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Thursday, February 15, 2007

Humph! What Makes YOU So Good?

In the book I discuss why my sensitivity to criticism for my simple approach to business has me charging a 'markedly above-average consulting fee'. It is because 'I only work with those who really value what I do'.

If a business owner wants to pay tuppenny-ha'penny for a run-of-the mill consultant, I'm not interested.

I've seen literally BILLIONS piddled up against the wall by supposedly 'bright' consultants and business whizkids since launching Growth Holdings back in 1990 as the first independent business consultancy in South Africa to offer a 100% money-back guarantee. A simple offer that has seen this consultancy being in business for over 16 years.

Now here's the important point I make in the book - Growth Holdings has outlasted well over 90% of the listed entities on the JSE over that same time period. Here's the quote:

In that same time, it seems that 90% of all listed companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange have disappeared forever.

Writes Ann Crotty – BusinessReport 9th March 2005: ‘So it seems that the average life span of a JSE Securities Exchange-listed company is not much longer than that of your garden variety pop group. Anyone who didn't see Monday's edition of Business Report should really try and get hold of it. It contained a comparison of the share prices page on the publication's launch day, which was March 7 1995, with that of March 4 2005. According to our markets editor Renée Bonorchis, only about 60 of the companies that are listed in March 2005 were around in a roughly similar guise in 1995. That's about a 10 percent survival rate.’ http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=2439673&fSectionId=560&fSetId=304

How I wish we could have implemented some SIMPLE business principles in just a few of these companies. Sigh..!

The above comment leads to another confession that I admit to in the book:

'Please understand that I keep these things simple because I do not regard myself as an ‘expert’ in business, and I am probably nowhere near as knowledgeable as you are, or should be, in your own business.

'Quite honestly, I am not that 'bright'.

'I am just very good at making things happen and achieving results.

'This is perhaps borne out best by the many thank-you letters, compliments, and testimonials from thankful folks that I receive in my email inbox and post online.'


So what makes me 'so good' at what I do?

DOING... rather than talking.

I wear my heart on my sleeve when I go to bat on a project I believe in.

Regards
Trevor Nel - (int. 2711) 705-2790 - growth@global.co.za
Developer: INNER Circle Business Forum