ROPHO – Pleasure & Business in Your Sixties
One of the most important lessons I ever learnt came from a very successful American businessman many years ago.
His advice was simple, direct, and it has stayed with me ever since.
Build value in your products and services, certainly, but more importantly, build value in yourself, and then in the people closest to your business.
At first, it sounded like another business cliché, but as time passed, I realised what he really meant.
Yes, products matter. Yes, service matters.
But the business can only ever grow to the level of the people running it.
Build value into you first
Recognise your strengths, develope them, and most importantly use them.
In your sixties (or at any age), you already have decades of experience behind you, that is value
. Decision making ability, judgement, intuition, work ethic, problem-solving, these are competitive advantages younger entrepreneurs often pay to learn.
But that experience is wasted if you don’t intentionally build on it.
Spend time improving the skills that matter most to your role:
- Leadership
- Communication
- Decision-making
- Negotiation
- Strategy
- Money management
When you grow, your business grows.
Then build value into your people
This is where the magic happens.
The American businessman explained it perfectly.
Recognise your best skills – and then hire, empower or train others to fill the gaps.
You cannot, and should not, try to do everything.
A business becomes strong when the right people are in the right seats.
When people feel valued, trusted and supported, they don’t just work for the business, they work with it.
- A skilled production manager increases efficiency
- A strong financial controller protects profit
- A confident sales lead drives revenue
- A good administrator frees your time
- A third-party expert can save months of mistakes
A business is a team sport, even if the team is small.
My most satisfying business result wasn’t what most would expect…
People assume the biggest reward in consultancy is turning around a failing business.
Others think it’s helping launch a successful start-up.
Both are satisfying.
But the most satisfying work I ever did was something different.
Helping a reasonably successful company grow from under £1M turnover to £3M+ profitably, sustainably and without losing its soul.
Not because of a magic trick.
Not because of a new product.
Not because of a lucky contract.
But because we developed people, clarified roles, strengthened leadership.
Introduced accountability and gave the right individuals space to excel.
The growth came after the development.
Not before.
A thought for you, especially if you’re building later in life
You don’t need to reinvent yourself to be successful.
You need to amplify what you already know, and surround yourself with the right support.
Skills improve. Systems evolve. People grow.
But only if leadership chooses to grow first.
Quick reflection questions:
- What skill could you strengthen this month that would improve your business most?
- Who in your network could you empower, train or delegate to?
- Where is the business overly dependent on you?
- Who could take something off your plate, so you can lead instead of chase tasks?
Write your answers. They matter.
And one reminder, from me to you:
Don’t just build the business.
Build the people who build the business.
That’s where real growth lives.
