The Roche Hair Experience

We have put togther a short video series looking at a simple modle that we use in various situations whem working with our client and discussion educational course provision. (The themes can be used in other areas not just in an educational setting.) 

The diagram is a simple one, below we discuss how we use this model to articulate some key areas relating to Market Position, Product Design, The Value Chain and The Student Journey.  

What a year it’s been. 

It was only a year ago we, myself and Dave Christophi, set up Your Guardian and it feels like a lifetime.

Global pandemic aside we knew setting up and going alone was going to be tough.  We have made changes and taken steps forwards, backwards and sideways.  There have been a few tears and tantrums, some sleepless nights and some critical and difficult conversations had along the way. 

We are still here and massively enjoying the ride.  We have worked with, and continue to work with, some simply brilliant businesspeople and each day provides us with new challenges.  Every time we speak to prospective and existing clients we are blown away by their desire for success, resilience, and hard work.   

Thank you to all those that have supported our journey and we look forward to more successful years ahead.

We wanted to jot down some of the lessons we have learnt over the last year.

Be clear on why you do what you do.

We took a long time getting this right, at the start we had an idea and then it morphed into something else, it bled across everything we did and made our focus, foggy.  We then went all the way back to the why we do what we do.  From this point other things fell into place.  We need to constantly remind ourselves of why we do what we do, this has always guided us when we consider our future plans.

Take on all feedback.

Entrepreneurs (I still don’t class myself as an entrepreneur) have a belief in what they do, it is a tremendous blessing but can also be a curse.  We pick our side and defend it. But, sometimes we might be wrong.  We had some really harsh criticism of some of our messaging that really upset me personally.  However, with a deep breath and a different lens the feedback was completely correct.  We have taken this and other negative feedback on board and used it positively.  No-one has the monopoly on the good ideas, listen to all feedback.

Nothing is ever finished.

If you are looking for the final version of anything you won’t find it. You know what you know now and in some cases that will have to do.  I look back on some of the first documents we created and want the world to swallow me up with embarrassment, however they were what they were at the time, the ladies at ActiveIQ did well not to laugh us out of the building!  At that moment they were fit for purpose.  Is what we have out there at the moment perfect? No. Do we strive for perfection? Yes.  Balance is the key, if you sit on version 1 for too long you miss the bus, if you get it out too quickly then you might do more harm than good.

Trade in the commodity that is Honesty.

Seems like an obvious one, but open and honest and business don’t always go hand in hand.  It is an unnervingly dark place when you feel like there is a subplot to certain situations, worst still when you find out there has been one! Throughout every step of our journey, we have been honest with ourselves, within the team and with our clients.  Not always easy, or fun, however, wholly, wholly necessary.  I’m not talking about ‘bull in a china shop, say whatever you want, however you want and screw what people think of you’, more so open and honest feedback and being able to look internally to how we receive feedback.

A quote from Pete Banbury from The BodyMapper in one of our very early meetings

‘If we trade in anything, let us ensure that we trade in the commodity of honesty’

If there’s one thing that has stood out for us at Your Guardian in the last few months, then it’s the importance of fostering effective collaboration. I don’t mean just from a company perspective but also from a personal point of view and your own individual brand.

Moreover, it never ceases to amaze me how often a conversation with one contact can lead to a prized connection with another, regardless of sectors, geographical locations or social circles… which is probably why I’m a keen user of social media platforms and business networks.

Take last week for example, which included a new collaboration with the Australian Institute of Fitness (AIF) on behalf of one of our latest venture’s The BodyMapper – a contemporary education provider, itself only formed recently following an impromptu call to a longstanding connection, at the time the original intention being to reach out offering mutual support.

Remarkably, my contact Down-Under is someone I met just the once, for a quick coffee back in early 2016 whilst living in Perth. At the time I was looking for a job within Education Management, similar to my last role at Premier Global, and arranged to meet up for a chat as I was keen to learn more about the AIF.

Initially nothing came from the encounter, other than we had made the effort to meet, share views and enjoyed the cut of each other’s jib. Until now, four years later through the power of LinkedIn, when the opportunity truly presented itself and collaboration was definitely the way forwards.

Quite literally just like that, we had remained loosely connected within each other’s networks, all from the comfort of our homes and on the opposite sides of the world, then spotted the synergy.

So, it got me thinking about the other connections we’ve benefitted from over the last few weeks and months, directly and indirectly, during a time when seeing the whites of someone’s eyes is generally through a screen nowadays.

On the Your Guardian front we have recently partnered with a number of Awarding Organisations to offer our services to their centres. Interestingly, these are relationships built on collaboration and support, not necessarily for direct fiscal gain.

On the flip-side, some of the clients we’re working closely with, as business consultants, have snowballed into new relationships with their governing bodies and associations.

Furthermore, there have been calls with those working within the sports industry, initially just loosely connected but quickly one of these has already led to a proposal being placed on the table that could potentially lead to a very exciting project. As if often the case with these new opportunities leverage equity in exchange for the commodities of time and experience rather than fiscal, or indeed a combination of all of the above. Ultimately, it’s this willingness to utilise a number of options to find a combination that works for all concerned that is so refreshing. Collaboration!

Moreover on a personal note, a new website is being launched this week by Koi Sports, a Community Interest Company established to sustain, enhance and grow the Grassroots Sport Sector, promoting a true “Sport for All” culture. Something I feel strongly about and within which I’ll appear as one of the Elite Champions. Whilst this is a voluntary role, I love the fact that it pools likeminded professionals together to share ideas, skills and networks to engage with communities, all through the power of corporate collaboration with grassroots sport.

Another real labour of love, I have my role as Committee Secretary for the RAF Servicing Commando & Tactical Supply Wing Association and currently in the middle of writing a chapter about my time on the operational unit, to celebrate its 50^th anniversary and raise funds for two impressive memorials due to be located at the National Memorial Arboretum in 2021.

Keeping in touch with ex-military colleagues has frequently led to doors opening and we’re proud of our welfare programme that provides valuable support to many of our members, particularly during these challenging times. Being part of this military family and supporting each other for life is at the core of this unique network.

So, whether it’s Training Providers or Awarding Organisations, Sports Industry or Professional Associations, Start-ups or SMEs, highly commercial or socially responsible… offering support to each other is the way forwards and in my opinion builds for success. All roads lead to collaboration!

Please let us know if we can help!

When we think about growing our business we might instantly think we need to get out there and get more leads.  There are many people and agencies out there that will champion this plan. 

It is one of many ways you can grow revenue. 

Ensure the tactics you do employ fit with your overall company goal. 

No one ever just wanted more leads… 

The 5 Voices