Why Me? What Gives Me The Right?

It's not about me, it's about YOU, so you need to know if I am a good fit for you, and vice-versa.  So, after reading the details below, if you'd like to take advantage of the free "Power Hour", that's great, we can cover a ton of stuff in that hour.

The Start of the Journey

In 1993 I left the RAF and started my printing business.  From a very humble start up in the East of Glasgow, we bootstrapped this to become a serious player in the general print market.

But I stopped looking at what our competitors were doing and focussed on what they were NOT doing, and quickly realised there was some serious gaps in the market.

That led to the start of the scaling journey.  Bringing colour printing to the High Street, the customers LOVED it.  It's why and HOW we became the largest chain of independent print centres in the country.  That business was flying.

Then, things started to go wrong, and I was too much of a complete DICK to address those issues.  EIGHT fundamental mistakes, that individually would not have been an issue, created the perfect storm.  Eight AVOIDABLE mistakes.

Despite that business success, despite that multi-million pound turnover, that business failed on its 20th Birthday.   That's why I wrote the book.  How To Wreck Your Business went on to become an Amazon #1 Best Seller, because it shares the story, its shares the pain.

Then What Do You Do?

Losing the business was hell on earth, you would not wish that on your worst enemy.  Bizarrely, my worst enemy reached out to me, and I ended up JOINING the team at Tradeprint.  It's fair to say that we very quickly became very good friends. 

We did some amazing things at Tradeprint, and grew that business to be a SERIOUS player in the trade supply chain... maybe too good.   A few years into my journey, Tradeprint was acquired by Cimpress, who you'll know better as Vistaprint.

This is where my fascination with business acquisition came from.  I was amazed by the number of levers that can affect a business valuation and sale potential.  Tradeprint sold for £21m because of the magic that had been created.  Every business needs to create that magic, otherwise you're just the same as them down the road.

I decided that "Corporate Print" was not for me.  Yes, I was now a Plant Director with the largest print group on the PLANET, but it wasn't for me.   Anyone in the "Entrepreneur" space will know exactly what I am talking about here.

The Next Chapter

I then started to share the story, share the learnings, and started out as a "Business Coach".  That didn't sit well with my values and streetwise business acumen.  Letters after your name in an unregulated industry means NOTHING.  Worse still, after COVID, anyone with a laptop, Zoom account and pulse became a "Business Coach"... the pulse is optional for many.

The Next Chapter (Take 2) - The Inverted Growth Model

I created my own approach to business improvement.  It's NOT Business Coaching.  It's bringing a streetwise approach to business.  It's about avoiding failure first, it's about looking from the outside to see what you often miss on the inside - that's what royally fucked me.

Mark Twain said it best;

"It's not what you don't know that gets you into trouble, it's what you know for sure that just ain't so"

I created the "Inverted Growth Model" because I don't (and won't) promise to "10x" your business, or build 7 figure months.  We cover the basics first, then grow.  It's why The Inverted Growth Model has four elements, Fix, Grow, Scale, Exit.  Have a look below at the content of the Inverted Growth Model, it works.

The Final Point

That's probably enough about me, because it should be about you.  Apologies if I have bored the shit out of you, but it's important to share that there's a LOT of experience there, a lot of knowledge to share, and a passion for helping businesses avoid the hell that I went through.

If you think we could be a good fit, book a "Power Hour" and we'll get to know each other, talk all things print, explore a few ideas, and I'm confident I can leave you with a few hints and tips to help.  There's no charge for that.

Oh, There Is Something Else...

I created an online programme to help small business owners.  A programme designed to give GENUINE help and not a lead magnet to upsell courses after 12.4 seconds.  This is a FREE course, it's online, and it delivers high value, business improvement content EVERY week for a FULL YEAR.   Did I mention it was free?

I wanted to give it a memorable name, so "52 Reasons To Grow Your Business" was binned at the draft stages and "How To Seriously Un-F**K Your Business" was born.

Have a look at the course content - it's pretty impressive... or just get started.

Zero Bullshit Business Approach

Experience From The Trenches

Streetwise Growth Approach

Original Patented Content

It's A Programme Like NO OTHER...

Every week for a full year we're going to deliver awesome business improvement exercises straight into your inbox.

You're going to love this course. 

We're going to challenge conventional thinking, and get you REALLY thinking about business growth and profit improvements, and we're going to do that completely FREE.

Get started today, but only if you want to be better and make more money.



Where It All Started...

Or Should That Be Ended?

This is the book that started everything.  It went on to become an Amazon #1 Best Seller.

It's my story.  It's a true story, it's a horror story, do not make it your story.  Every mistake I made was 100% avoidable, it's why print business owners enjoy working with me.

I didn't see the problems because the SUCCESS was masking them, something that haunts me EVERY DAY.