Clif has been our business coach for 18 months now. When my partner first suggested we invest in a business coach, I had many reservations like "I don't have time with my workload", "what can he know about our business that we don't?" etc. However, being a good partner (!) I thought I owed it to Vicki to give it a go."

Without wanting to sound like a corny ad, we really haven't looked back. We now use Clif not only for our business coaching but also to coach the managers in our company. We involve him in all major business decisions, not because we have to, but because we trust his judgment as well as the fact that our business is now in a much healthier position than it was 18 months ago.

Take it from the converted, every business who wants a successful business and a life needs a Clif!

- Jo Schultz
  Director
  Word of Mouth Company

Thank you very much for working with me on my business. Your experience, enthusiasm and sound advice have gone a long way towards transforming my business into a real winner – the way I intended it to be when I first started out!

With the pressures of running a business, it is easy to lose focus slowly, by degrees, and veer away from one’s original vision. In my case, this is exactly what had happened. You were instrumental in cleaning the rust and the dust off my vision and putting the most important things back in focus. You didn’t tell me what to do – instead, you showed me how to do what I wanted to do.

You're not only a business coach par excellence; you have also become my friend, philosopher and guide. You have helped me learn the ropes and climb the mountain. You have taught me critically important business skills that have now become daily habits. It would be woefully inadequate to say that your coaching has been worth every penny because, as a business coach, you are literally worth your weight in gold.

- Nandini Doreswamy
  Helion
  Auckland

Having high ambitions for the business when I started, I decided I needed some help to get it there and after attending an Action Workshop, decided to take Clif on as my Business Coach.

Being an ambitious person, I have a lot of ideas on how I want to grow the business and Clif has helped me filter through them and put them into a workable action plan. As my main goal is to have the business eventually working without me, Clif has helped make sure any new strategy or direction we take isn't going to have me buried more in the day to day running of the business and I can continue to work on the growth.

As a result during the past nine months our turnover has grown from $70,000 per month to $180,000 while maintaining our profit margins. We've also move one team member from part to full-time, moved to new and more visible premises and are currently talking with partners to expand the business into the Regions.

I'd recommend to anyone serious about growing their business to consider taking on a coach, as small business owners it's tough to do it on our own and I believe having a coach is helping me get where I want to go - quicker.

- Jared Schofield
  Flooring Direct   Auckland

We have had Clif as our business coach for over a year now. To begin with, we worked hard on putting together a picture of how we wanted the business to look in the future. Clif then helped us recognize the important "numbers" we needed to concentrate on to begin taking us there. We also began testing and measuring more accurately our advertising/promotion which highlighted some changes we needed to make which led to $$ saved. We’ve also worked harder on building a referral business through our satisfied customers which continues to be a greater source of business for us.

Through these and a number of strategies we’ve worked through, we have increased our turnover by 64% in the last 12 months which has allowed us to employ another team member (manufacturer) - so I can concentrate on growing the business - as well as being able to increase our drawings.

Over the coming 12 months we have set our goals of growing the business to $500,000 turnover + and possibly looking at bigger premises. I’d recommend any business owner looking to grow their business consider the help of a Business Coach – we have certainly had great rewards from our time with Clif so far.

- Shaun McBride
  Seventysixdesign
  Auckland

We're not trying to grow our business as such, but to learn how to take control of it, so we can let go of it ….Clif is showing us how, and it's working. We're off on a 6 week holiday with no worries behind us!

- Diana and Stephen Timmerman
  Timmerman's Jewellery
  Auckland

I'd like to say I’ve gained from and enjoyed my sessions with you as 'coach' for a number of reasons:

• I feel comfortable with you and confident about saying what I feel
• It has helped me clarify my thoughts and direction
• It has prompted me to form some better habits in learning to "Eat the Frog" (most of the time!)
• There have been a number of times I have arrived in your office feeling overwhelmed with everything I need to tackle and each time I leave feeling a lot 'lighter and clearer'

So THANKS – it has been a positive experience.

- Heather Keightley
  Hive Recruitment
  Auckland

I recently attended one of Clif Shaw's initial business coaching consultations, during which we undertook an analysis of my business in terms of the finances, marketing and staffing situation that I was in at that time, and we also put in place a few initiatives that I could action quickly to address some issues I was facing.

That time with Clif was absolutely invaluable: I gained a clearer understanding of my own business, and his recommendations had an immediate positive effect. Clif's knowledge and ability to communicate in terms I could understand sold me! I am now a happy client.

- Ashley Bryan
  Webstarters
  Auckland

Recently Clif presented a seminar on "leadership and winning teams" to the 2007 Aspiring Secondary Principals Conference. The content and style of his delivery was outstanding and was perfectly pitched to his audience. Delegates were very receptive and appreciative of his willingness to share very valuable and practical ideas. I have no hesitation in recommending Clif as a great Action Coach.

- Kris Brewin
  Auckland Regional Manager
  Enterprise New Zealand Trust

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