Thankfully, for the sanity of our team here, not every idea I dream up comes to fruition.
However, some do get taken to the next stage. And the last couple of years has seen us enjoy some very satisfying proof of concepts, and we're really starting to see some nice returns for our efforts.
In 2019, when writing my anniversary piece following our first 12 months in business, I couldn’t have begun to imagine what the next 3 years would bring.
Yes, of course, there’s been COVID. And over that time we’ve built an excellent team of 4, had awards nominations, and taken on 42 Junction Road. These things have been very exciting, and are things I’m extremely proud of. But we’ve told you about these before.
Apart from the big tangible stuff, the most pleasantly surprising takeaway from this first 4 years of CRC, is what I’ve learnt along the way…
Seeing the bigger picture – and knowing where you fit into it
When I have a new idea – and it’s one that’s got merit - I tend to want it to come to life right here, right now.
A combination of excitement and impatience has historically meant that I looked to act upon those impulses.
And when it was just me within CRC, it was ok for me to do that. I was responsible for actioning it, and it was on my timeline, so there was no real consequences.
Personally, I like this fast paced approach. Never being stagnant, means never being bored!
Being more calculated and patient doesn’t mean a loss of creativity; far from it.
However, naturally, as we’ve grown and the other guys have joined the team here, that has had to be tempered slightly.
Having more clients means we’ve had to develop more order to organise any potential chaos. Some snazzy new workflow processes we’ve developed in this time is allowing us to continue delivering to our high standards, in a consistent manner across the board.
With these processes in place, I’ve had to recognise that my impulsiveness sometimes needs to take a back seat. Actions need to fit into the bigger picture, and we need to be clever about how we tackle what’s on our respective plates.
This has never been more apparent than during the work thus far on the development of 42 Junction Road. We’ve got an awesome team on that project, which is making the process thoroughly enjoyable to be part of, and must give particular mention to our architects, LDN Architects.
The reality is though, that in order to keep on track with this project, we need to grow our business quite considerably over the next year or so.
For this, we have very clear financial forecasts mapped out, and have been working closely with the bank throughout to ensure everything keeps satisfying their conditions too. This means we’re super clear about what targets need hit, and now it’s a case of going out and executing.
I recognise that there’s a huge amount of the variables involved in this project which are outside my control. Whether it’s certain costs, timescales, and a myriad of other things. All I can do is focus on what’s within my control.
So I’m now drawing upon a slightly more calculated approach. Things still need actioned quickly. But they need actioned smartly.
Being more calculated and patient doesn’t mean a loss of creativity; far from it.
There’s just a slightly more selective filter being applied to the abundance of ideas – understanding where, and if, they fit in to the bigger picture!
the results are worth the effort & belief.
Confidence in the process – worth it in the long run!
When I was previously coaching athletics, we’d often take the ‘1 step back for 2 steps forward’ approach.
You’d identify a potential change to the athlete’s technique, which you believed had the ability to enhance their performance – or perhaps reduce their potential of getting an avoidable injury.
You’d give them new drills and exercises – whether on the field, or in the gym – to develop this new technique. When it was new, and their body wasn’t used to it, this would inevitably result in their performance initially being worse than it was with the old technique.
Understandably, something which they found very frustrating.
However, with patience and belief in the process, their body would slowly get used to the new technique, and eventually their performance would start to excel. The athlete would end up in a better state than they ever could have achieved under the old method, and they’d start to see the results through new personal bests.
During this process of transition, it’s really hard. It’s easy to lose faith in the process, and want to slip back into the old comfortable routine.
We often refer to this map with clients when we're helping them and their team go through any period of change & transition within their business. Emotions which I'm sure everyone's felt at one point or another!
I’ve been through this journey enough times to know that the other side does eventually get reached, and the results are worth the effort & belief.
Life in business is no different.
The systems changes & new workflow processes we’ve implemented (above) are one good example of this.
Across the last 2 years, they’ve taken a huge time investment to put in place, and to iron out all the teething issues – it would have been much quicker, easier, and more profitable short term, for us to have just stuck with the existing systems; which weren’t really that broken.
They weren’t broken today, but had 1 big future flaw; they would quickly become cumbersome as we grow the firm.
Profitable in the here and now, but a hinderance long term.
With our ambitious growth plans, we knew we had to get the right systems & processes in place to make it as easy as possible to bring on additional team members and clients, without dropping our standards.
We took the short term pain, and had confidence in the transition.
I’m really pleased to now largely be through the other side of that, and know that we have a really solid foundation for growth. The team have done a superb job on this, and for that I’m very grateful.
Another example of ‘1 back for 2 forward’ has been our client base.
We’ve turned away a lot of work over the last couple of years. Not through any inflated ego or complacency about our situation. This has purely been done with the future in mind.
This one can be particularly difficult in that moment. With any growing business, it’s easy to want to accept every piece of work which comes your way. Money in equals bills paid, and keeps you in business.
However, whilst we’re very grateful for the enquiries which do come in, the truth is, sometimes we’re not the best fit for that particular client, and they’re not the best fit for our firm.
Both things must be aligned in order to truly have the best working relationship.
Over the last couple of years, we’ve found a confidence in the type of firm we’re building, the type of relationships we want to have with businesses, and what we want that firm to look like in the future. This means knowing what we stand for, and sticking by that.
These backward steps have at times put our firm in the position of the potentially frustrated athlete. Sometimes painfully saying ‘no’ to opportunities today, knowing that by doing that, we’re saying ‘yes’ to becoming the type of firm we want to be known as.
It’s difficult, but I have unwavering confidence in the process, and know the personal bests are yet to come.
Since starting CRC, I’ve never been happier in the workplace.
Work life balance
This one’s probably the most interesting.
When I started the business, I spoke a lot about work/life balance. This was – and still is – incredibly important to me. What I couldn’t have predicted back then though, was how my relationship, and our firm’s relationship, with it would change.
At that time it was all about, perhaps too simplistically, working fewer hours in the week. Having more time away from the office to do things you enjoy.
This is still important. But I now see that it’s just part of the picture.
The truth is, we spend far too much time in our respective places of work not to enjoy it. To go through life simply longing for days off is a very sad working existence indeed.
Since starting CRC, I’ve never been happier in the workplace.
‘Work’ and ‘life’ is no longer two separate things, with one being enjoyable and the other being a chore. Together, they're all part of an enjoyable life. It’s true that I now work far more hours each week than I did when I first set up the firm, and I don’t grudge it. In fact, I love it!
Now, don’t get me wrong; I’m absolutely aware that there’s a balance to be struck. This is very important.
I also openly admit that whilst I love it, there are some days when I don’t necessarily ‘like’ the long grind. Both of those feelings can coexist.
But at the heart of it, I’m able to take a huge amount of comfort in the firm we’re building. And get a huge amount of enjoyment from seeing the journeys our clients are going on, and what we’re getting the chance to help them and their teams create.
This firm is already something much bigger than just me and my name, and that’s an incredibly exciting thing to be part of.
How the working relationship has changed for clients?
Whilst we still look to help clients create more free time, and more profit to enjoy that with, the real change is in bringing that focus, passion, and – most importantly – purpose, into the workplace.
that’s why we’re doing what we do.
If we can help more businesses empower their teams, so that they all love the business they work for; that is an incredibly special thing indeed.
‘How can a bunch of accountants and finance professionals achieve that?’ I hear you ask…
Simple really.
Fundamentally, in order to be able to truly invest in the development of your team and your business there is one common denominator; money.
Money is simply the fuel for any business machine. If you don’t create enough of it, your business will always be hamstrung.
By helping businesses get clear on where they’re going as a business, we can then help them quantify – and then identify – the funds needed to achieve that. This then enables them to invest in the growth and development of their team, and build a business with purpose.
Strategy sessions to get clear on this. Forecasts to map it out. Ongoing reporting and accountability to ensure the performance stays on track throughout the year. And some tax efficiencies thrown in for good measure.
Clear plans. Good data. Clever decision making.
More profit ultimately allows businesses to fund: training, staff holidays, team building days, payrises, pensions, 4-day working weeks (because it’s coming to us all, isn’t it) and a whole load of other things!
That’s the true work/life balance which employers should be striving to deliver to their team.
And that’s why we’re doing what we do.
Final thoughts
The first 4 years have been incredibly exciting. More has happened in that time than I ever could have imagined.
With ongoing plans in the pipeline, and a raft of unexplored ideas, who knows what the next 4 years might bring.
But one thing’s for sure – we’ll keep enjoying every minute of it!
