Neil Livingstone is a coach, CFO and author. He has over 35 years of experience helping business owners. Neil currently focuses on helping business owners build 5-star teams of employees in less than 90 days.
He also offers accountability coaching calls that keep business owners clear, focused and on track to hit their goals.
For more details on how Neil helps business owners build rockstar teams click here 5-Star Employee Attraction System
Here we sit down with Neil, to know a bit more about his journey as an entrepreneur.
Q. Tell us a little more about your journey as an entrepreneur – how did you get started? What inspired you?
Neil: I grew up working in my parent’s toyshops which I loved. This kicked started my love of business. I then spent 10 years working for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Australia, Europe and Asia. I didn’t realise it fully at the time, but both of these businesses, while being quite different, were both exceptional and amazing at building and keeping 5-star teams.
I only realised this after working in the corporate sector where they didn’t value, train and invest in their teams to anywhere near the same level.
I now work with business owners who struggle to build good teams. I bring to the table what I learned early in my career at PWC and my parent shops to constantly help get great results for business owners, who typically have never had the opportunity I did to learn how to build great teams.
Q. What’s one thing in your routine that you do consistently that has made a huge difference in your personal or business life?
Neil:
– taking consistent action is the key to success. Execution is 95%. Planning is 5%. The mindset I try and follow is Ready Fire Aim (instead of Ready Aim Fire).
– starting the day early and knocking off the most important item on my to-do list 1st
– doing what others don’t or won’t do on a consistent basis, like following up, finishing things ahead of time, regular self-development, daily catchups with my team
– cutting out (minimising) bad habits, in particular watching TV, emails, games and social media. I reward myself with these when I have finished my to-do list
Q. Who are your mentors and inspiration? and what knowledge or insight did they give to you that was valuable?
Neil: I have been blessed to have some great mentors in my life. In my teens, my Venturer leader pushed me to do incredible things like climbing, caving, and canyoning. I made it to Mt Everest base Camp at 15. My parents taught me how to run a successful business and build a great team around you and have fun.
An Irish manager in my early years at PwC took me under his wing and taught me the power of hard work and discipline. Currently, I have a life coach, fitness coach and business coach who really push and inspire me. I also now work with Grant Cardone who is an amazing business person who runs awesome business.
Q. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Neil: There have been a lot. All of them have been hitting major goals or seeing someone close to me rewarded for their efforts.
Probably the most rewarding would be helping the 5 businesses I have co-owned go from zero to $10m + revenue. I have also helped many business owners raise money and/or sell their businesses for big paydays, which is also very rewarding.
Second, would be the satisfaction of helping a mum or dad buy great Xmas presents for their children and watching them walk out of our toyshop extremely happy.
Q. How do you market your business, and which tactics have been most successful?
Neil: Word-of-mouth referrals, partnerships and collaborations have been the most successful marketing channels for me.
Various digital marketing and seminars would be second. I have been able to use videos and webinars successfully.
Q. What has been your biggest failures or challenges?
Neil: The biggest would be having to sell a business we started for the same amount that we invested after 5 years of hard work because of covid. That was a bitter pill to swallow.
Q. How did this failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?
Neil: It was pretty humbling. It helped me develop my resilience and negotiation skills to where they are today.
We were lucky to get out of the situation at breakeven and it required a lot of negotiation with numerous parties.
Q. If someone was to create a TV show about you, what would it be about and what would it be called?
Neil: It would showcase how I work with business owners to help them meet their goals in life and transform their lives.
It would cover the highs and lows and how hard the journey can be. What it would be called is a hard one.
Maybe a fortunate life. I live in Sydney Australia after all.To keep up to date with Neil and their journey, connect with him on LinkedIn.