Thursday 23rd May

The Pulse

Back in the fold

Written by
Paul Hassing

Businesses, Featured, Your Team

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17
Jul

A very sharp knife is in da house.

It’s a red-letter day at The Feisty Empire.

After a six-year absence, my smartest associate has returned to the fold.

Adam Finlay helped build my business.

Now he’s helping me grow it.

By describing this journey, I plan to collate hints to help your business too.

Past

At the peak of Empire in 2005, I had five writers in training.

Adam out-learned, out-worked and outlasted the others.

But when my biggest client unexpectedly hired in-house copywriters, my revenue plummeted by more than 80%.

There was barely enough work for me.

Adam toughed it out, working on my business instead of in it.

We created forms and systems to make daily life faster, easier and more accurate.

Finally, my investment money dried up and Adam had to move on.

In giving a glowing testimonial to his prospective employers at Deakin University, I felt like I was cutting off my right arm.

Present

Adam shone in his new senior editorial role.

Soon he was editing me, improving my writing by 20%.

Then he nailed his masters with high distinction.

Then he gained national professional accreditation as an editor.

Meanwhile, I rebuilt my client base, studied social media and developed new income streams.

Today I’m on the cusp of having more work than I can handle.

So Adam’s return is most propitious.

He’s found that he prefers editing to managing, so is delighted to be back ‘on the tools’.

He’s not the only one!

Future

I’ve been putting the word out to clients.

Their response has been extraordinary.

Many remember working with Adam all those years ago (such is his technical prowess and superior bedside manner).

They’re telling their networks, and fresh work is already starting to flow.

When I took last weekend off, I threw Adam the Empire’s ‘keys’, knowing he could handle anything in my absence.

With my capacity doubled, I’m ramping up my business generation efforts and saying yes to more projects.

I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Your growth

I’m eager for your tales of love and loss, staff and colleagues, growth and decline and the lessons springing therefrom.

By sharing our stories, we’ll all evolve.

So when the next wave comes,

we’ll surf it!

Paul Hassing | Founder & Senior Writer – The Feisty Empire

business growth, staff

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What others are saying

Author

Caroline Robinson

July 17, 2012 at 3:39 pm

Great story Paul and how true of so many small businesses. Welcome back and definitely will send some more work your way – will keep Adam busy!

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  July 17, 2012 at 3:58 pm
  
  Thank you kindly, Caroline. It has been so frustrating to deflect or defer some projects that exceeded my capacity. I greatly look foward to being able to say yes without hesitation – especially to YOU!
  
  Reply
Author

Stephen Hamilton

July 17, 2012 at 3:51 pm

That is awesome news gents!

It is kinds like an A-Team reunion, but just without the Bedford van and explosions. Okay, maybe that was a long bow to draw, but it is good news nonetheless.

Good staff are gold, and good colleagues are diamonds. Congratulations.

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  July 17, 2012 at 3:57 pm
  
  It’s awesome to see you back, Stephen. How’s business treating YOU?
  
  A-Team is a great analogy. Though I was thinking more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbz8OL3kYyk
  
  Many thanks indeed for your well wishes.
  
  Reply
  - Author
    
    Stephen Hamilton
    
    July 17, 2012 at 4:04 pm
    
    Super Hero Herculoids FTW!
  - Author
    
    Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
    
    July 17, 2012 at 4:08 pm
    
    Hee hee! Can’t decide if I’m Gloop or Gleep. We may need to design a survey …
Author

Dan

July 17, 2012 at 3:58 pm

Isn’t if funny how things come full circle Paul? Great to hear the feistiness of the empire has doubled and look forward to seeing posts dealing with the pitfalls of rapid expansion in coming months!

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  July 17, 2012 at 5:20 pm
  
  Thank you very much, Dan.
  
  I used to favour a saying:
  
  ‘If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it was meant to be yours. If not, hunt it down and kill it.’
  
  Fortunately for Adam, I’ve matured slightly.
  
  Yes, growth can certainly hurt as much as decline – though I think it’s a nicer problem to have. Rest assured I won’t spare you any of the pangs.
  
  Reply
Author

Susan Oakes

July 17, 2012 at 5:35 pm

Congratulations to both of you joining forces again and may the Feisty Empire double in revenue and profit!

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  July 17, 2012 at 5:39 pm
  
  Thank you, Susan! It’s so nice to see you again and receive your generous wishes.
  
  Reply
Author

Mike Boyle

July 17, 2012 at 7:59 pm

Paul

Well done i am proud of you.

As you well know I started as a humble, energised sales trainer and nearly went broke. I read E-Myth and listened, got coaching/mentors, refined and built a better business model. Banjar Group has evolved as the sales science group we are today. I am a Sales Scientist and the Sales Cat with 80% of my work on outcome based retainers. I have a trusted private network TPN like you that have incredible skills and passion for what they do so I put everything I don’t do out to them and focus on delivering sales performance, my love and passion.

The lessons:

Know who you are first and be the best you can be at it, no matter what it is

practice, practice, practice.

Never stop learning from others smarter and wiser than you.

Have a plan, even just a one page one will do.

Sell your WHY not your what or how ( P Hassing saying more with less!)

Be passionate, energised, resilient, dedicated, determined and most of all have fun. Love what it is you do.

Surround yourself with talent, experts and left field check people. Its called support

Lastly, have a crack and never second guess yourself. You will make mistakes and thats OK the best learning came from failure ( just ask Matt Goeiring of Simpson’s fame)

Well done Paul you are a hero and good luck to you both

regards
Mike Boyle – The Sales Cat – http://www.banjargroup.com.au

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  July 17, 2012 at 8:47 pm
  
  Thank you so much for your wonderful words, Mike.
  
  Barely a month passes without some fab new referral contacting me with words like: ‘Hi, Paul; Mike Boyle sent me. Yes, he IS an all-round great guy, isn’t he?!’
  
  You were the bloke that put me onto Seth Godin (and we know how THAT turned out http://myob.com.au/blog/the-punter%e2%80%99s-ton/ )!
  
  You’re the gift that keeps on giving. Like pass-the-parcel, but the music keeps stopping with you.
  
  I’m deeply grateful for all you’ve done, and continue to do. Many thanks indeed!
  
  Reply
Author

Winston Marsh

July 18, 2012 at 4:45 am

Welcom back Adam and here’s to a planned and profitable expansion of the empire Paul! Congratulations! Remember the 6 P’s.

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  July 18, 2012 at 5:42 am
  
  Thank you, Winston. From memory, that’s: Pernickety Punctuators Periodically Please Pedantic Punters.
  
  … Or am I looking at your wrong blog post?
  
  Reply
Author

Adam Finlay

July 18, 2012 at 9:28 am

Morning folks. I missed the opportunity to comment last night, as I had errands to run. So, everyone may be elsewhere by now. Nevermind. But Paul is full of kind praise, and you folk are full of kind support. Thanks! It was a tough decision to leave the Empire 6 years ago, and a tough decision 6 weeks ago to leave the security of a large institution. Yet in all things we must follow our art, as I’m fond to say. Actually, Paul and I work so well together that our disagreements are generally over the extent of our reciprocal generosity. It’s a rare alignment, and one I’m delighted to rekindle. It sure is nice to be back in the fold.

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  July 18, 2012 at 9:32 am
  
  Onya, Ad! I sure felt your pain both times. And yes, the only thing we argue about is giving more to the other bloke. Would that all commercial/creative partnerships were thus. The leads are flowing in, Mate, so hold onto your hat!
  
  Reply
- Author
  
  Stephen Hamilton
  
  July 18, 2012 at 5:41 pm
  
  Good on ya both!
  
  Reply
  - Author
    
    Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
    
    July 18, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Author

Leon Noone

July 18, 2012 at 11:36 am

G’Day Paul,
Good to find you so flushed with excitement and anticipation. May you reestablished union with Adam be everything that both of you expect it to be. And always remember: practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.

Could be fun……!

Best Wishes
Leon

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  July 18, 2012 at 11:50 am
  
  Many thanks indeed, Leon. I’ll have to practise that one, but I’m sure it’ll be worth the effort!
  
  Reply
Author

Malcolm Owens

July 20, 2012 at 9:52 am

Congratulations Paul, Adam is a brilliant writer and editor so you guys really make an awesome team. I’m sure the collaboration of your businesses, brains and talent will make you a force in the industry.

Reply
- Author
  
  Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
  
  July 20, 2012 at 9:58 am
  
  Many thanks for your kind words, Malcolm!
  
  I’m getting anecdotal evidence that this post is being read by parties of great interest, so I’m grateful for your endorsement.
  
  Reply