Today, we got the news that we lost a long-term client, but surprisingly, it was for the best of reasons.
When I answered the call, I was prepared for what was coming. Instead of just feeling upset, I felt a mix of emotions because, on the one hand, I knew the purpose of the call was to let us know that he was leaving, but on the other hand it was for a good reason.
This client had been with us since 2012, so we are sad to see him go, but as I spoke with him on the phone, I couldn’t help but feel genuinely happy for him.
Why? Because he had just accomplished something truly remarkable—he had sold his business. For more than two decades, he had put everything he had into his venture, building a profitable and successful business and now, he had reached a major milestone that was sure to change his life.
During our conversation, I offered my heartfelt congratulations and well wishes, but I also reminded him we still needed to do his tax return 😊(one of the inevitable things in life.)
As I thought about his journey over the past 20 years, I couldn’t help but consider the strategies and decisions that had led him to this incredible achievement. I wanted to share some of the key insights from his success story:
He became an expert. He was exceptional in his field, showing unmatched expertise in every aspect of his business. He built a business that focused on the customer.
Not afraid of the numbers. It was no surprise that he was meticulous with numbers. He had a firm grip on his finances, always keeping track of them and seeking clarification when needed.
Strategic Pricing. He understood the importance of setting the right prices for his services, making sure each project was profitable.
Value-Oriented Spending. Despite being inclined to be thrifty; he saw the value in smart investments, focusing on expenses that promised significant returns.
Delegation and Leadership. He knew the importance of delegating tasks, stepping away from day-to-day operations early on to concentrate on strategic plans and overall business growth. He also employed an MD to further allow him to avoid getting too close to the day-to-day operation.
How we helped
I am proud that we helped him achieve his dreams and when I look back at our role, I can see that we helped in a number of ways. We helped him keep his business on the right side of HMRC and avoid many of the pitfalls that can a company can make. We helped educate him on his finances along the way and were there as sounding board for many major decisions.
We had built a strong relationship with this client over the years, and as I said I do have mixed feelings, but the overwhelming thoughts are happiness for him as he starts this next stage of his journey.
Whatever stage you are at in your business journey, you can have a chat to us to see if we can add value to help you along the way.
