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Having a business mentor gave Goodson Imports NZ (GINZ) managing director Peter Murray a fresh perspective on his business that has proved invaluable.
When he first met business mentor Nick Sterling, Peter identified that, in light of the very adverse market conditions, it would be good for his business to maintain the same levels of annual revenue and net proft for the following year. However, much to Peter’s surprise, Nick suggested that he consider setting a 20% year-on-year net growth in revenue. And after completing a comprehensive plan for that year with Nick, Peter ended up doubling the total revenue, achieving a 100% net growth for his business.
“I blew all my business plan metrics and financial targets completely out of the water – doubled the size of sales revenue, the size of my workforce and transformed the business environment – all in one financial year, and right in the middle of a tough recession. Nick was instrumental in the process,” Peter says.
Strategic business planning is just one of the many areas that Nick advised on. Peter also gained numerous best-practice techniques in strategy, sales, marketing, operational design, and people management skills – all of which have played a part in his business success.
Peter says he knew what he wanted his business to achieve, but had yet to fully crystallise those ideas into clear business outcomes with specific time-frames with measurements. Peter and Nick worked on this first and then developed the individual key tactical and operational initiatives to further support the successful delivery of that strategy, together with some in-depth market, customer and economic analyses.
Nick Sterling is a business and management consulant who has supported 33 business clients in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands since 2010. He brings generalist and specialist expertise to the mentoring role having been in general management roles of large business units and in leading the delivery of complex business transformation programmes.
Nick finds his work as a business mentor an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding experience.
“In light of the tough economic conditions that have been impacting a lot of businesses in New Zealand, I felt what better way to contribute to my community than by putting some of my own time to good use by providing business expertise and management support to those that perhaps may not be able to afford to pay for it but still need it.”
Auckland Chamber of Commerce runs the central Auckland agency for Business Mentors New Zealand. Kerry Carr has been coordinator for the service at the Chamber for more than five years and has seen some great success stories come out of the programme. “It’s great when clients work together with their mentor and form that essential trusting relationship.”
