In 2010 we have businesses from as far south as
Timaru and as far north as Auckland participating
in the Challenge. 

After the Masterclass on 7-8 May, participants set off to put together their 12-week business boosting project with E2theMax in support. Many of the participants' existing suppliers have spotted this as a great opportunity to contribute - recognising that their clients' success can very much affect their success as well.

As the Challenge offers significant promotional opportunity for great
businesses that are looking to showcase their expertise, products
and services, this is an unequalled chance to step up and get known
for what you provide and the difference that makes. 

Who did participants meet at the Masterclass? On 7-8 May participants met
experts representing 13 key areas vital to strong business development. Over
$60,000 of collaborative expertise was available over 2 days. Each of the experts
is an owner or partner in their own business and is highly regarded for improving
business and professional effectiveness, they get rave reviews from their clients, have a real appreciation for working collaboratively, and are positive, open, down-
to-earth and really likeable.
    

"Our mission is to save clients from failure and sleepless nights, to provide real value, true teamwork with innovative, practical solutions, and to exceed expectations in everything we do. Above all, we are here to inspire clients and help their businesses grow stronger."

RSM Prince joined the Challenge in 2009 after hearing many good comments from associates in Hawke’s Bay. They also see this as a good compliment to the work they are doing with the Westpac Enterprise North Shore Business Excellence Awards. "We are excited to again be part of the Challenge, helping participants maximise the growth of their businesses. We saw in 2009 the huge benefits that owners and businesses gain from the boost experience with its whole of business focus and activity."

"When things go wrong and businesses lose customers, employees often get the blame, but research shows that 94% of failures in business outcomes are systems failures.”

Get the systems right, train your staff in how to use them and your errors and failures will decrease dramatically. This is how the team at Esemel transforms businesses. “When procedures and policies are clear, staff are more enthusiastic and confident because they know what’s expected, and owners find it much easier to delegate so they can concentrate on leading and managing the business rather than micro-managing."Back on the team for a 2nd year, Esemel founder Linda Smith sees the Challenge as a real opportunity to give back. “Often business owners feel like they are doing it all on their own, and frequently they are. But E2theMax gives us an opportunity to share some of our knowledge and expertise, supporting and encouraging owners and their staff through the Challenge.”

"Understanding what makes a business more (or less) valuable is vital to ensuring growth, investment and eventually sale options are maximised."

As a Challenge selector in 2009, participants and team members alike valued Elaine's ability to cut straight to the chase of improved business value. Having spent many years leading businesses, turning them around and managing sales and acquisitions for other people, Elaine now owns Business Broking North Shore. "Our 15 brokers offer a diversity of experience and work collaboratively with owners to ensure their exit plan comes together in a way that rewards them for all the effort they have put in over the years."



"If your business has staff, you'll want them to be a great asset. We assist businesses in all areas of HR ensuring solid foundations are laid in order that you can maximise profit through your people."

This is the first year on the Challenge team for both Catherine and Megan Williams who founded HR & Dispute Solutions in 2001. "A business can stand or fall on the quality of its HR management and dispute resolution capabilities. We're looking forward to helping the Challenge participants to stand on very solid ground."

"Protecting inventions, brands and technologies is one part of the intellectual property equation. Our role is also to assist owners to make money from these."

Entrepreneurs and business owners can learn a lot from James & Wells even before they turn up for a consultation. The company publishes a great deal of material on its website and has produced a booklet ‘A guide to the protection of innovation and goodwill’ that you can download for free (click the logo above to go to the James & Wells site). This is the firm's 3rd year supporting the Challenge. "The Challenge reflects our goal of directly contributing to the country’s prosperity. I like the idea of smart minds working together on different but related aspects of a common project and enjoy interacting with the many different businesses, understanding and assisting with their goals and plans."

“Every business decision is a turning point involving change. Sometimes decisions are obvious mostly they are not. Our role is to work with owners when they reach a turning point and need help with the decision and the change."

Colleagues for many years first in NZTE then in their own consultancies, Julian Kroll and Miguel Hamber bring a wealth of operations and management experience into their clients’ businesses, assisting them with decision-making and change.“The realization that things have to change, followed by the assessment of what, when and how is the typical domain of consultants. With experience, interest and a team approach, we take things many steps further, rolling up our sleeves to make things happen. That’s why the Challenge appeals to us. It’s an opportunity to turn even a big ship more quickly and steadily, with an unprecedented level of support for the owner and their business.”



"At GRO we believe in tangible and affordable marketing that delivers
growth for small and medium businesses. We work alongside our
clients helping to create businesses that are more successful than the
owner dares imagine!"

Providing a full range of marketing services from planning and strategy through to
creativity and execution, the team at GRO seeks to demystify marketing and
provide a proven practical approach to creating customer and revenue growth.
"GRO is 100% about assisting business owners to meet their goals and fulfill their businesses potential. We are hugely excited to be part of the Challenge, working with other experts who are as passionate about SME success and growth as we are. We look forward to meeting this year’s participants and helping them achieve astounding results."

"Research suggests design is integral to the economic, social and environmental benefits of business. Good design delivers a balance between style and function – looking good is just part of the picture."

When managing director Karen MacKenzie formed Office Design Group in 2000, she wanted to make intelligent design accessible to all New Zealand businesses.With 20 years of experience she set about making the process as easy as possible by providing a one-stop-shop for everything from the initial design concepts to computer cabling and furniture."Whether you’re renovating, relocating, expanding or down-sizing, Office Design Group promises it will deliver on time and within budget. And it will be fun!"
Back on the team for the 2nd year, Karen says the Challenge appeals to ODG because it connects with established businesses that have differing needs.
"Our work has a profound effect on established businesses that have been making do with what they inherited at start-up or have acquired ad-hoc along the way. As businesses grow and become more successful, they need to upgrade for effectiveness and to project a more professional image to clients."

"For many the 'What happens when... ?' part of their plan is blank or out of date. By the time questions are asked, it can be too late."

When it comes to risk, Brave Day has a role that is detailed and very practical. They research, identify and advise with a view to building resilience into every client's business. This is the 2nd year for Brave Day in the Challenge. "In 2009 it was a real inspiration to see how much could be achieved by the team when working together towards a common goal. We're looking forward to again giving the participating businesses a real and tangible boost that will help them to take their business to the next level with the greatest certainty."



“If you think sales aren't important, just try doing business without them."

For any company or individual in business, the development of sales processes and skills is ongoing. The Sales Gym™ approach is designed to help you ‘increase your weights’ in a safe, controlled and effective way. “We look at what’s currently working for you and what isn’t – this becomes the basis of the sales solution we recommend for you,” says business founder Vaughan Tombs. “Ongoing we monitor progress and make adjustments where they’re needed so the whole process becomes dynamic, encouraging and very measurable. Our clients are diverse, but they all want results and we want that for you too. We’re the only sales training company in the country that provides a 5-Month Money Back Guarantee. If you utilise any of our services and don't find a benefit within 5 months we’ll refund all your investment.”

This is Vaughan’s first year on the Challenge team and he was quick to spot the values fit between his company and E2theMax. “We’re a ‘roll up our sleeves’ type of company too and have developed our services through first-hand experience with an absolute commitment to results. The Challenge strikes me as being practical, genuine and proven and we’re looking forward to being part of the team that’s boosting established businesses.”

"When an owner can see clearly what they have to do for themselves and their business, strategies to build their team become more inspired and effective."

Back for the second year in the Challenge and this year supported by Heather in Wellington, Donald is well-qualified to help business owners reach the level of understanding from which sure-footed team progress can be made. Having owned his own businesses and led teams in several organisations, Donald's training in Socratic coaching was greatly appreciated by Challenge 09 participants. "It's great to work with owners who have the courage, discipline and desire to lead in such a way that they and their team will experience more satisfaction and greater reward."

"To effectively apply IT we focus on communicating well and understanding the people within the business and the ambition of its owners."

Back on the team following a successful experience in the Challenge 2009, Steven is keen to share the secret to getting the best out of an IT supplier with Challenge 2010 applicants. "First up it's about knowing what you want to achieve. Every business is subtly different, even businesses of a similar size in the same sector. Our own challenge in IT is to understand those differences and help businesses make the changes they want given the variety of factors that are particular to them. This is where the Challenge is so effective - it's an expertise-filled environment and a unique opportunity to get that clarity."



"Many bright minds can make a business thrive and cutting to the chase with those bright minds will save you money and time. Successful
corporates know this and now with the Challenge, SME businesses
can experience it too. And best of all for participants, much of what you experience will be of huge commercial value and yet free of charge."

We've linked the photos of the other team members to their websites,
so you can click through for further details. Here are more details on
Jacqui and how E2theMax came to be:
 
Jacqui is known for her ability to get complex things done. Born in Oamaru and
educated in Wellington (dux of St Oran's College in 1980), Jacqui spent 14 years
in corporates (Wellington, Melbourne, Auckland), including 9 years in the graphics
industry implementing new technology. She was Kodak's first digital imaging
specialist in New Zealand and project managed several 'firsts' for the South
Pacific and NZ, going on to be head of production in 2 of New Zealand's largest
advertising agencies, transitioning both from analog to digital production
technologies and services. In 1996 Jacqui began to formalise her interest in
marketing and new ventures at the University of Auckland and within 6 months
had a new career focus.

Leaving corporate life, Jacqui established her first new venture Art That Works,
providing agency services to growing businesses. Successfully developed to the
point of franchising, Jacqui sold ATW to free up time and money to look after a
family member who had been injured in a car accident. In 2001 she co-founded
Optimus Healthcare, NZ's first vet-med specialist compounding pharmacy
(essentially a lab and research facility providing custom-made prescription
medicines for animal patients). The pharmacy was working with over 100 vet
practices after just one year and moved into compounding medicines for humans
in 2002.

Jacqui onsold her shareholding in Optimus in 2003 and returned to what most
inspires her, working with motivated, growing businesses. Now in its 4th year,
E2theMax (effective to the max) has a key event which is Jacqui's full-time focus,
the NZ-wide E2theMax Business Challenge.
Stepping up to support participants around
the country...

"Our team of accountants is committed to "Plain talk, smart thinking". It's not just on the logo as a slogan, it's the basis for every interaction with our clients."

Producing information that will best help each client to manage and strategise effectively is a skill that Walsh and Associates are adept at. "With real world experience in management and corporates we’re able to help people from a user point of view. We get involved, working alongside clients as they take steps to achieve their budget and grow their businesses." On the team for a 2nd year, Vaughan describes the Challenge as "an excellent idea" and one that worked well for two of his clients in 2009: iFarm, winners of a 12-week boost and Metalform, a finalist who with Vaughan's encouragement maximised their Challenge prep, entered the Hawke's Bay Business Awards and won 3 categories, including Business of the Year.

"The businessses that will come through changes in the economy best are the ones that have the best business structures in place. The ones who are responding thoughtfully to the changed environment as opposed to merely reacting."

Today’s reality means Carlile Dowling is often working with businesses that are closer to the edge than they were two or three years ago. But the firm has been around for 125 years, and Michael was personally admitted to the bar in 1987. In other words, this is not the first time they’ve seen the business world struggle. "The first thing people have to do is survive. Step 2 is to see what opportunities there are. The thing about change is that it unlocks opportunities." One of those opportunities for Carlile Dowling is to be involved with the E2theMax Business Challenge for the second year. "I’m looking forward to again being part of a team that collectively has the goal of making real change. Everybody is expected to demonstrably add value; that's both satisfying and constructive."

"Dealing with everyday accounting tasks as bookkeeping, payroll and creditor management is just as time sapping as it is crucial. Go Fi8ure is poised to leap into action with these tasks, giving businesses back time to do what they do best."

Lisa Martin, founder of Go Fi8ure was the first to join the expertise team when we set our Challenge sights on the Wellington region in 2009. Lisa's enthusiasm for the work that she and her team do to free up the time of their clients is tangible, so is the feedback on their success. "We’re dedicated to delivering a service that leaves businesses well armed for the future. The Challenge clicked with us from Moment One. It's like us: Hands on; straight to the point and forward-looking. Come on Wellington! We want to see this region's businesses well-represented, boosted and promoted in the Challenge 2010."

"Insurance isn't about ticking boxes. For us it's always personal. We're independent and take the time to really get to know our clients so we can best understand and meet their needs. That’s our real point of difference."

This is the 2nd Challenge year for Kim and the Rothbury's Hawke's Bay Team. "We think it’s brilliant. It encourages so many good things. It’s encouraging more successful businesses and builds camaraderie around the business community as well. The fact we’re all heading in the same direction is great."

“Selling is not first about closing sales, but about opening relationships that are mutually beneficial over the long haul.”

Leanne's experience leading and working with high-performing sales teams created exceptional benefit for the Hawke's Bay Challenge winners in 2009. In 2010 Leanne is leading the Challenge in Hawke's Bay. "Key for all businesses is to understand the dynamics of selling - there is no standard system - customers are savvy and we need to step up to engage with them. Working with the Challenge 09 winners has been hugely rewarding. They both now have successful sales systems that reflect individuality and have lead to outstanding results and even greater motivation."

Heather is championing the Challenge from Wellington through to Taranaki.

An experienced business owner with a passion for individual development in
the context of a thriving local/regional economy, Heather understands the many
different facets that come together to make a business successful and keep it
successful. With her warm and vibrant personality creating instant ease for
Challenge participants in 09, we're delighted Heather will also be working along-
side E2theMax owner/Challenge developer Jacqui Jones at the 2010 events.

* Contributions are made on a commercially sensible basis, not as a favour. For
suppliers of expertise, products and services that step up in support, being part of the E2theMax Challenge boosts working relationships, creates great case studies
and let's a supplier showcase the best of what they can do in a non-competing,
collaborative environment. Many relationships that were created or boosted in the
Challenge also go on to be strong/stronger long-term working relationships.
For suppliers officially on the team, E2theMax also provides extensive promotion at the Reveal Event, online and in the Challenge 2010 publication.

0 0 2 3 5 8