.
The Academy offered her a chance to re-channel and satisfy that need, alongside the opportunity to add some architecture to her businesses. So, joining “wouldn’t be a bad thing to do” even though Craig was upfront about the value split she might expect (more for Charlotte Talks and less perhaps for Silk).
The Academy sparked Charlotte’s interest and as it could spur the start of a more organised way of doing business for both SME’s, she set off with her usual gusto.
Did she love it or what?
“It was fabulous!” Charlotte loved the Academy. She’s an extrovert who thrived in the group sessions (lots of chatting to be had!) and soaked up the messages of each industry-leading subject expert like the quintessential beauty sponge.
The Academy’s co-hosts were all-engaging professionals; it was refreshing, stimulating and a lot of fun to absorb, discuss and hash about new topics each month.
The speakers knew their audience, too. Most had done the homework to ensure their presentations and workshops were on point to reach home. Charlotte cites one slightly less relevant Masterclass and she was impressed when Craig and Donna were happy to transition this subject matter into a more accessible format.
This connection to participants is perhaps the piece de resistance of the Academy. Charlotte doesn’t like the word holistic (bit flaky) but the interrelation between subject matter, team, facilitators, and format just jelled. Drip-feeding tuition over the six months was palatable, and well-balanced with additional one-on-one sessions - and with no chance to hide behind group dynamics this private coaching with Craig gave Charlotte the (not quite so enjoyable) “kick up the butt” she needed to be accountable.
Putting structure into place and being accountable for that process is a challenge – even for the most pedantic. More used to winging things on a day to day basis, the Academy provided tools for Charlotte to analyse her planning techniques and realise that things come to fruition more smoothly when a) written down and b) actioned within a time frame and c) consolidated and revisited.
Charlotte’s moments of clarity included reminders that:
We actually do need a plan!
Goals are best written down
It's good to revisit values, mission statements, and start-up motives
You shouldn’t hope that marketing ‘just happens’
New strategies need scheduled time to be actioned and consolidated
In marketing, the ideological 6 degrees of separation is debatable
It’s a big mistake to employ your clone.
Getting really good bang for your buck.
One of Charlotte’s key motivations for joining the Academy was to adopt a more detail-oriented approach in advancing her businesses. That included looking for tips and insights as to how best reach her two very different market segments.
Donna Yeats’ http://themarketingconsultancy.co.nz/ marketing Masterclass delivered a mine-full of quirky, yet valid information based on her management and marketing experience worldwide. She corroborated and extended Charlotte’s current PR efforts by helping her refine the marketing for both Silk Skin Spa and Charlotte Talks to reach her desired clientele.
Donna also pointed out some fascinating differences between marketing in a provincial (possibly parochial/ traditional?) demographic as opposed to an international influencer-lead arena, and also the importance of speaking the language of a younger audience as it comes through.
Finances are a strength for Charlotte. The Masterclass on this subject reinforced that she was taking the right actions to protect and sustain her business model in this area. And likewise the personality profiling Masterclass, because a passion for team building is already inherent in Charlotte’s work culture. The class confirmed this, and she loved watching lightbulb moments happen for participants and share her experience in profiling implementation with her team.
Charlotte hasn’t been transformed as such but admits the potential is ready to be unfurled – helped by the employment of a long-desired PA. Ground level attention to practices such as goal setting, time management, and office procedure will free Charlotte to follow her business ideals … and for a creative like her, that freedom is a catalyst for growth.
O2E delivered a ROI as yet undefined in figures but certainly characterized by Charlotte’s new impetus and business focus. She states emphatically that Silk Skin Spa and Charlotte Talks gained 50-50 each from the Academy and she now has a platform to grow both.
Final words:
“The format of the Academy was perfectly balanced; stimulating, insightful, integrated and universally applicable yet also tailored. It filled in the gaps, gave knowledge to my business practices and I loved every minute.”
Charlotte Ward, Silk Skin Spa https://www.silkskinspa.co.nz/, Charlotte Talks https://www.charlottetalks.co.nz/