I’ve always seen the world as a playground – something to be explored and enjoyed – an arena full of people and places to learn from and grow.
Everything changes
When you’re growing up you’re learning, and evolving and adapting to the world around you. For me, this is a never ending, fun and enriching process to live by every day. We’re not static. And over the years I’ve learned – sometimes the hard way – that the business world isn’t either. Just as there’s no ‘end goal’ in life, I’ve really come to believe that business is also a journey. It’s not the way every businessperson approaches what he or she does – but it’s a mindset that certainly suits me. I’ve built a lot of successful businesses, in large part because of the way that I approach life – but I haven’t always thought this way.
At school most of us typically gravitated towards a group of friends, people we knew. But one day I started to include everyone new I ‘bumped’ into – widening my circle.
I found new friends and sources of inspiration – I had fun and learned new things – and broadened my horizons. Years later I’m still doing it – only now my playground is the business world. I reach out to new people every day and welcome those who reach out to me – my life is richer for it and it makes my life as an entrepreneur fun. I don’t see every person as a business opportunity – people soon see through that – but I do see each new person I meet as a chance to develop myself.
A different way of life
When I set up OMNIA Global I took the less traditional approach to do business with people not companies. My life – both personally, and in terms of my business and my network – is all the more richer for it.
Sure, I’m still in the business of ‘doing business’. But it starts and ends with people. It means I like to know who I’m dealing with, what they’re passionate about, what they’re interested in, their goals and what I can learn from them and vice versa.
What this brings to OMNIA Global and me is a really fascinating business journey. We’re not fixed on a goal in a stuffy business plan, we’re on a journey with our clients that evolves and adapts with the needs of the people we work with. And I think that is the ‘secret’ – if there is such a thing – to growing your business – building it organically in a way that always puts the needs of your clients first.
People, not businesses
The recent work we’ve done with OMNIA has really shown how this business model can work. It’s been quite a ride – we’ve had more work on our hands in the last couple of years than in the first five with OMNIA – but most of all it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve still built the business on my ability to find those solutions that are a bit different and that are truly innovative – but I’ve now taken the approach that it’s always the person I’m dealing with that is the most important factor, rather than the type of business they run. It’s proven to be the best way to find that elusive thing – demand – and it’s also meant that I’ve had the chance to hang out with a lot of like-minded people who genuinely interest me over the years.
Creating a lifestyle you love
I’ve spoken before about how I see the business I’ve built with OMNIA as a lifestyle, rather than as a saleable asset. This isn’t just marketing speak – it’s just how I see this highly successful approach that has brought me to this point in my career as an entrepreneur.
Life is full of interesting people, and if there is one thing that the last 22 years have taught me, it’s that your business should be too.
