Timber Intent

Hi, my name in Roger Brisley, my business, Timber Intent Ltd. consults, designs, builds and installs eco-friendly timber and fabric tensile structures, that’s Tents, Canopies and Garden Sails. We work in the Architectural, Event or Exhibition and the Private garden markets, whilst I know that now, I can only be so certain of it as a direct result of having a mentor. Previously, I wouldn’t have been quite as confident or positive of this.

Over the years, I’ve attended various business development seminars, some better than others, although all rather vague and not directed precisely at me. I’d been told I have great prospects, one guy said “oooh you’ve got a 2 million quid company there.” Bearing in mind I turned over about £150k that year I was quite excited. I went back to the office with a new financial business plan, it's still on my computer somewhere. I was though, left to my own devices. Of course I waited for it all to happen, obviously it didn’t, no matter how much I bragged to my friends and relations, it just didn’t happen.

A couple of years ago I was introduced to a fellow Alumni, (I’m an ex Parnham Trust's Hooke Park student) a business Angel or Mentor. Rather perplexingly to me at the time, he had no direct experience of my friend’s business. It took me some time to realise the merit of having somebody around who actually knows about business generally and with real experience, no matter that it may be in a different area. I’ve been trying for some time to find one through the usual suspects, The Prince's Trust, no too old, Business Link, nope, friends, all hopeless. My bank did find me a chap 2 hours away, who although very busy developing his own business offered to meet. He was actually rather good, suggesting avenues I could take, ways we could work together and various opportunities, all great except really he’s too busy servicing his loans from the bank to talk regularly. I suspect he’s interested as he makes garden furniture and saw an opportunity for himself. That’s ok of course and although he’s very successful I now think he could probably benefit from a proper mentor himself.

Eventually Mick Waite called me suggesting I meet someone who turned out to be a very straight talking yet considerate gentleman who not only lives very locally, but who is obviously successful, and despite being busy with his own companies appears to have time for Me. I very quickly felt serious respect for him. He doesn’t force his opinions on me but draws out answers, answers to questions I propose, that I didn’t even know I had. When you are describing your dreams and ideas to someone who is genuinely successful you very quickly realise the good ones from the bad ones. I know what’s good and bad, so even on the most basic level as a sounding board my own mentor has been a great asset. When looking for one I could have spoken to various associates of course, others more successful in similar businesses, but I was far too nervous about being ripped off. As a result of being advised to network I’m now talking to everyone, people and companies I thought were competition are now actually referring enquiries to me, asking me to do consulting work for them, some even doing R and D for prospective joint ventures. I had no idea I was so good or popular. The life coaching, I can only call it that, has given me much clearer vision and completely sorted out motivational and confidence issues I had. On the now rare occasions I take time off to socialise with my friends, they get bored with me rattling on about it. I make no apologies for it; I don’t think there are many people out there who wouldn’t benefit from this process. It’s certainly rubbed off on my long-suffering partner, now she knows she needs to do decide what she wants out of life. Hopefully it’ll still be me and not just because I’m going to be successful!

When I first spoke to Mick I had simple project in mind. My mentor said ok but had me write down; What do I want? What am I good at? What do I do? Just writing down the answers to those questions was a revelation, lots of brainstorming, lateral thinking, networking, looking at all sorts of ideas, then the shuffling of SWOT sheets, don’t know what they are? Get a mentor! Suddenly a month ago “decision day”. Now I have a mission statement, an action plan, a business plan, even plans A, B and C and actually they’re not so different from my previous ideas, yet I’m encouraged to expand and grow within a sensible framework that allows flexibility. And my goodness I believe in them, I think I really stand a chance of achieving the goals. The money has even started coming in, I had a cheque recently I wouldn’t have had if not for the mentoring, I simply wouldn’t have followed up that perfectly decent, but not what I thought was my line, enquiry.

So to conclude, I’ve got money coming in, I’ve got flexible plans and I’ve got a mission statement. I’ve got someone I can talk to who I not only like but respect and who is frank and honest with me. I hope I can continue to meet and discuss things with him, I guess that’s down to him and Dorset Business Mentors, but even if I’m left to my own devices now (please don’t) I’d feel much better armed to go ahead and develop my business. Thanks Dorset Business Mentors you are the best business help I’ve had! Oh and should I ever have my £2m company I promise I’ll be a mentor myself, whether you like it or not. I consider myself extremely lucky to have a business mentor and wonder how anyone working on their own manages without one.