CASE STUDIES

1. What was business and life like before coaching?
Business and life before coaching was like paddling in treacle, a lot of frantic movement without the ability to get anywhere fast.

2. What is business and life like now?
Business now is still hectic but in a more structured and positive way. I have more free time and the business has more money.

3. What is it like being coached?
Being coached is a totally new experience, it's like being back at school where you can't make excuses anymore; you have to take action and are held accountable for your actions or inactions.

4. What would you say to anyone looking at coaching, especially about the investment?
I'd say the investment is one thing we worried about but not only has it more that paid for itself 10-fold but the business is a completely different animal to that of 10 months ago. We've grown from 5 staff to 10 staff and not only are we recruiting but we have also doubled our turnover. If you're looking to be coached, I'm happy to explain the reasons why you should take the plunge.

Paul Jamieson - Owner, Mersey Garages

1. What was business and life like before coaching?

It ‘felt’ productive but very much shooting from the hip. Reactionary without really planning strategically for the future. As we’re a partnership and have two directors, when it came to making decisions on direction or improvements, we would have to decide between each other. This would make some decisions harder than others.

2. What is business and life like now?

Now we have a sounding board to bounce ideas off and an impartial person to discuss ideas with. In some ways we have a mediator between two strong personalities meaning decisions are made with long term direction in mind and having been intelligently integrated.

3. What is it like being coached?

It’s like a personal trainer, a teacher and a relationship counselor all in one. Simply put, it’s often less about what happens in the room and more about what happens outside; you get what you put in. However, the decisions and actions that are put in place in the room are the things that push you positively forward. Incremental change towards a future goal and ticking off achievements as you do so.

4. What would you say to anyone looking at coaching, especially about the investment?

Do it. It’s not a question of, “Can I afford it?”, “Is now the right time?”, “I’m doing fine on my own!” it’s about having someone to answer to and keep you on the track to what you want to achieve. I would, and do, recommend it to everyone and Luke is the man to do it!

Adam Mokhtar - Director, Archiphonic

I have been working with Luke for the past year now and my business has gone from strength to strength. The main reason for this is Luke’s honesty and attention to detail which have proved invaluable in my own growth as a business owner.

Not only have the systems we have implemented helped me to
understand my business more but it's also given me the confidence to go into other businesses. Luke has also helped my personal education with many book recommendations and support.

If you are looking at taking the next step with your business then getting a coach is definitely the way to go and I have no hesitation in recommending Luke Kay.

Stephen Westhead - CBQ Heating LTD

I signed up to Luke Kays’ ActionCoach Group Coaching anxious about the financial commitment but also well aware that I could no longer ignore the fact that I needed to upskill in sales and marketing FAST. It’s been worth every penny. My sales and marketing processes are transformed. Where previously there was confusion and chaos there is now process and confidence.

Luke is very direct but also very personable and in the time that we’ve worked together we’ve established a tough love relationship that ensures that my business gets developed whilst at the same time having fun.

Jo Summers - Director, BuyerBeSure

Luke is a great coach. He always goes the extra mile to make sure you succeed and keep a smile on your face no matter what is happening in your business! He makes me feel confident in making the big decisions that have to be made. He does this by supporting me with 100s of proven tools and strategies that Action Coach have used time and time again to hugely improve 1000's of other successful businesses around the globe. He has shown me I don't have to be working all the hours of the days to have a profitable and booming commercial enterprise. He is worth every penny and I can't thank him enough for changing my life the way he has

Jules Gordon - Founder and Managing Director, Eco Cleaning Fairies

I think if we hadn’t started to work with ActionCOACH our business could have potentially imploded, in the sense that we had unhappy staff, regularly long working hours, weak systems and a lack of control.
At the time I was ready to go backwards if anything, become a more relaxed business owner, getting involved with ActionCOACH and Luke gave e the vision and inspiration to grow again and to realise that we can do it and that we shouldn’t give up and settle and we should continue to move forward and be ambitious.
The expectations were high, it sounded like a good program and something that I was keen to get on board with.
I’d say that the results were quite instant in the fact that I changed almost overnight as a person, I was keen to learn more, to do more and the fire was reignited.
Luke and I work really well together, it’s a relationship of trust and friendship. He’s like any coach or PT, he makes me do a few more reps and work a bit harder, doesn’t go easy on me and I think I appreciate that because I know it does me good in the long run.
The main strategies that we’ve used is control of numbers, knowing our numbers and setting our plans to grow, its very important that you know that when you want to grow, that you need to create milestones and strategies to work towards and achieve them.
Previously we sort of grew our team by taking on anyone who could join us as soon as possible to help with the operation, now we’re a lot more careful in our selection process with our recruitment process we make sure we look for the ideal candidate, we don’t rush in.
Our gross profit has increased by 45%, sales by 20% and our net profit is around 30% in growth. Plus, the number of referrals and testimonials and customer reviews that we get now is far greater than we’ve ever had before and that’s testament to the fact that we now deliver a lot better than we used to.
The main milestone that was always the intention of achieving this year is that we’re now consolidated and ready for much larger growth, so we’re looking at new stores, increasing our marketing and growing our geographical spread and we’re much better prepared for that now than we were this time last year.
With regards to lifestyle, I’ll get back to me as and when the times right at the moment I’m very happy investing in moving forward and its an investment so that I can slow down my hours and invest in me personally when the jobs done. My family and I enjoy to go to Dubai, I would have always limited my vacation time to 10 to 14 days, I can go now for 21 days and enjoy my time there with my family knowing that I’ve still got my finger on the button.
There are things that you learn through ActionCOACH that just aren’t taught to you on the streets or by your peers or bank manager, college or university. ActionCOACH to me is just a fully bona fide university of business and the tools can be picked up very quickly and implemented straight away.
No hesitation in saying, jump on board and do it.
Because of ActionCOACH I know that my business can be a commercial, profitable enterprise that works without me

Paul Nixon - Owner, Perfect Shutter Ltd

What was business and life like before coaching?

The business was vulnerable due to lack of any real structure, even though it was very profitable there was no real plan and everything hinged upon unreliable people who couldn't be trusted. I was constantly concerned about the level of pipeline business. These points aside life was very chilled lots of time to focus on myself ie gym, and lots of holidays.

What is business and life like now?

The business has grown over 1000% in 6 months, we have started to systemise all aspects of the business employing people in the relevant roles to drive the company forward. This time last year there were 2 members of staff now we have 27 members of the team, there are plans to employ at least another 10 in the next few months. I can't talk about life because I don't have one, but this will be addressed in the next six months when the whole business is full systemised.

What is it like being coached?

Being coached is challenging at times, especially the high-level intensity with the immense amount of work to undertake. All said and done what I must say is it’s an honour to have someone with such a wealth of knowledge as a resource. Currently we are going through a very demanding period in which the coaching & its framework is invaluable.

What would you say to anyone looking at coaching, especially about the investment?

Action coach is the best investment I have made for my business, the cost compared to the potential gain is minimal. Although I'm aware you only get out what you put in. After all this program is called ActionCOACH take action, action, action.

Craig Speers - Mersey Eco Grants

I have worked with Luke for around 18 months as part of his ActionCoach Group coaching programme and I have only one regret... and that is that I wish I had found him sooner. My business and life has been transformed with clarity, direction and confidence. I am no longer plate spinning and working in chaos. I have systems, goals and a new passion for my business. Luke has helped me to realise my vision and set me on the path to achieve.
He has been a true asset to me and my business.

Jo Andrews - Managing Director, The Marketing Collective LTD