'10 Minute Tip' by Martin Spiller - Small Business Growth Specialist - 7am until 9:30am
Martin Spiller is the founder of both Oakmere Partners and Paladin Partners. He is a commercially minded Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who’s spent the last couple of decades helping businesses stop faffing about and grow. Martin has sat in the boardroom, rolled up his sleeves and done the work and he knows the difference between strategy that works and PowerPoint waffle (although he does love PowerPoint).
Martin regards himself as a bit of an odd mix being a Chartered Accountant for over 25 years as well as a (non-practising) barrister. That means he knows the numbers inside out but also has a bit of substance (and looks good in a wig).
Martin has also done quite a lot of things (He likes changing direction and learning, a lot). He has been a Corporate Financier, CFO, Entrepreneur, a serial Non Executive Director and a senior lecturer at Cranfield, a top business school.
The common thread is simple, Martin helps ambitious, interesting, entrepreneurial ventures turn good ideas into businesses that actually grow and make money.
If you want sugar-coated advice, look elsewhere. If you want someone who’ll call a spade a shovel and get results, that’s Martin.
Martin works best with Small Business owners like you.
About the conversation:
Your Unfair Advantage: How Small Businesses Like Yours Can Outrun the Big Boys
Your Unfair Advantage: How Small Businesses Like Yours Can Outrun the Big Boys
Number 1 - Speed Beats Size
Big businesses take months to make a decision, SMEs can move in minutes. That agility is a massive advantage. If you can shorten your decision-making cycle and act quickly on opportunities, you’ll win customers who are tired of corporate sluggishness.
Number 2 - Storytelling Smashes Advertising
You’ll never outspend a corporation’s marketing budget, but you can out-story them. SMEs that embrace scrappy, bold storytelling can grab attention in ways corporates can’t risk.
Number 3 - Culture is Your Secret Weapon
You may not be able to pay the highest salaries, but you can offer purpose, flexibility, and a sense of belonging that a corporation never will. SMEs that live their culture every day (rather than sticking it on a poster) will keep talent engaged and motivated.
Number 4 - Use Data as Your Compass, Not Decoration
SMEs often collect data but don’t always use it effectively. Corporates drown in dashboards, while smaller firms sometimes rely on gut instinct alone. The real advantage comes from combining both, track a handful of critical numbers and actually act on what they tell you.
Martin will help you run your business more effectively and help you grow.
