inspired What you in 2021?

What a difficult year or so we have all endured. It’s been a true test of our mental, emotional and physical resilience. With so much negativity and doomsaying across all communication channels, just how do you ‘reposition, refocus and move forward’, and chart your own path to a future you want? We thought we would ask a few business leaders for their inspirations from this year. And we thought we would share ours with you too. Maybe you will find something that resonates with you.

Ian Traynor

Managing Director at Luminate Ventures Ltd

Executive mentor, business consultant, NED and board advisor, helping with business transformation.

The inspiring individual that I became reacquainted with this year is Clive Humby OBE, DunnHumby. DunnHumby was the pioneer behind Tesco Club card – a revolutionary customer loyalty data analytics service supporting Tesco’s stellar growth. In 2010 Clive Humby stated at a Data and Analytics convention that data was the new gold. It drove market development and a new industry in data and analytics companies, offering everything from customer data and credit data to house price data analytics.

Fast-forward to 2021 – I met Clive Humby OBE at a Customer Management convention, presenting the next level. Data is indeed gold, but to become of real value and use, it needs to deliver ‘insight’ – unlocking all of that data and turning it into meaningful modules, action and decision points. The three key elements he shared have become my inspiration:

1. Ask ‘Why’ three times – this will help you understand the data more and enable you to develop your promotions and messaging

2. A mass of data can tie you up in knots – so ask “what do I need to know to progress my sales/revenue/communications?” – then look at the outputs of the data within your business. Review and make decisions on that level of information, without becoming overloaded

3. Set realistic goals and targets based on the data/information you have – add to this some realistic market knowledge or data.

Remember, unless you harness the ‘insight’ from the ‘new gold’, then it just becomes fool’s gold.

Bob Bond

CEO at Pathway Software

WriteUpp, from Pathway Software Limited, has helped over 13,000 clinicians handle over 4 million appointments. It’s securely recorded over 2 million clinical notes and raised invoices totalling more than £70 million.

Podcast/Book/Person: Podcast

Name or title: The Masters of SaaS - created by Todd Chambers, founder of UpRaw Media in Amsterdam

How you found out about it: We’re a client of UpRaw

Brief summary of what it was about: It's a ‘tour de force’ of content marketing. A series of fascinating, honest, funny interviews with CEOs and founders of some of the top SaaS (Software as a service) businesses in the world. They cover everything from positioning to customer service, outbound sales and much much more. I became a real fan listening to them every time I jumped in the car

How did it impact you? It became my ‘go to’ resource for anything to do with the business of running a SaaS company. As the CEO of a SaaS business (WriteUpp) I’m always looking for ways to accelerate growth, build a better business, and reach a larger market.

In many cases the Master of SaaS podcast provided the inspiration. It didn’t always provide the full answer (obviously), but it triggered thoughts and made us re-think how we run, market and manage our business.

Elaine Thomas

Director and Co-owner at Living Floors Ltd

Luxury flooring used by renowned interior designers and award-winning architects from around the world

Podcast/Book/Person: Podcast

Name or title: High Performance with Jake Humphreys and Damian Lewis

How you found out about it: Through another podcast 'Conversations of Inspiration' with Holly Tucker

Brief summary of what it was about: The podcast features high achieving guests from all areas such as sport, business, media. The key to each episode is 'what is high performance?'; this means different things to different people

How did it impact you? Listening has really opened my mind to what can be achieved, using the tough times to learn from and move on. I love the fact that you may take a brilliant tip from an athlete and translate it to your business. I look forward to a Monday listen and would highly recommend it!

Vicky Heathfield

Creative Director at EZ Publishing

Producing VOX, your quarterly business magazine connecting Chester and Wrexham

Podcast/Book/Person: Podcast (also a book)

Name or title: Remarkable People by Dan Walker

How you found out about it: Audible search

Brief summary of what it was about: ‘Remarkable People’ recounts inspiring stories of the people Dan Walker has met throughout his journalistic career, shining a light onto stories of selflessness and compassion that seldom make the headlines.

How did it impact you? This book made me laugh and cry in equal measures! But, more importantly, I was inspired by the absolute heroes in this book and their heartbreaking stories (but always with a positive message). This book was just what I needed this year to remind me that there are remarkable people out there that make this world an amazing place!

Clara Hughes

Editorial Director at EZ Publishing

Producing VOX, your quarterly business magazine connecting Chester and Wrexham

Podcast/Book/Person: Book

Name or title: Sorry I’m late, I didn’t want to come – an introvert’s year of living dangerously by Jessica Pan

How you found out about it: My husband bought it me

Brief summary of what it was about: Jessica Pan, the author, is a self-confessed introvert who asks the question, “What would happen if a shy introvert lived like a gregarious extrovert for one year?” The book follows her over the 12 months.

How did it impact you? I find how people interact and behave with each other fascinating. I recognise that my personality type is naturally inverted but due to the nature of my work, I often find myself in situations where I need to be more extravert. I identify with many of her observations, although, I can fairly confidently say, you will never see me doing stand-up or improv!

Richard Knew Director, Knew Productions National award-winning video production for business

Podcast/Book/Person: Person

Name or title: Jeff Hardman of Broxton based Barnhill Consulting

How you found out about it: Jeff and I have got to know each other over several years through local networking events and attendance at Jeff’s leadership coaching workshops.

Brief summary of what it was about: I approached Jeff to help me with some specific manufacturing-sector sales coaching, particularly around tracking and conversion of annual projections.

How did it impact you? The results have already been impressive. Next year we will be working with two new multinational manufacturing companies and have 2022 mapped out with likely orders throughout the year too.