Real name: Chris Kaday
UKBF user name: Chris Kaday
Company name: Chris Kaday
Company website: www.chriskaday.co.uk
Company contact: [email protected] 07717 411382
1.How did you start your business?
Actually I started my first business on a day when I was declared redundant, got divorced and lost my home – oh we were in the middle of a recession too. I sat down at the kitchen table and produced a presentation of what I thought companies wanted in their sales and marketing. Then I called everyone in my little black book to get appointments. If they were not interested I asked them who else they knew who might be. 11 years later we had grown to approaching 200 staff and I sold up. Following that I spent two years chilling out and then, after lot of training, started a life coaching practice. My current business mentoring company came out of this as I found that business people were more up for change as there were always financial implications and above all this was home territory for me
2. What products or services does your business offer?
I am a business mentor, business coach, public speaker, entrepreneur and author – quite a list eh? But basically I help people start and grow successful business by adding my experience of doing that myself. I might make a one off contribution by helping companies develop a clear plan to achieve a specific revenue goal but usually go on to help them achieve it too. A successful business is a lot about mind set so I get involved in coaching too. I also train staff – for example I have been training a telephone team on objection handling and they created a number of leads before lunchtime using the techniques I showed them – very satisfying.
3. What were the main challenges you faced when setting up your business?
Well actually none with the more recent mentoring business, which I set up about three years ago. I was using my core skills and experience and people were asking me to do the work so I could pick and choose who I worked with. I suppose the motto here is ‘stick to what you are good at and know well’. The only real challenge was writing a web site which reflected me and what I was offering. It is easy to do it for others but jolly hard to do it for yourself. The site still needs more work even though it is on Google top page and gets great feedback.
4. How would you rate the success you've achieved?
I achieved spasmodic success when working for others but have always been very successful when working for myself - the Kaday way. My first company was highly successful on any measure you care to use. We had a blue ship client base, were highly profitable, generated multi million pound revenues and had a great management team which I personally trained and developed. Today all my mentoring clients have businesses which are growing at a faster rate since I have been involved. They are also far clearer about their aims and business model and have developed as business managers too. Last Christmas one of my clients did so well he gave a nice Christmas bonus for his staff. He gave a bonus to me too for my contribution which was such a kind thought.
5. Why should customers and clients use your services?
Why go into the business jungle alone when you can make the journey with someone who has been there before and not only survived but prospered? I add clarity and structure to any business, establishing the priorities and helping my clients achieve them. I also get my hands dirty by doing as well as advising. For example I am currently running a client’s company whilst he is on holiday. Last month saw me manning an exhibition stand with a client - great fun that. I am setting up a telephone team for a client who has a major industry backer. I love working with young people and this is pure joy. I also help my clients first hand in tricky sales or negotiation situations. But most important of all I am there to keep them on track and to help them with the myriad of issues which arise in any business today. I help them celebrate their successes too. In my business experience there is far too little of that.
6. How has UK Business Forums benefited your business?
If you want to be successful in business you have to be prepared to give stuff away (lots of it!) and I love answering people’s issues on UKBF as they stimulate my thinking – bring it on! The site has also helped me get up Google but that is secondary as I have lots of other ways of doing that. UKBF is also increasingly a first port of call when a client has an issue and I want some advice. I always get great responses so thank you everyone.
7. What are your plans for the future?
I am not looking to take on lots of clients and grow my mentoring business significantly as I do not need the cash just to see change and I enjoy and value my leisure time too much. I will probably take on no more than three regular clients this year if that. I do however want to be involved in larger companies in a non executive board capacity and have just taken on my third chairmanship. My main aim for the future is to do more events and workshops where I can add value and make a positive impact to many businesses at one time. I love the interaction of workshops and did quite a few in 2007. These will be a growing part of my business in 2008 as well as adding more value on the site.
8. What are your three tips for business success?
1. Have a written plan yearly, monthly and weekly. Businesses grow through action not ideas and if you have no action plan you have no business. It is frightening how few businesses have a clear structure or model going forward. It is the first thing I inevitably do with new clients.
2. Understand what you are good at and either learn to do what you are not good at or get others to do it. This does however not apply to selling. I think any small business owner has to be capable of selling his/her services to others - you can’t abdicate this to someone else.
3. Make decisions quickly as every days delay is costing you in wasted energy and lack of direction. Don’t get tied up in constant consideration and thought but stay in action - keep moving forward
Oh and if I can add a fourth, hire a business mentor who has demonstrably made cash in commerce. It is an investment which will pay for itself very quickly providing you do what you have agreed.
UKBF user name: Chris Kaday
Company name: Chris Kaday
Company website: www.chriskaday.co.uk
Company contact: [email protected] 07717 411382
1.How did you start your business?
Actually I started my first business on a day when I was declared redundant, got divorced and lost my home – oh we were in the middle of a recession too. I sat down at the kitchen table and produced a presentation of what I thought companies wanted in their sales and marketing. Then I called everyone in my little black book to get appointments. If they were not interested I asked them who else they knew who might be. 11 years later we had grown to approaching 200 staff and I sold up. Following that I spent two years chilling out and then, after lot of training, started a life coaching practice. My current business mentoring company came out of this as I found that business people were more up for change as there were always financial implications and above all this was home territory for me
2. What products or services does your business offer?
I am a business mentor, business coach, public speaker, entrepreneur and author – quite a list eh? But basically I help people start and grow successful business by adding my experience of doing that myself. I might make a one off contribution by helping companies develop a clear plan to achieve a specific revenue goal but usually go on to help them achieve it too. A successful business is a lot about mind set so I get involved in coaching too. I also train staff – for example I have been training a telephone team on objection handling and they created a number of leads before lunchtime using the techniques I showed them – very satisfying.
3. What were the main challenges you faced when setting up your business?
Well actually none with the more recent mentoring business, which I set up about three years ago. I was using my core skills and experience and people were asking me to do the work so I could pick and choose who I worked with. I suppose the motto here is ‘stick to what you are good at and know well’. The only real challenge was writing a web site which reflected me and what I was offering. It is easy to do it for others but jolly hard to do it for yourself. The site still needs more work even though it is on Google top page and gets great feedback.
4. How would you rate the success you've achieved?
I achieved spasmodic success when working for others but have always been very successful when working for myself - the Kaday way. My first company was highly successful on any measure you care to use. We had a blue ship client base, were highly profitable, generated multi million pound revenues and had a great management team which I personally trained and developed. Today all my mentoring clients have businesses which are growing at a faster rate since I have been involved. They are also far clearer about their aims and business model and have developed as business managers too. Last Christmas one of my clients did so well he gave a nice Christmas bonus for his staff. He gave a bonus to me too for my contribution which was such a kind thought.
5. Why should customers and clients use your services?
Why go into the business jungle alone when you can make the journey with someone who has been there before and not only survived but prospered? I add clarity and structure to any business, establishing the priorities and helping my clients achieve them. I also get my hands dirty by doing as well as advising. For example I am currently running a client’s company whilst he is on holiday. Last month saw me manning an exhibition stand with a client - great fun that. I am setting up a telephone team for a client who has a major industry backer. I love working with young people and this is pure joy. I also help my clients first hand in tricky sales or negotiation situations. But most important of all I am there to keep them on track and to help them with the myriad of issues which arise in any business today. I help them celebrate their successes too. In my business experience there is far too little of that.
6. How has UK Business Forums benefited your business?
If you want to be successful in business you have to be prepared to give stuff away (lots of it!) and I love answering people’s issues on UKBF as they stimulate my thinking – bring it on! The site has also helped me get up Google but that is secondary as I have lots of other ways of doing that. UKBF is also increasingly a first port of call when a client has an issue and I want some advice. I always get great responses so thank you everyone.
7. What are your plans for the future?
I am not looking to take on lots of clients and grow my mentoring business significantly as I do not need the cash just to see change and I enjoy and value my leisure time too much. I will probably take on no more than three regular clients this year if that. I do however want to be involved in larger companies in a non executive board capacity and have just taken on my third chairmanship. My main aim for the future is to do more events and workshops where I can add value and make a positive impact to many businesses at one time. I love the interaction of workshops and did quite a few in 2007. These will be a growing part of my business in 2008 as well as adding more value on the site.
8. What are your three tips for business success?
1. Have a written plan yearly, monthly and weekly. Businesses grow through action not ideas and if you have no action plan you have no business. It is frightening how few businesses have a clear structure or model going forward. It is the first thing I inevitably do with new clients.
2. Understand what you are good at and either learn to do what you are not good at or get others to do it. This does however not apply to selling. I think any small business owner has to be capable of selling his/her services to others - you can’t abdicate this to someone else.
3. Make decisions quickly as every days delay is costing you in wasted energy and lack of direction. Don’t get tied up in constant consideration and thought but stay in action - keep moving forward
Oh and if I can add a fourth, hire a business mentor who has demonstrably made cash in commerce. It is an investment which will pay for itself very quickly providing you do what you have agreed.
