No Growth Without Change:

It’s been said that change begins at the end of your comfort zone. But change can also mean entering a growth zone.

As the year draws to a close, it’s crucial to stay focused and finish strong, setting the tone for the year ahead. Partnering with an expert specialist will help you gain momentum, achieve your goals, and start the new year with confidence. We want to share conversations we usually have at this time of the year with prospective business owners looking to work with us.

Catherine: Hi Richard, as we approach the end of the year, have you given any thought to how you’re planning to wrap things up for your business?
Richard – Business Owner: I’ve been thinking about it, but with everything going on, it’s easy to lose focus.

Catherine: I get it, unless you have a co-pilot it’s easy to be dragged in the trenches. But the way you finish the year can really make or break your momentum heading into the next. Even if the year didn’t start off perfectly, ending it strong can set a powerful tone for your business’s future.
Richard – Business Owner: That’s true. But how do I stay on track when things are winding down?

Catherine: It’s all about staying laser-focused on your goals and maintaining a strong mindset. The effort you put in now can create the momentum you need to hit the ground running next year. It also gives you the best chance to meet or even exceed your goals, setting a new standard for what your business can achieve.
Richard – Business Owner: That sounds like the push we need, but it’s easier said than done.

Catherine: That’s where a business expert specialist, such as The Engine comes in. Working with someone who can provide tailored capability, action plans and keep you accountable can make all the difference. You can gain ground much quicker and ensure you’re ending the year with the momentum you need to propel you into the next. No change = no change Richard. In fact we know those businesses who don’t do anything will be in the same place they are now, this time next year.
Richard – Business Owner: I can’t do another year like this – I’m ready.

Catherine: Great! Let’s get you co-funding, engaged and make sure you finish this year on a better note, setting you up to propel success in the new year.

– Catherine Cooke

Founder and Leading Business Advisor

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Navigating Decision Paralysis:

The Role of Effective Governance in Business Success.

“Like an ostrich with its head in the sand, avoiding challenges may offer temporary solace, but it won’t propel you forward. In fact, the only direction burying your head in the sand leads is backward, where problems fester and potential remains untapped.”

When numerous directors are involved in decision-making processes, decision paralysis can often set in, hindering progress and creating inefficiencies. At times, real-life examples of businesses we have worked with here at The Engine Limited illustrates the need for streamlining decision-making for the long-term success of a business:

1. The Engine had to take action by separating two directors over a period of 2-3 months who harboured mutual animosity for six years. Their personal conflict impeded productive decision-making and impeded the company’s growth potential. What a waste of 6 years!

2. It became necessary for family members with a conflict of interest at the board table to step down and make way for unbiased decision-making. Their continued presence was undermining the business’s strategic direction and overall success. Results – damage & a broken family!

3. In some cases, directors may have differing exit strategy expectations, leading to conflicting decisions and confusion about the company’s future direction. Aligning these expectations is crucial for maintaining a cohesive and purposeful business strategy. Litigation resulted to recover losses for stakeholders who had been hamstrung with business growth!

4. Businesses can face challenges when directors operate more as managers, lacking clear leadership and strategic vision. This can result in a lack of guidance, decision paralysis, and difficulty in driving the company towards its goals effectively. The ship was rudderless!

In times of turbulence or disruption, having experienced leadership and a clear decision-making framework is essential for navigating uncertainties and challenges. A well-defined governance structure, clear roles and responsibilities, effective communication, and a focus on strategic direction are all key components that can help businesses overcome decision paralysis and drive sustainable growth. Making informed decisions, fostering collaboration, and prioritising the company’s interests above personal agendas are crucial steps towards ensuring the long-term success and prosperity of the business.

– Catherine Cooke

Founder and Leading Business Advisor

Subscribe to  The Engine Business Coach.

Save thousands of dollars by avoiding simple but often-overlooked business mistakes with our monthly advisory newsletter.

At The Engine, we don’t just coach; we dive into the pool swimming alongside you! No two businesses are the same, each facing their own unique challenges. Our approach to business support is uniquely collaborative, designed to make a real impact. We start by listening closely to your challenges and aspirations because you know your business best. However, before we go further, it’s important we do a 360 deep dive with your clients, employees and other stakeholders as we know where to find the blind spots and disconnects that are holding you back.

We listen intently to your challenges and aspirations. Together, we’ll take a step back, press pause, and take a fresh look at your business. We’ll identify the obstacles hindering your growth and pinpoint practical solutions to overcome them. Our advice is bespoke and more often or not during this 360 review we are also jumping in to help with imminent needs – right now that is typically leaning up such as restructures, IRD conversations, cashflow needs and more.

Your business is our business. Our goal is to leverage your competitive edge and ensure you stand out in your industry. Depending on the size of your business, we have a business support option for you and you may be eligible for co-funding up to $5000 for our services.

Book your funding call for coaching.

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– Catherine Cooke
Founder and Leading Business Advisor 

Each week we have businesses queuing to discuss the downturn in sales and stress of keeping the wolves at bay. If this does not reasonate with you then we’d say you either are very lucky or you won the lottery. The majority of businesses are in chaos and they turn to us, sometimes too late.

At The Engine, our Advisors, along with our specialist provider community we focus on the action and ROI. We reignite your business and achieve business success – such is our track record. In these challenging times, there are three essential things your business needs right now, along with one crucial action that can save you & your staff money and provide your staff value.

1. Cash is paramount.
It’s crucial to review your business and personal expenditures & lean up, make tough decisions about retaining team members, and strategise to replace lost sales revenue. Seeking help to strategise and possibly restructure is key, and our previous newsletters on addressing tough realities struck a chord with many of our readers.

2. Visibility is vital.
Despite the temptation to cut marketing to reduce costs, it’s important to consider whether all team members are required. Neglecting marketing can lead to your business becoming the best-kept secret, while competitors gain ground. Yes it’s tough to lean up and cut, but without proven key startegies you may be staring at a different barrell. No sales, no visibility = no business.

3. Experience.
If you’re serious about surviving this economic downturn, having experienced advisors is essential. At The Engine, we bring a proven track record of working with businesses from various industries. Our Advisors have been in your shoes (still are), actively involved, and have successfully built and grown companies similar to your aspirations numerous times. Success & survival depend on the expertise you have with you, and our specialist community has the strategic guidance needed for your business and our approach brings about accountability, ensuring that your plans are executed with precision and effectiveness. *Your business may be eligible for capability funding too.

Lastly, join the many businesses with The Engine’s Business Membership – the most sought-after membership in this economic crisis. There is no other business membership that provides cost savings to you and your team. With significant financial pressures facing businesses, our membership offers valuable savings for businesses of all sizes as well as could be the value you need to keep your team when you can’t afford pay increases. Each membership includes a 2-hour coaching session to assess your needs and provide tailored suggestions.

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– Catherine Cooke
Founder and Leading Business Advisor 

In essence, having an elephant in the room signifies a glaring issue or challenging circumstance that everyone avoids addressing. So, let’s confront the elephant in the room. It’s a major factor contributing to the downfall of many businesses, and it’s high time we acknowledge it openly.

Neglecting this fundamental aspect of your business renders everything else irrelevant.

Can you hazard a guess? It’s not even the calibre of your hires. It’s not your marketing strategies or even your branding efforts.

The primary reason behind the staggering failure rates of small businesses is their inability to effectively sell their products or services. IT’S A FACT! No sugarcoating, no falsehoods. You don’t need a meticulously crafted brand identity to start generating revenue for your business.

No matter how many branding experts insist otherwise, it’s simply not the case. Drawing from my experience as a multi-business owner who has built one company from $0 to $10M turnover and helped 100’s and 100’s of businesses to grow revenue, I can assert unequivocally that salesmanship is the paramount factor in business success. Without sales is the number one reason why businesses fail!

We hear often from business owners “I despise sales! Can’t I delegate it to someone more skilled?” True, you absolutely can, but let me explain why that would be a monumental error in your entrepreneurial journey. You are placing the entire burden of driving revenue on another individual which will leave you and them in a bind because you lack a comprehensive understanding of your business’s sales strategy, plan, activity, and sales cycle.

This lack of understanding of your sales cycle will hinder your ability to properly train someone.

You won’t fully grasp your customers’ objections. You won’t be able to coach and support your sales team if you don’t even have a strategy, let alone a plan. You won’t have a solid process in place to effectively train someone else.

The only way to truly comprehend the sales process is to dive in and sell! Immerse yourself in the nitty-gritty of sales and start generating revenue for your business. The moment you empower yourself as a salesperson in your business is the moment your business will grow.

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– Catherine Cooke
Founder and Leading Business Advisor 

The Unyielding Sway of Cash: When Liquidation Becomes the Sole Alternative

We dropped the final curtain of filing for liquidation proceedings in the High Court this week assisting a client that had waited nearly 18 months for funds from a debtor in excess of $300k. They had worked with us 4 years ago and said they regretted leaving our expertise. This business owner was extremely stressed and broken. They asked us to facilitate an attempt to recover. From the outset we said this was never going to be easy given the attitude of the debtor and the endless broken promises.

In the unpredictable landscape of business, the adage “cash is king” resonates with a resounding truth. For companies navigating financial turmoil, maintaining a robust cash flow can often mean the difference between survival and insolvency. When a company finds itself in a precarious position, owed money by another struggling entity, there comes a time when the only alternative is to shake the tree and opt for liquidation. This decision, although fraught with uncertainty, is driven by the imperative to salvage whatever value remains and mitigate further losses. The harsh reality is that not every debtor can fulfill their financial obligations, and as creditors, the decision to liquidate becomes a strategic move to safeguard one’s interests. It is a last resort born out of a pragmatic understanding that clinging to hopes of recovery may lead to deeper financial entanglements. By initiating the liquidation process, the creditor takes control of the situation, actively participating in the disbursement of remaining assets to recover as much debt as possible.

Inaction is often the riskiest course of action. A paralysed approach could result in a prolonged battle for repayment, draining both time and resources. By opting for liquidation, the creditor seizes the initiative and accelerates the resolution process. While it may seem counterintuitive to accept the possibility of receiving nothing, this decisive step ensures a definitive conclusion to the debt recovery saga. The decision to liquidate is a calculated one, acknowledging the delicate balance between risk and reward. The debtor’s financial instability may render traditional avenues, such as restructuring or negotiation, ineffective. In such cases, liquidation becomes the pragmatic choice, offering closure and the chance to allocate resources more efficiently. It becomes a testament to the uncompromising nature of the business world, where tough decisions are sometimes the only path to financial equilibrium.

In conclusion, the mantra “cash is king” reverberates through the corridors of financial strategy, especially when dealing with a debtor on the brink. While opting for liquidation might seem like a drastic measure, it serves as a lifeline for creditors navigating treacherous waters. In the unpredictable dance of commerce, sometimes the only alternative is to shake the tree, accept the harsh reality, and move forward, even if it means braving the uncertainty of receiving nothing at all. You don’t need to navigate Debtor Management on your own.

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– Catherine Cooke
Founder and Leading Business Advisor