What have you done to improve your business knowledge / or personal development in the last year?
I am always looking to improve my business knowledge and have a continuous personal development strategy. I recently attended a seminar with Jeff Grout, titled "Building High Performance Teams" that was both inspirational and motivational. As a result we have carved out some significant milestones for our business going forward.
Who / what inspires you?
People inspire me. I am inspired by excellence & the pursuit of excellence by people. People at the Top of their game who are genuinely world class inspire me & I try to surround myself and spend time with people at this level. Every conversation has inspirational moments, whether that be with a Client / Candidate or my 3 year old son.
What do you believe to be your most significant accomplishment?
Without doubt my most significant accomplishment is the birth of my son Samuel. He inspires me on a daily basis.
What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
Embrace & Manage Change!!
What tips / advice could you give to a recruitment consultant today wanting to get to the top of their game?
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare......& never give up. Recruitment truly is all about "attitude"!! Recruitment is a straight-forward process where anyone with the right attitude can succeed. We have a zero-tolerance to PLOM's (Poor.Little,Old.Me), because it is equally easy to fail if you develop a blame culture where everything happens to you and the grass is greener for everyone else! You are in control of your own destiny and therefore if you want to succeed you will. My final piece of advice would be to choose a specialism you are interested in and stick to it...... this is not a short-term game, you will only succeed if you are prepared for the long-haul.
Is there a book that you believe is a ‘must read’ book? If so, what is it?
I recently read a book called "Eat that Frog" which is a great, quick read with quick "learns". Another suggested read would be "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. There are simple to adopt techniques in here that if adopted can really make Managers/Business owners life easier. For a non-business read, "Wolf of Wall Street" is a great "cant put down" read!!!
If you could meet anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be and what would say to them?
Elvis Presley & Tiger Woods. I'd ask Tiger to talk me through his last year and what his plan is for the future.....and maybe for a quick golf lesson :-> I'd ask Elvis "Elvis, can you please tell the world you really are dead?? :->
What’s the last song you downloaded on your iPod?
Foster the People - Pumped up Kicks.....love it!!
What has been your most satisfying moment in your business career so far?
On a business level, I can think of many satisfying moments that are mainly based around others achievements. It is hugely satisfying to see others succeed, from a trainee receiving their first big commission payment to a big biller breaking company records. I thrive on seeing others progress both personally & professionally and most recent satisfying moments come from Promotions in the team. I've worked with recruiters who have really reached rock bottom and to work with them and watch them develop into truly Top Performers is incredibly satisfying.
On a personal level, achieving a single figure golf handicap (7.6) was hugely satisfying for me having only entered the game in my thirties.
Have you made any business mistakes that you would advise others to avoid?
Of course I have made many mistakes along the way but have no regrets. My three pieces of advice would be: Never make the same mistake twice, do not procrastinate when making decisions & do not try and do everything yourself.
What’s next for you and your business in the next 12 months?
Over the next 12 months, we are embarking on some exciting growth plans that will see our business double in size over the next 3 years.
And finally, what is your favourite leadership quote?
"Keep Attacking"!!
Matt Ellis, is a Director of Network Group Holdings and is the MD of Executive Network Sales Ltd, The HSE Recruitment Network Ltd & FM Property Network Ltd. For more information check out their websites: www.ensales.co.uk www.hserecruitment.co.uk www.thefmnetwork.co.uk