Growing SoGlos with ActionCOACH Cheltenham
A Candid Interview with James Fyrne, Managing Director
Managing directors of SoGlos, Gloucestershire’s leading media brand, Michelle Fyrne and James Fyrne turned to ActionCOACH Cheltenham in early 2023 to support them in their plans to scale their 16 year old business.
In the search for business growth, the Cheltenham-based business owners recognised the need for external help.
“We could see so many opportunities in the business for development and growth”
In this candid interview, James Fyrne shares the reasons behind seeking a business coach: “We could see so many opportunities in the business for development, growth, tweaking or completely changing the way we do things to take our business to the next level.”
As James explains, many business leaders can resonate with their challenges of growth and wanting to scale the business.
The main challenge at SoGlos was operational and to see beyond the day to day issues of running a business; so they could see the opportunities open to them, then visualise and plan how to achieve them.
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH JAMES HERE – WATCH HERE
The ActionCOACH Cheltenham Influence
The team at ActionCOACH Cheltenham had been recommended to James and Michelle by the local business community.
In partnership with their coach Billy Smith, James and Michelle are working on preparing SoGlos for national expansion and scale and refining the operational blueprint of SoGlos. The focus is to transition from working “in” the business to working “on” the business, a pivotal shift necessary for scaling operations and venturing into new markets like Bristol and Cardiff.
Reflecting on the journey, James notes, “The pivotal moment for us was thinking about the scalability of the business.”
The collaboration with ActionCOACH Cheltenham has brought to the fore the importance of system and processes, a fundamental aspect of creating a self-sustaining business model capable of thriving in different geographical areas.
Efficiency and Time Saving to Drive Business Growth
In Fyrne’s words, “The systems and processes work we’ve done already by the end of 2023 will save each of our team members up to around about a day a week of their time.” This isn’t just about time-saving; it’s about enhancing operational efficacy, allowing the team to focus on quality and innovation, and by extension, driving business growth.
The Value of Business Coaching
Furthermore, Fyrne emphasises the value of having a business compass in the form of a coach, stating ….
“I honestly wish that we’d had a business coach from day one … having that external support and perspective is absolutely invaluable.”
This external perspective, with support from ActionCOACH Cheltenham, is proving instrumental in not just navigating the current business landscape for SoGlos but also in setting a clear roadmap for them to go ahead with their exciting expansions into new regions.
The SoGlos Business Coaching Story
The narrative of SoGlos underscores a profound message to business leaders: that engagement with a business coach isn’t an admission of inadequacy, but a bold step towards unlocking potential, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and setting the stage for a prosperous business future.
As James Fyrne puts it himself ….
“I think to anyone thinking about getting a business coach, what I would say in all honesty is do it today. Working with ActionCOACH Cheltenham has focused our attention as business owners on what’s most important to drive us forward.
We’re moving into 2024 as the best business that we’ve ever been in 16 years of trading.“
Exciting times ahead for SoGlos and we are delighted to be supporting them in their continuing improvement and prosperous business future.
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH JAMES FYRNE HERE – WATCH HERE
