Page 39 - KZN Top Business Leaders

TREVOR CLARK

revor Clark, ActionCOACH Business long journey. “I ended up as managing director are seeing business owners simply get out of
Coaching, is not just a business coach – he is a and shareholder of a corporate communications their own way. Stop playing too small. Back
mission-driven entrepreneur helping others consultancy. We lived on airplanes and in hotels, yourself.”
T build profitable, sustainable enterprises. working with banks, blue-chips and investment
companies.” One of his proudest achievements BUILDING COMMUNITIES
ActionCOACH, a global business coaching and was building the Dubai branch of his former
training franchise, has been operating for 32 years. company. “We grew it bigger than the Bahrain For Trevor, coaching is as much about education
Trevor has been part of this movement for 16 years, head office, closed the London office and moved and focus as it is about metrics. “A 10 million
based in Durban and working with businesses everything to Dubai.” Rand mindset will never grow a 100 million Rand
across South Africa and Mauritius. business,” he says. “We work a lot on vision, values
Trevor operates on two key pillars: business RETURNING HOME and congruency – practising what we preach.”
coaching and executive coaching. “On the But South Africa called him home. “My daughter He notes that many entrepreneurs struggle alone.
executive coaching side, we work with corporate had been born, my son was on the way, and I knew “They don’t know who to talk to. They suffer
clients, including CEOs, branch managers and I wanted them to grow up as South Africans. We in silence or ask the wrong people for advice.
leadership teams, helping with strategy, leadership breed good humans here,” he smiles. We provide a safe space – a sounding board,
development, and team training. On the business accountability partner, and community of like-
coaching side, we focus on scaling owner-managed Trevor discovered ActionCOACH just after it minded business owners.”
businesses.” launched locally in 2008. “They were looking for
early coaches to help launch the franchise in South His motivation is deeply personal. “My family
Trevor emphasises that many entrepreneurial Africa. I fell in love with the business.” The global inspires me, and my parents especially. But I’m also
businesses hit a “glass ceiling” and seek him out vision statement, ‘World abundance through inspired by all business owners. These are people
when ready to break through. “We get business business re-education’, resonated deeply with him. who left the ‘safety’ of a job to chase a dream. Many
owners looking at their operations from an are struggling, working harder and earning less
outsider’s perspective, identify what’s working, He sold his shares in the Dubai firm, completed than they were in corporate, but they keep going.”
what’s not, and create an action plan. We upskill certification training in the United States, and
them on how to better run a business.” He adds, officially launched his coaching business in LOOKING FORWARD
“Part of that process is helping owners build December 2009.
legacy businesses – profitable operations that Trevor’s vision is rooted in an economic shift. “I
work without the owner and are ultimately ready THE CHALLENGES OF PIONEERING want to see more KZN businesses become sellable,
to sell or scale.” legacy businesses. That requires business owners
“I thought we’d have a queue of potential clients to start thinking bigger. Too many are shell-
FROM PIZZA HUT TO THE ORIENT EXPRESS out the door,” Trevor recalls. “But the reality was shocked. I want to remind them of the success
that nobody had heard of business coaching.” The stories, South African and global, many of which
Trevor’s story is one of exploration, persistence and first two years were incredibly tough. “We were started right here in KZN.”
purpose. Born in Durban and raised in Johannesburg, launching an unheard-of brand and concept. I’d
he began his career humbly. “One of my first jobs sunk my life savings into the business. I was the LIVING THE CHANGE
was selling slices at Pizza Hut,” he laughs. During sole breadwinner with two small kids.”
a stint in Europe as a teenager, he took on various Asked if he has a motto, Trevor doesn’t hesitate.
labouring jobs – including a memorable cleaning He and his team hustled – cold calling, door “‘Be the change you want to see in the world’ –
job on the Orient Express – sadly not while the train knocking, relentless telemarketing. “It paid off. Once Gandhi’s quote. It’s about walking the talk. Too
was travelling the glamorous route from Paris to we got our first clients and results showed, word of many coaches and consultants give advice they
Istanbul, but while it was in Zurich for repairs. mouth kicked in. Now we’re a known entity.” don’t follow. For us, it’s about congruency –
improving ourselves as we help others improve.”
Trevor studied marketing and general management That perseverance is something he brings to his
in Johannesburg while working full-time and clients too. “It’s incredible. You can work with It’s not about being perfect, he insists. “We’re
attending night school. “My first corporate job was businesses and in the first couple of months, start human. Our businesses aren’t perfect. But we’re
in banking with ABSA, initially United Bank.” But seeing results – in time, team and/or money. We always trying to be better.”
the desire for entrepreneurship kept tugging at have case studies of businesses that tripled profits And that is the heart of Trevor Clark’s coaching
him. “I always wanted my own business.” in the first year of coaching.”
ethos: not perfection, but purpose-driven progress.
That drive eventually led him to the Middle East But beyond the numbers, he’s proudest of the Step by step, one business transformation at a
on a two-year contract that turned into a decade- personal impact. “Sometimes the biggest wins time.
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