Summary: To succeed in business you need to lay solid foundations to allow for growth and expansion. Trent Brinsley, General Manager from Alltel explains how to do just that in this podcast series designed specifically for start-ups and small business. The communications specialist has spent a decade transforming his business into a successful independent telco that now employs over 30 staff and services clients around the country. Understanding entrepreneurship and what’s required to get there, Trent has developed the Alltel Australia Small Business Podcast series to help you help yourself. He’s experienced growth, witnessed failure and has learnt countless valuable lessons along the journey. He’ll share his tips, advice and insights to help you thrive and survive. Start-ups are often run from a shed, home office, or, in the case of Alltel, a lounge room. In the beginning “you don’t need the burden of paying rent,” says Trent. However, it is important to give your customers the impression you are more established and bigger than you are. Having a 1300 or 1800 number is a good way to do this. The Alltel GM advises “doing things from your mobile phone is not good, you need to protect your privacy while also planning for the future.” Setting up communications systems is an easy and economical way to prepare for expansion. Growth is reliant upon goal setting. Trent suggests short to medium term goals are more realistic and achievable than long-term goals. And, once again, it all comes back to the customer. Focus on service levels rather than dollars. A lesson Trent learnt from his father. To conclude series one, the GM acknowledges it’s not always easy to surround yourself with the right people. In the past decade, he’s had many people come and go. He shares some of those lessons in this final podcast but will continue that conversation in series 2.
