PORTFOLIO ENTREPRENEUR + INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COACH
Since 2005, I have worked with more than 300 active growth businesses in Australia and the UK (where I have alternated my time), North America and Asia. My clients are private enterprises generating $1.5m-$17m in annual revenue, who average 30% revenue or profit growth working with me (depending on which is their focus).
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ADVISOR + RECESSION-ERA EXPERT
The Business you had at the start of 2020 is not the business you will have at the end of the COVID-19 Recession.
How you respond now will determine whether you Dive, Survive, or Thrive between today and the end of 2021. My theme right now: Don't Waste a Good Recession.
I remember my first recession as a business coach, working in London and across Europe and North America during the global financial crisis. While today may seem unprecedented, experience has given us a roadmap to the other side and continued success.
This experience makes me one of the youngest advisors working in Australia to have actually helped small and medium-sized businesses (from $750,000 - $20 million) grow through a Recession. Based in Brisbane, Australia, I continue to work with and learn from companies around the world.
If you want energy, solutions, and expertise on your side - Read my latest guidance here, or Let's Chat.
ABOUT ME
Business advisor, Professional speaker, published author, world-traveller, TV-show host, podcaster, Guinness World Record holder, amazing father and loving husband.
I live an outrageous life, by helping others to do the same.
Say G'Day
I'm the smart and quirky business guy
who wants to to improve your life.
HOW COACHING WORKS
Pure business coaching is a waste of money.
Today, the term "business coach" just means "generic, unqualified consultant". Would you prefer something different?
Discover
From Recession experience to a Comprehensive Business Methodology, I'm the different you need.
IN MY WORLD RELATIONSHIPS ARE FREE
Whether you want to Start-up, Scale-up, Step-up, or Sell-up, let's chat!
QUIRKY BUSINESS BLOG
Monthly Update February 2019
Like sand through an hourglass… Firstly, I’ve updated to the new WordPress platform and the block structure behind the scenes is driving me crazy. The first website I worked on used Dreamweaver and an FTP Server – it wasn’t quite rolling my own HTML, but I feel super comfortable doing that to make writing for…
Monthly Update January 2019
Reintroducing a classic blog trope… This was a regular update I used to blog, through 2016 when I left Shirlaws business coaching to set up Real Estate Grow (what eventually became #RealReach). It was an opportunity for me to share progress towards the Personal Vision I had redesigned at the start of that year. The…
IN THE MEDIA: What’s the Difference between Coaching and Consulting?
Source: Coaching Life Magazine by Jacob Aldridge When I started my career in 2006, I had to explain to people what ‘business coaching’ was. Now, I have to explain how I’m different from the dozen shonky business coaches they’ve met at networking breakfasts. I do this by telling them I’m a business coach who doesn’t…
How to Prepare, Run, and Coach an Annual Strategy Day
Great Strategy Days for small business have long been a passion of mine – done well, they start your year with focus and momentum and pay enormous dividends. Of course, most businesses do them poorly (as I wrote about in 2015) – or almost as bad, not at all, preferring to leave strategy and engagement…
Blackboard Fridays Episode 100
Every Friday for the past two years I’ve been releasing a focused, targeted video to my subscribers – which means we’ve reached 100 episodes in total! As I wrote when we introduced these, I do have an enormous amount of fun creating them. More importantly, you all seem to find them valuable and engaging. This…
There are only four good reasons to have a business website [Archive]
Originally published on the Shirlaws Business Coaching Blog, 2007-2010. There are only four good reasons to have a website. So why do so many businesses choose reason number five? A recent web-based survey by AllBusiness.com indicated that only 55% of SMEs had a website. That means almost half do not have a website, and while I’m sure the…
Get ready to execute your Post-Recession Strategy
November economic snapshot. Let’s talk execution! This month you’ll be pulled in many different directions. I’m here to remove some of the noise: Create a time for reflection, and celebrate your COVID Blessings. When bombarded with negativity farewelling 2020, ‘Decline the Invitation’. We are still in a Recession. Keep giving love to your clients. AND…
SHAMELESS PRAISE
Some business people share "endorsements", "testimonials", or "what people are saying". Me? I'm shameless - I love being praised, and I love sharing the love.
“The value that Jacob added to our business is twofold. He lives the bigger game bringing a strong strategic perspective together with the ability to build process and structure to support the implementation of the strategy. Secondly his energy – he is always happy, always sees the positive and always happy to get his sleeves rolled up and get stuck in. He is a real asset to any business that has a passion to grow and make a difference.”
Juliet Turnbull,
2to3days.com
“Jacob’s energy is boundless and his coaching capability immense. He is also a man of many talents. He was instrumental in devising and introducing our new newsletter across the business which has now touched several hundred of my clients and enabled me to connect with new friends. I value Jacob for the positive difference he has made for my business.”
Jim Henderson, Management Consultant,
Harrison James Partnership
“Jacob’s business insights and experiences are world-class. Great facilitator and invaluable as a coach.”
Jenny Vandyke, Principal Consultant,
Zumbara Consulting
“His motivation and dedication are second to none and his personal and communication skills are really superb. I would recommend Jacob to anyone who wants to have absolute confidence that things – and the right things – will get done; and have a good time doing it.
Our only complaints remain his choice of jokes and ties.”
John Rosling, CEO,
Contexis