Author Archives: Kerry Hopkins

When I talk to people about how they ended up starting their own business, I often have the same conversation. They were great at their job. They were disillusioned with their place of work. So, they took the leap – they started their own business,…

You invest in a great training course. Your team shows up, takes notes, nods enthusiastically, and leaves full of motivation. Fast forward a few weeks… and everything feels like it’s back to business as usual. The new techniques are forgotten, the energy fades, and results…

In this episode, I spoke with Amy Bird, the founder of Countrywide Metals, who shared her remarkable journey from in the world of metal recycling industry. Amy’s story is one of resilience and determination, shaped by her early experiences in a family business and her…

  In this episode, Carolyn Smith founder of TPSquared, recounts the unexpected turn of events that led her to register the business in 2019. Throughout our conversation Carolyn reflected on her early career, highlighting the lack of female role models in business during her formative…

As a business coach, one of the most common challenges I see business owners face is uncertainty around their finances. They’re working hard, getting new clients, even growing sales—but still unsure where the money’s going or why they’re not seeing the profit they expected. That’s…

It’s hard to believe that Quarter 1 is over already! Now is the perfect time to pause and reflect. It’s easy to get caught up on the treadmill of running your business – just keeping going, juggling sales, managing your team and firefighting – and…

In this episode, I am joined by Ameesha Green, the founder of The Book Shelf. Ameesha’s journey into business is both inspiring and relatable, from trying to enter the world of work during a recession to becoming a digital nomad and ultimately following her passion…

Last week we gathered our clients together for our quarterly meeting where we focus on producing clear 90 Day Plans. Part of these meetings always includes some education and this quarter we looked at the role our mindset plays in our business success and in…

In this episode of “So, You’re a Woman in Business” I was joined by Imogen Edmunds, founder of Redwing Solutions. Imogen shared how she started the business 21 years ago with a new born baby at home and has grown the business into what it…

We already know that word-of-mouth is powerful and with all the digital platforms we have now to spread the word further, testimonials are a great way to provide social proof, build trust and remove doubts that potential customers may have about working with you. Part…

As a business owner, you wear many hats—sales, marketing, operations, customer service—the list goes on. But if you’re constantly stuck in the daily grind, how can you ever step back and focus on growth? The answer lies in systems and processes. Why Systems Matter You’ve…

In this episode of “So, You’re a Woman in Business” I talk to Jodie Villarreal from Core Truth. Jodie shared her background in branding and her eventual decision to start her own business, “Price Innovations”. What happened next led Jodie to explore her passion for…

As a business owner, you probably feel like you’re spinning multiple plates at once—sales, marketing, operations, finance, and team management, to name just a few. But what if I told you that only 20% of what you do each day is responsible for 80% of…

In this episode of “So, You’re a Woman in Business” I talk to Heather Bird from HMB Training Services. Heather shares her journey into the business world which was driven by her own personal experiences of needing to administer first aid to her daughter. Listen…

You will most likely have heard “growth happens outside your comfort zone”. But what does that actually mean? And, more importantly, why is it so hard to step out of it, and what happens when we do? It’s a hard thing to step out of…

In this episode of So, You’re a Woman in Business Carol Phillips, owner of Get Logical, shares her story rooted in her upbringing in a family business where she was encouraged to pursue what made her happy ultimately leading to her discovering her passion for…

As a business owner, time is your most valuable asset. Yet, it often feels like there’s never enough of it. Between managing clients, leading a team, and planning for growth, the demands on your schedule can feel overwhelming. The truth is, we can’t create more…

I always find this time of year really interesting. For all the talk of New Year, New Me, goal setting and a renewed focus, I always think there are as many people who are sitting there feeling a little demotivated. They might have had some…

They say the older you get; the quicker time goes. Well, I must be getting old because it does not feel like we should be heading towards 2025 just yet – January only seems like it was yesterday! With the end of a year comes…

It seems to be that the generation gap at work is growing. From Baby Boomers with decades of experience to Gen Z with their fresh perspectives, each generation is bringing their own unique strengths, work styles and communication preferences. Sounds great to have a diverse…

How often have you heard from a potential client that it’s just not the right time – sometimes that can feel like you’re being brushed off because they don’t want to say no, but have you considered that maybe they’re just not ready to buy…

One of the key parts of being a coach and being a part of ActionCOACH is continuous learning. This morning I have been watching back a webinar about Lead Generation where the concept of Circle of Influence was discussed at length. Circle of Influence is…

Something came across my radar this week about Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and made it wonder about the impact the EQ can have on our businesses so I’ve made this the subject of my blog this week. In business, the hard skills—strategy, finance, operations—often get the…

Did you know that as coaches we have coaches too?! I have worked with my coach since I completed my ActionCOACH training. Not only does this help me with my own personal development but also with expanding my knowledge. Recently we were talking about how…

I was speaking to someone recently who was struggling to let go and trust their team to step up and take on more responsibility and it got me thinking about delegation. Delegation can be one of the most challenging yet rewarding shifts a business owner…

Navigating change is an inevitable part of running a business. And, with the new government announcing their budget this week business owners I have spoken with are all talking about what impact this might have and what changes they might need to make. There is…

One of the great things about being a business coach is that I am always learning something! In the last few weeks I have come across the 7-11-4 theory and Google’s “Zero Moment of Truth”…I’m probably a little late the party! This is not something…

I posted a short video last week about the power of consistency in your business. It was a theme that ran through a lot of the presentations that I saw at the recent ActionCOACH UK Conference and I wanted to share with you today why…

As many of you will know, or may have heard about before, one of the benefits of being part of our community are the quarterly 90 Day Planning meetings that all of our clients come along to. These days are a great opportunity to learn…

While I was on holiday a few weeks ago I read the book “Indistractable” by Nir Eyal. I find that I can get distracted very easily and this is mostly down to technology. The endless notifications, the emails, the attraction of a “quick” scroll on…

Over the last month I’ve attended a few events and been on a holiday where the question “So, what do you do?” often gets asked. When I respond that I am a Business Coach I either get met with confusion because no-one really gets it,…

We work with our clients on building a robust sales process, but anyone who has been involved in sales knows that sometimes you come across some hurdles, one of the most common being objections. Objections can range from price concerns to doubts over a product’s…

Over the past few months (and perhaps even since Covid) I have noticed a real change in people’s communication. It feels like the way we communicate has changed and as a result I don’t think that communication is as clear, or timely, as it used…

As we approach the last few weeks of August is can be a great time to think about new ideas and strategies for growing your business. Most people I speak to at this time of year are finding things a little quieter while people go…

What am I going to do with my time now that the Olympics has finished?! For the past two weeks, I’ve been captivated by every moment of Paris 2024, watching the incredible variety of events and witnessing the world’s finest athletes compete at the highest…

I set myself a target to write one blog a week for a quarter and so far so good! I wanted to challenge myself to make sure blog content was being put out consistently. We have always published blogs but not on a regular basis…

I sat down on Friday evening full of anticipation for the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony. Now, everyone has an opinion on these things but to say I was confused by the spectacle is an understatement! Since the event I have read several articles about…

Today marks day one of the summer holidays for many parents across the country. The Summer holiday season can bring many challenges for business owners. With staff taking annual leave, business owners wanting to enjoy their own holidays without the need to constantly check their…

I recently read “The Psychology of Money” by Morgan Housel. It was a different take on a finance book as it looks at the nuances of how people think about and handle money. In the book Morgan relays stories of people who have found themselves…

This weekend, I found myself mostly watching Wimbledon. I don’t watch tennis at any other time of the year but I do love to watch Wimbledon and can find myself sitting in front of the TV for hours at a time. This Sunday I watched…

Last week we gathered all of our clients together for our quarterly meeting where we created our 90 Day Plans for quarter three. The majority of people who join us on their business journey have never created a 90 Day Plan, so I often get…

I’ve always been a person that likes a lot of detail. When I used to be asked to leave a handover for someone if I was going on holiday or moving on to a new job, I always took the approach that the other person…

I found myself sitting with my nearly 10-year old nephew last week talking all things Euro 2024…this conversation did not last long as it was clear football would not be my specialist subject on Mastermind! But, it did get me thinking about how, even at…

As a business owner, the constant demand for your time and attention can be overwhelming. Yet, amidst the hustle and bustle, one of the most powerful strategies for maintaining control and driving your business forward is mastering the art of saying no. This blog will help…

I recently read Brianna West’s book “The Mountain is You” in which she describes many types of self-sabotage – one of them is being busy. I found this really interesting because so often I say that “I’m really busy” or hear business owners talk about…

Towards the end of last year, it was suggested that I read StoryBrand by Donald Miller so that we as a business could think about our own story and how we present ourselves in the marketplace. When you’ve worked in an industry for most of…

When I started my career in marketing agencies, clients were always pushing the limits of their budgets (and when I was client-side I was the one asking for more for less!) That was almost 15 years ago and this is still a challenge today. With…

There has been a lot in the news over the last few months about children’s nurseries and the challenges they are facing with the increase in free childcare hours coming into effect. This is leading to many nursery owners having to look at their fee…

Recruiting and retaining top talent is vital for the success of any business. However, the process can be challenging, time-consuming, and costly. Fortunately, with the right strategies and insights, businesses can streamline their recruitment processes and attract the best candidates. In this blog, we’ll explore…

Richard Toy is the founder of Auctus Management Group, who specialise in the infrastructure sector. RSS Infrastructure is the main company within the group and comprises three divisions – Technical Services, Managed Services and Rail Welding.   Richard talks about how professionalism has been the key…

Ebony Rebecca founder of RoseTinted Financial Services, shares how she used her personal experience with debt and poor mental health to found the company. She talks about the medium to long-term support they provide, to help people improve their financial literacy and mental wellbeing in order to…

In the digital era, the lines between online and offline shopping experiences are blurring, and consumers expect a seamless journey regardless of how they choose to interact with a brand. For retailers, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity to create cohesive experiences that…

I was reading an article recently about how consumers are looking more and more for a personalised experience when they shop. It got me thinking about my own experiences and how the retailers that I shop with have adopted these practices and how they do…

In the world of retail, the competition is fierce, both online and offline. Yet, amidst this crowded landscape, one factor emerges as a true game-changer: exceptional customer service. It’s not just about making the sale; it’s about creating connections, nurturing loyalty, and building brand advocates.…

In the world of work and business, the terms “Leadership” and “Management” are often used interchangeably. The confusion often occurs because there can be shared or overlapping responsibilities and skill sets required for both roles. Often, individuals in leadership positions may also engage in managerial…

ActionCOACH Black Country celebrates once again as owner and senior partner Andy Hemming wins ‘West Midlands Best Client Results’ and ‘West Midlands Coach of the Year’ at the annual UK Coaching Awards Ceremony in Birmingham. The nationwide competition took place at the Park Regis hotel…

Chris Hurcombe from Catalyst Digital Energy discusses how his company differentiates from competitors in the market by not only brokering energy contracts, but also offering an energy management solution which helps clients reduce energy consumption and use energy more efficiently. He discusses the importance of…

Lex Leyland discusses content creation and how it can be used to humanise a brand and create brand voice.He goes on to talk about Joobii, which creates animated video from job adverts in order to attract more candidates to the advert. Whilst still in testing,…

Dr Michaela Kendall discusses how the fuel cell technology her company invented in the 90s is now recognised globally and contributes to the movement towards net zero.  As the business moves towards a manufacturing base on every continent, Michaela talks about the importance of patience…

  Rongtian He, CEO of Hashtage Sport, a marketing agency based in Birmingham and China discusses how the adaptation of their business model has allowed them to partner with Football clubs, players and Federations in the UK and Italy amongst others. Rongtian talks about the…

Establish yourself as an industry expert by consistently providing valuable content and thought leadership. Share your knowledge and insights through blog posts, articles, videos, or podcasts. By becoming a go-to resource in your field, you position yourself as a trusted authority and attract customers who…

Leverage technology to automate repetitive tasks and streamline your workflow. Utilise software, tools, and systems that can automate processes like email marketing, social media posting, customer support, invoicing, or data entry. Automation can significantly reduce manual effort and free up your time for more important…

To create more time for you to work on your business, identify tasks that can be effectively delegated or outsourced to others. Hiring virtual assistants, freelancers, or outsourcing services can help you offload time-consuming administrative, repetitive, or non-core tasks, allowing you to concentrate on more…

It is important to offer ongoing feedback and coaching to your team members. Regularly review their progress against goals and provide constructive feedback on both successes and areas for improvement. Stephen Covey’s principle of “Sharpen the Saw” emphasises continuous growth and development, so supporting your…

To plan for a successful exit strategy from your business you should ensure your financials are in order. This involves organising your financial statements, tax records, and any other relevant documentation. Conduct a thorough valuation of your business to understand its worth and identify areas…

Clearly articulate the purpose and goals of your team to potential recruits. People are more likely to be attracted to a team that has a compelling and meaningful purpose. Make sure you communicate the impact and value that your team brings to the organisation or…

Determine the right timing for your exit strategy. Consider market conditions, industry trends, and the financial performance of your business. Exiting at a time when your business is thriving can help maximise its value and attract potential buyers or investors. Tip #1 – Market Analysis:…

Marshall Goldsmith stresses the importance of personal growth and self-reflection for effective leadership. Cultivate a mindset of continuous learning and improvement. Seek feedback from others, be open to constructive criticism, and actively work on developing your skills and overcoming weaknesses. Tip #1 – Embrace a…

Brad Sugars suggests identifying and prioritising activities that directly contribute to generating cash flow. This might involve analysing your business processes and determining which aspects are most profitable. By focusing your efforts on high-value activities, you can optimise your cash flow and avoid wasting time…

Provide opportunities for continuous learning and skill development. This not only enhances individual performance but also demonstrates your commitment to the well-being and career progression of your employees. When employees feel valued and supported in their growth, it contributes to a positive and engaging company…

Patrick Lencioni emphasises the importance of building trust and fostering collaboration within teams. Create an environment where employees feel safe to share ideas, take risks, and collaborate with one another. Encourage open communication, active listening, and empathy. Recognise and reward teamwork to reinforce the value…

As a leader, your actions speak louder than words. Leading by example is a powerful way to inspire and motivate your team. By demonstrating integrity, fostering open communication, embracing accountability, exhibiting a strong work ethic, and supporting your team’s development, you create a positive and…

Grant Cardone emphasises the importance of setting specific financial targets. By defining your objectives, you can align your actions and decisions with your goals. Your financial goals should include both short-term and long-term objectives, such as achieving a certain level of monthly cash flow, paying…

Use the power of data to identify areas of your sales process that can be optimised. Analyse your conversion rates, track customer behaviour, and test different sales strategies to identify what works best for your business. This can help you improve your conversion rate over…

Seth Godin emphasises the power of empathy and connection in leadership. Seek to understand the perspectives and needs of your team members. Encourage open communication, actively listen, and provide support when needed. Foster an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. Tip #1 – Practice…

Simon Sinek emphasises the importance of understanding your “why” – your purpose and motivation as a leader. Clarify your values, vision, and goals, and communicate them effectively to your team. A strong sense of purpose inspires and engages others, fostering a shared sense of mission.…

Clearly articulate the purpose of your organisation beyond just making a profit. Why does your company exist? How does it contribute to the well-being of its customers, employees, and society as a whole? When employees understand and connect with the purpose, it fosters a sense…

Streamlining your sales process can reduce friction and make it easier for customers to buy. This can include simplifying your checkout process, providing clear and concise product information, and offering multiple payment options. Tip #1 – Simplify your checkout process: Make the checkout process as…

Persistence is essential in overcoming objections. Keep asking questions, providing solutions, and demonstrating the value of your product or service. If the customer is not ready to buy now, continue to nurture the relationship and follow up regularly to stay top of mind when they…

Leadership plays a crucial role in shaping company culture. Leaders should embody the values and behaviours they want to see in their employees. Brad Sugars highlights the importance of setting the right example by living the company values and demonstrating them in daily interactions. When…

Start by identifying the core values that reflect the principles and beliefs your company stands for. Clearly define these values and communicate them consistently to all employees. These values serve as a compass for decision-making and guide the behaviours and attitudes expected within your organization.…

Instead of simply focusing on making a sale, focus on building a long-term relationship with your customer. This means providing excellent customer service, following up with your customers, and going above and beyond to meet their needs. Tip #1 – Provide excellent customer service: Provide…

It is important to follow up with your customers and stay in touch with them even after the sale. This will help you build a long-term relationship with your customer and make it more likely that they’ll buy from you again in the future. Make…

Providing social proof, such as customer testimonials or case studies, can help overcome objections and boost your sales. This can show your customer that others have had similar concerns but were satisfied with your product or service. Tip #1 – Use customer testimonials: Increase your…

When selling a product or service, it’s important to emphasise the power of benefits over features. Focus on how your product or service can help your customer achieve their goals and solve their problems. This will help your customer see the value in what you’re…

Building trust is essential for increasing your conversion rate. Be honest, transparent, and authentic in your communication with customers. Provide social proof, such as customer testimonials, to build credibility and demonstrate the value of your product or service. Tip #1 – Be honest and transparent:…

Asking questions to understand your customer’s objections fully can identify the underlying concerns and provide tailored solutions to address them. Here is some guidance on the best way to approach questioning your customers: Tip #1 – Open-ended questions: Use open-ended questions to encourage the customer…

Using stories to build a connection with your audience is a powerful tool in any sales pitch or marketing campaign. Stories have the ability to capture our attention, engage us emotionally, and help us remember important information. By using stories, you can demonstrate how your…

It is important to have a clear sales process in place. This means having a step-by-step process for moving your customer through the sales funnel, from initial contact to closing the sale. Make sure that everyone on your team is trained in this process and…

Listen actively to your customer’s objections and acknowledge their concerns. This helps build rapport and trust with your customer, which can lead to a successful sale. Here are 5 tips to help you build rapport and trust: Tip #1 – Stay focused: When a customer…

Anticipate objections and address them proactively in your pitch. By doing this, you demonstrate that you understand the customer’s concerns and that you have solutions to their problems. Tip #1 – Research your customer: Before you engage with a potential customer, do some research on…

Understanding your target audience is critical for increasing your conversion rate. Take the time to research and understand your audience’s needs, preferences, and pain points. This can help you tailor your sales pitch to better address their concerns and boost your conversion rate. Here are…

Before you start selling, take the time to research your customer and their industry. Understand what their pain points are, what they value, and what their goals are. This will help you tailor your sales pitch to their specific needs. Tip #1 – Do your…

At our March Black Country Business Growth Community we took our learning from Scott McKain, Customer Experience and Distinction Expert. “How to Create Distinction In A Changing World” There were some incredible BFO’s (Blinding Flashes of the Obvious) about how crucial it is to be…

Asking for help, something that I am really good at in certain settings…and really bad at in others! I can be quite stubborn and with stubbornness comes the inability to ask for help. I feel like I should be able to do it by myself,…

Sometimes it takes a refresh of knowledge to make you think differently about something you already know…or should I say think you know! This is what happened to me last week when attending a Finance Masterclass and returning to the importance of knowing the numbers…

ActionCOACH Black Country has ended the month on a high after its managing director Andy Hemming scooped a top industry award for the fifth year in a row. Mr Hemming was awarded the ActionCOACH ‘UK Best Client Ratings’ once again, after first receiving the award…

To learn, or not to learn? That is the question! Learning is inbuilt in us from an early age – we learn how to walk, how to talk, how to do our times tables. Throughout our lives we are always learning, whether that is from…

Last week we talked about the five of the reasons to have referral partners in your business – this week, we’re focussing on how you make referral partnerships work so they are of benefit to everyone involved. It is important to identify partners that make…

Referral: an act of referring someone or something for consultation, review, or further action. If you do any networking the word ‘referral’ is something you will hear at every meeting and you will be looking to pass business to your fellow members. But, how often…