Working with you to develop the skills to grow your business
My Story: ‘Foundations’
“Where it all began for me.”
My passion for business development and entrepreneurship goes all the way back to my late teens. I was a pretty handy junior athlete, playing state representative hockey and like many kids at that age, trying to figure out what I might do for a job after high school. I explored many paths and kept coming back to entrepreneurship as something that excited and resonated with me. It seemed a way to channel my active, competitive energy into something I could drive and create.
Among many books, Robert Kiyosaki’s seminal “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” became a game changer, talking about the importance of Sales and Marketing as the number one skill in business. This and a few other influences such as the late Dr Mark Patton (Lecturer in Professional Selling at Curtin University) lead me to choose Sales & Marketing majors for my Commerce Degree and then pursue a career in sales, business development and eventually general management.
As good and motivated as I thought I was, I learnt early on I had a lot to learn!. I had to come to terms with the fact I wasn’t a ‘natural’. Learning to relate and connect with people in a business development context was challenging given I’m an analytical person who tends to think in-depth.
In truth natural born sales people or Business Development Managers are rare. They do exist but in my experience most people, including the pro’s, are not one of the chosen few.
Learning to “get out of my head and into my heart” (as Tony Robbins would say) is something I had to work hard to develop. Ultimately business development and relationship management became a journey of self development and discovery. Over time I developed the skills and mindset to sell and eventually 'hunt' for new business.
Over a number of years I developed and crafted the skills, studying some of the greats such as Zig Ziglar, Tom Hopkins, Brian Tracy, Jeb Blount and Grant Cardone as well as learning formal sales strategies as SPIN, Challenger and Miller Heiman. I also sought out mentors and have been lucky work closely with top performers across a number of industries.
Finally in 2020 after 20+ years in industry, an EMBA and four kids I launched my own brand. A little longer than expected but no regrets!
I now offer a boutique, tailored service to clients, incorporating my experience, study and training in the field. I also incorporate concepts learnt and implemented during my EMBA such as a “Strengths Based Approach” to people development.
I firmly believe more professionals, business owners and leaders need to invest in and develop sales, relationship management and business development skills to grow their business, advance their cause and support their team.
Please get in touch if you think I can help:
drew@dklconsulting.com.au