Say it quietly…..

This won’t last, say it quietly and ‘touch wood’ as you say it …but work wise – things are going ….Ok…at the moment.

The whole business thing seems to be actually working as it should do.

I’m working ‘on’ the business not ‘in’ the business.

For those of you with new ventures, the last sentence is one to read and absorb – it takes bloody ages for this to happen – and when it does it makes you feel very ‘odd’.

The day you can safely say …that you feel like you don’t actually do anything – is the day that you’ve made it ….*

(* unless of course you’ve never actually done anything …which is of course a slightly different situation)

I currently feel like I could take a sabbatical and drive round the coast of Scotland (North Coast 500) in a motorhome for 6 weeks with the Mrs and my dog ….and things would run perfectly well without me.

I’m not going to – but – I feel that I could if I wanted to.

How does one arrive at this point?

Well – it’s about trust and it’s about delegation.

Allowing others to do your job and working with them to make sure it’s done how you want it done …then let them free to do it unfettered by having you looking over their shoulder.

In fact, in most instances I would say that everyone at JKSL can do all the things that I used to do …but …better than I used to do them.

Not to name any names but:

The best marketing campaign that we have run was not designed by Mike Clough. Take a bow Suzanne Hardy.

The role of Managing Director is not taken by Mike Clough. Take a bow Mr. Alex Dayes – never met anybody as quick or as competent.

Accounts – where Mike Clough used to get grumpy and annoyed and stressed – we now have a team led by Ann Taylor, who calmly chase and resolve accounts issues with dignity not a baseball bat.

Surveying of sites that were initially all done by Mike Clough – now taken on by Jonathan Harris, ably supported by Gabriella Fagnani – surveys now done better, quicker, more accurately – take a bow survey team.

Our most reliable Administration Department, run so ably by Michelle Scott, that occasionally one forgets just how good she is …thanks Michelle for all that you do.

We have thousands of Japanese knotweed site revisits that are managed by a bespoke system designed inhouse by Chris Oliver – genius level skills – thanks Chris.

Site operations just get done ✅ – Phil, Alan, Rick, Paul, Nathan, do not let Mike Clough anywhere near a machine or a sprayer ….enough said ….not my skill set.

(Note, if you want a demonstration of how to use a small tractor – DO NOT ask Mike Clough – inhouse joke, understood only by Phil)

So all in all – a smooth running operation now that I’m sidelined ….

Mike C