THE 'YES' COACH BLOG
Where are they now? Peter Switzer catches up with our three 'yes' Coach finalists: JTagz, O'Toole Plumbing and series winner Raw Marketing.
'yes’ Coach has worked many miracles, but did the program manage to turn a pair of tradies from O'Toole Plumbing into savvy businessmen? What about Paul Jowsey of JTagz – larger than life, and sure that in the beginning he was going to teach the coach a thing or two!
As for Sarah Hillier of Raw Marketing, she said she was literally at breaking point before ‘yes’ Coach. But something must have changed. After all, her business made the biggest improvement during the coaching sessions, ensuring she took the title for 2009 ‘yes’ Coach champion.
See how they've all been faring since 'yes' Coach ended.
Posted by Peter Switzer
On 05/03/10 15:03Leadership lessons from big business
On a daily basis, I talk to those at the top of their game, but how did they get there? And, more importantly, how can you get there too?
Let me let you in on a not-very-well-kept business secret. Great leaders are made, not born.
As the leader of your business, it's up to your business culture to manufacture such leaders — you have to give those following you the faith that they can…
Posted by Peter Switzer
On 02/03/10 18:06Create systems that are outside the square
'My way or the highway' — rightly or wrongly, this is the slogan of many small business owners.
And sure, this mentality may prove the downfall of many businesses as business owners hell bent on their 'way' refuse to listen to new ideas or heed innovations.
But if you're a savvy business operator, your 'way' may prove the point of difference that…
Posted by Peter Switzer
On 02/03/10 18:06Why now is the time to invest in your business
When you're running your own show, it's all too easy to get caught up in the day-to-day trivia. Sometimes you neglect to stop — even if it's just for a few minutes — and take a look around to see the bigger picture, to understand the forces shaping your business's bottom line.
So, what challenges are Australian businesses — yours included — up against?
Recently,…
Posted by Peter Switzer
On 12/02/10 14:02How to thrive through turbulent times
The tough times, it seems, are far from over. Many once-good businesses — and brands — have fallen by the wayside of last year's crunch. As you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and prepare to face the next challenge, how should you go about it? And how can you brace yourself against another upset? To find out, let's look to a business that has been there, done that, and is still…
Posted by Peter Switzer
On 11/02/10 11:11Staff - Peter Switzer shows you how to find the right person for the job
With talk of a skills shortage and as unemployment steers clear of the double-digit figures predicted by the many merchants of doom and gloom, now is the time to look out for your star players.
Of late, labour market experts have warned that this is the time for employers to ensure they have a sophisticated recruitment and retention plan for their workforce.
How is your plan looking? If…
Posted by Peter Switzer
On 15/12/09 16:04Where are they now? Catch up with Sarah Hillier
The 'yes' Coach awards night feels as though it was only days, not months ago, but as I catch up with the series winner Sarah Hillier, she's fresh off the plane from a relaxing 10 days in Bali, courtesy of the good folk at Optus.
She assures me that it was her "best holiday ever" and now she's back — rested and ready — to get back to business!
So, what…
Posted by Peter Switzer
On 15/12/09 16:04Where are they now? Catch up with Jason Crump of O'Toole Plumbing
'yes' Coach has worked many miracles — but did the program manage to turn a pair of tradies into savvy businessmen?
Those who have followed the rise and rise of Anthony O'Toole and Jason Crump of O'Toole Plumbing on BizThinkTank will know they've put in the hard yakka to make their business better.
So, are these plumbers all they're cracked up to be?
To…
Posted by Peter Switzer
On 15/12/09 16:04Where are they now? Catch up with Paul Jowsey
Anyone who followed 'yes' Coach contestant Paul Jowsey's progress and blogs will agree that he is a bigger than life character. So now the season is done and dusted, and his coaching sessions are under his belt, how is ol' Jowsey coping with life post 'yes' Coach?
First, though, let's recap.
Before coaching, Jowsey had — literally — no idea what he…
Posted by Paul Jowsey
On 24/03/09 14:02Sinking and swimming
The prophets of doom predict that 100,000± small to medium business operations will cease to exist in Australia this year. Whatever the bankruptcy count when we evolve from this global crash there will be survivors. If small business owners were to be realistic about constructing a Strategic Intent for their foreseeable future it would probably start and finish with the word SURVIVE.
At…
Posted by Paul Jowsey
On 02/02/09 15:03Oh what a feeling
I have a passion for Jaguars, in particular the XJ series. I was once leant one in England, a right dandy. I discovered two things on the M5. There are two gas tanks and no need to hitch hike for petrol, there being a switch on the dash. The other thing I got wised up to is that people who lend one a brand new Jag usually don't actually own it. Anyway, in the thoroughly unlikely event that…
Posted by Sarah Hillier
On 20/01/09 10:10RAW post coaching
Its been several months now since the whirlwind experience of Yes Coach and I have now had time to look back and digest the experience. RAW has without a doubt changed enormously as a result of the coaching; and so have I. The coaching enabled me to look at the business in manageable chunks rather than trying to do everything at once. We are now in a steady position and are growing as expected….
Posted by Paul Jowsey
On 03/12/08 09:09Not the end
I for one have been through a great deal on this business coaching journey. (Sorry about the emotional 1st meeting with LA). My station in life is much clearer now that the Switzer Graduation event is a couple of weeks ago. Coming home to business in the new era of not being coached is rather different. There is as much reason to read a book and spend time in the work zone as there is to gently…
Posted by Peter Switzer
On 29/11/08 13:01Photo Finish
As the filming of the final episode looms, with the award-winning business to be announced on Wednesday November 26, I bet Jowsey, Sarah and the boys from O'Toole Plumbing are sweating it out.
I have to say, picking the winner was like using a magnifying glass to work out who has won in a three-way photo finish at the Melbourne Cup.
All three businesses and their business owners have…
Posted by Anthony O'Toole
On 17/11/08 12:12The half way mark
We have now have made the half way mark. We are now deep into the course and our mindsets are totally on getting the most out of this training. At first we had trouble getting through all the work and coordinating time together so now we have a dedicated day called Strategic Wednesday. After each lesson we revise the session and plan our next week's homework.
The last couple of sessions…
Posted by Paul Jowsey
On 11/11/08 10:103 months done & all ordinary
The staff have welcomed me back to the planet.
We pondered the Course Specific Evaluation of the Company, (where it was pre Switzer compared to where it is now), in the areas of Leadership, Management, Marketing, Finance, Attitude, Application & Business Thinking. The business evaluation sections are divided into five performance descriptions ranging from woeful to primo.
A very…
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Leadership lessons from big business
Posted by Peter Switzer
On 05/03/10 15:03
On a daily basis, Peter Switzer talks to those at the top of their game, but how did they get there? And, how can you make great leaders that will benefit your business?
Create systems that are outside the square
Posted by Peter Switzer
On 02/03/10 18:06
Create systems that are outside the square — Peter Switzer reveals how systems can grow your business 'My way or the highway' — rightly or wrongly, this is the slogan of many small business owners. And if you're a savvy business operator
Switzer's Hint
Listen to your customers. Think outside the square. If there are customers who want a product but can't meet the price, think of ways to make it work for them and you. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers - share their vision to come up with innovative solutions they can't see.

