A book for and in Celebration of Entrepreneurs: Part I

Writing this post, which is a summary of what you will find in my upcoming book, I've been struck by the wide range of influences that have inspired it. As I mentioned in the previous post, one of my biggest sources of inspiration was the KPI programme run by Daniel Priestley. So, it is serendipitous that he was kind enough to write the foreword.

"Fund, acquire, consolidate, exit. I had seen this strategy work for one of my mentors who had made millions each time he applied it. I had not seen someone break it down so elegantly and simply the way David has, so that any entrepreneur can implement it."

Daniel Priestley

Daniel's knowledge and expertise have helped to shape this book, and for that I will always be grateful. But the influence does not stop there. Reading over the book, I've noticed it draws inspiration from several places. From awe-inspiring authors to erudite entrepreneurs, hindsight has given me the wonderful gift of seeing how once-separate threads of my life have slowly woven together to create this book.

Inspiration Peaks

Previously on the blog I’ve written posts about mindset and thought, influenced by Brené Brown, Michael Neill and Susan Jeffers. It has struck me that the themes of scarcity and abundance, and trust and courage have all been drawn from these incredible authors, and indeed are explored in my book. After all, they have a huge impact on business. Similarly, the posts I’ve shared over the years that explore the importance of company culture, employee retention and inspirational entrepreneurs have also helped to shape my writing. Although it is a book about business growth, at its heart it is a book for and in celebration of people; specifically, entrepreneurs.

8 months ago, I shared a podcast in which businesswoman Barbara Patterson interviews the successful software engineer Nicola Bird. I originally shared a quote from Bird, where she explains:

"We don't have to figure out the future direction. We can just show up and play with what's on our plate today and new opportunities are just there. They pop into our peripheral vision when we stop searching for them."

Nicola Bird

I loved this thought, but I was equally scared by it. How could I trust that everything would eventually come together? Having written this book, it has amazed me to see the way that my experiences have come together to create it. So, it is with joy that I share more of the inner-workings with you.

The book is divided into two distinct sections: part one focuses on the things you need to do to get both yourself and your business ready to implement the FACE model. You'll learn how to both set up and shake things up, getting your head and the heart of your business ready for exponential growth. It's a rollercoaster, but this section should help you understand what you need for the ride!

For a sneak peak of what can be expected, see a section of the book below:

Before implementing the FACE methodology, I strongly recommend that you sit down with your top team and ensure you have an agreed level of documentation over at least these processes:

• Sales & marketing - identifying and targeting prospective customers; progressing them through the sales funnel; closing the deal; and the handover to operations.
• Operations - setting up and managing customers; purchasing and stock control; product or service delivery; quality control; and customer service.
• Finance - raising and collecting sales invoices; processing and paying purchase invoices; payroll and employee expenses; financial reporting; and cash flow.
• Human resources - hiring, retaining and firing people.

From processes to people, there are fundamental steps you need to take before the FACE methodology can be implemented. Part one gives you a step-by-step guide on all you need to do. I also share a real-life case study of the FACE methodology in action and introduce the themes that will be explored in part two, which covers everything from raising money to corporate governance.

Stay tuned for the next post, where I'll give you a detailed breakdown on what to expect from part two.

Until then, make sure you keep your eyes and ears open for inspiration. You never know what form it may take, and how it may shape your life to come!

David