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Robert Gerrish: small business coach, professional speaker & business commentator

Robert GerrishSydney, New South Wales
www.robertgerrish.com

Robert is Flying Solo’s managing director and founder and works as a business coach, professional speaker, business commentator and consultant.

He regularly works with corporations, franchise organisations, small business groups and associations. His hot topics include how to get the attention of small business, mastering word of mouth marketing, standing out from the crowd and how to get more done in less time. Read more about his professional services in this one-pager.

A tireless self-promoter, he's fast-talked his way onto ABC Four Corners, Channel 9's A Current Affair and Mornings with Kerri-Anne. He writes regularly for News Ltd. titles, presents on radio and has scores of articles published online.

In 2002 he became only the second coach in Australasia to achieve the International Coach Federation credential of Professional Certified Coach.

He co-authored Flying Solo - How to go it alone in business with Sam Leader and lives in Sydney with his wife, Jane and son, Jay.

Want to say hello? Contact Robert.

Robert's memorable quote
"The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time" Bertrand Russell

 Come to Flying Solo LIVE! to see Robert Gerrish present Be remark-able!
Wednesday 17 September, 2008 at The Australian Technology Park, Sydney.

 

Articles by Robert

  • Soapbox

    The things people say

    Having spent last week at our conference and much of this week at someone else’s, it occurs to me that simple, memorable wisdom can come from anywhere. Here are some personal favourites.

  • Soapbox

    Is social networking for us?

    Good question. After some cursory Googling it’s clear the jury’s still out on the value of online social networks. The stampede of early adopters would have us believe it’s a must-have, but is it?

  • Soapbox

    Finding hidden equity

    I don’t know about you, but I am getting bored with all this ‘downturn’ talk. Next time someone directs the conversation towards doom and gloom, either stick your fingers in your ears or help them find some hidden equity.

  • Soapbox

    How can I help you?

    When I first met Zern Liew, now one of our fine contributors, I said something that stuck with him. The fact that it did and that he went on to blog about it means that it’s stuck with me also.

  • Soapbox

    Mind altering drudge

    In the process of my work as a coach, I have one particular action that regularly creates a big shift for my clients. The funny thing is, I don’t do a thing. Let me tell you how it works.

  • Soapbox

    How to fix your biggest challenge THIS week

    One of the questions we set our 1,770 respondents in our Understanding Micro Business survey, had to do with the three biggest challenges being faced in business. Here’s what we discovered, along with my solution.

  • Soapbox

    What Gordon Ramsay said about my business

    So there I was quietly going about my work when foul mouthed Gordon burst in and gave it to me with both barrels. Some of what he had to say was hard to swallow.

  • Soapbox

    What am I doing here?

    I’m as social as the next guy. I love people and I adore lounging around in cafés. One thing I hate, though, is putting on a posh shirt and slogging across town only to have my time wasted. Frankly, I’m over it.

  • Soapbox

    How to avoid deadline dangers

    Deadlines can work for or against your solo business. How well you manage them depends on how well you manage client expectations. Here’s how to ensure your solo business avoids deadline dangers.

  • Soapbox

    You hold the answers

    When faced with questions regarding business evolution or revolution, there can be no one better to counsel than your customers. Your customers will show you how to improve things and help expand your thinking.

  • Marketing

    Marketing tips for targeting small business

    With more than one million businesses in Australia falling into the micro category, it can be hard to attract their attention. This article provides four marketing tips for targeting small businesses.

  • Soapbox

    The easy way to speak to groups of prospects

    This one’s for those who love speaking, but struggle to find an audience; hate speaking, but know people; or simply don’t have anything very interesting to say. It’s a straightforward strategy to get in front of prospects and I think you’ll like it.

  • Soapbox

    How a pop band can help you succeed

    Several years ago I took a stab at managing a pop band. They were good musicians. I was an okay manager. Together we failed abysmally. I think I know why.

  • Soapbox

    Happy, excited and proud

    In our solo business, dominated at times by big, hairy goals, it’s very easy to overlook the importance and value of smaller successes. In this little end-of-year exercise, I invite you to stop and answer three simple questions.

  • Soapbox

    Let yourself off the hook

    At this time of year the world of the solo business owner can go somewhat wobbly. Sound familiar? Thought so. Welcome to what I consider the most uncomfortable few weeks of the silly season. I suggest it’s time to let stuff go.

  • Working Smarter

    Money management: Tips for solo businesses

    Recently I wrote a piece for our newsletter that generated quite a discussion. It was about a soloist who was uncomfortable with money. Here's a summary of your excellent money management tips.

  • Soapbox

    Do you want to get there faster?

    It seems to me that everywhere I look someone is trying to persuade us to accomplish things more quickly. Doubtless there are strategies and products that can help us be more efficient, but is faster always better?

  • Soapbox

    A question of money

    Oh, no it’s happened again. I’ve just finished a conversation with yet another person who’s allowed money to wreak havoc.

  • Soapbox

    Today's most important task

    A couple of weeks ago I received an email from Michael, an internet specialist. In it, he described a problem he was having with that old chestnut, procrastination.

  • Soapbox

    The message everyone should hear

    Are you willing to play a little game with me? Good, I hoped you'd say yes. In a second or two I'd like you to close your eyes and imagine a room full of people

  • Soapbox

    Five fast failings

    This past week I've heard of a couple of instances where hurried behaviour very nearly resulted in the loss of a sale…and that can't be good.

  • Marketing

    Winning new business: How to avoid the giving trap

    There’s you in pursuit of winning new business, all excited by the prospect landing a star client. You’ve spent months, even years, perfecting your policies and procedures and as quick as a flash you shoot yourself in the foot by giving stuff away.

  • Soapbox

    Fashion tips for soloists

    I was a bit miffed a couple of years ago when I read an article quoting the head of the Mambo design team as saying something to the effect that they didn't want men my age walking around in their clothes any longer.

  • Soapbox

    What is it you do again?

    Okay, hands up, who knows what 'transformational change' means? Thought so. Not many of you and those who do grasp it are probably in the business anyway.

  • Solo Psyche

    Can your business handle the truth?

    Too often in business we fail to speak the truth. Instead we say what we think people want to hear and act as we're told to act. What would be the impact on your business if your customer’s knew what you really thought?

  • Soapbox

    Do you recognise buying signals?

    Now I don't want to cause alarm, but to put this week's story in context I need to tell you that I started my working career as a used car salesman. Trust me, I was honest. No really.

  • Soapbox

    Five ways to tame the flow of ideas

    I loved Peter's Four things format last week and figured I'd 'borrow' the idea…and up the ante to five. Just to keep him on his toes.

  • Soapbox

    From wow! to whatever

    There's much spoken of the need for the ‘wow factor’ in our work and how without it we risk being invisible. But I have to tell you I’m totally over businesses that lead with ‘wow’ only to follow up with…er, nothing actually.

  • Soapbox

    Everyone's a partner

    Of course, we often come across those who spout on about 'partnering with clients', but you can bet most organisations who bang the relationship drum are not connected with their so-called partners in any meaningful way.

  • Soapbox

    Getting the gig

    A couple of weeks ago I received an email from Sylvia, a coaching client. She'd heard on the grapevine that a big project was coming up with a past contact and it was work that suited her to a T. What's more she was hungry for success.

  • Soapbox

    Words that get noticed

    As regular readers will know, in my coaching and speaking business I put considerable emphasis on clarifying who is an ‘ideal client’ for me.

  • Soapbox

    Five back office essentials

    If there's one thing that can get in the way of a smooth running solo enterprise, it's the lack of an organised back office. Sadly it's not unusual to see a business that fronts up well yet is a disaster behind the scenes.

  • Marketing

    Grow through your existing customer base

    There is real growth potential in a sole trader's existing customer base, but many fail to realise its full potential. Often, more energy goes to attracting new customers or clients than looking after current ones.

  • Soapbox

    Avoid the hemmed-in feeling

    If there’s one thing that makes me feel overwhelmed and tired, it’s the sense I’m going to be struggling to get the day’s work done. In my view, few feelings contribute so negatively to our ability to work effectively.

  • Soapbox

    What are you missing?

    When I was out walking last week, three separate groups of tourists stopped me and asked that I take their photograph in front of the cliffs overlooking the ocean.

  • Working Smarter

    Removing barriers to success

    Soloists often unconsciously put barriers in the way between them and success. This is typified by what I call the 'feet on the ground' versus 'feet in the ground' situation.

  • Soapbox

    Refusing work

    It would be lovely to think we only ever attracted dream clients to our businesses, but unfortunately we also get the occasional stinker.

  • Solo Psyche

    Work motivation tip: Avoid distractions

    If your work motivation work is flagging, the chances are distractions are contributing to the problem.

  • Marketing

    Planning marketing beats binge marketing

    By carefully planning marketing you can avoid the grand daddy of all bad business behaviours: binge marketing. All it takes is some regular time allocated to the task.

  • Marketing

    Niche marketing: the business specialist

    When it comes to working smarter we shouldn't overlook niche marketing and the benefits of positioning yourself as a business specialist. Here are five compelling reasons to do just that.

  • Marketing

    How to conduct effective meetings

    Meetings can prove to be either a positive, fruitful encounter...or a total waste of time. To conduct effective meetings, you need to bring clarity and preparation to the table.

  • Working Smarter

    Assessing business performance

    This time is ideal for assessing business performance - pondering both how well you've travelled over the past year and how the new year is shaping up.

  • Marketing

    Can innovation be a marketing tool?

    If you're forever hearing great things said about your work, yet not seeing these translate into sales and revenue, it could just be because you've fallen into the innovator trap. Can innovation be a marketing tool?

  • Working Smarter

    Making space for generating ideas

    Fresh ideas keep us motivated. But chances are these ideas won't come when you're stuck behind your desk. It is necessary to create time and space for generating ideas and creative thinking.

  • Marketing

    Target marketing: Being heard amid the noise

    To get noticed, soloists should use target marketing and be specific with their message. It's far better to be heard well by one person than ignored by many.

  • Stay Balanced

    Managing work life balance: Avoid the ‘always available’ trap

    Modern gizmos and gadgets means soloists can be permanently available to their clients. A good thing? Maybe not. Managing work life balance is an important lesson to learn.

  • Working Smarter

    Business vision: the importance of long term goals

    In our book Flying Solo - How to go it alone in business, Sam and I talk a great deal about the role and importance of holding a buiness vision. Having long term goals can help you make decisions every day.

  • Networking

    Networking strategies: Get involved!

    It's easy to get lost in your own world in Soloville, so you need to make a conscious effort to put networking strategies in place and stay connected.

  • Starting Out

    Crucial questions for small business start ups

    New small business start ups require plenty of planning. Here are five questions that all aspiring small business owner’s need to consider.


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