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
The Blackboard Fridays Management Toolkit
In 125 episodes of Blackboard Fridays, we’ve covered some fundamental aspects of managing your team. These skills are great for new managers to apply, and all managers to review on a regular basis. Filters: Why no two people see the world the same No two people see the world the same way. In business, this…
Monthly Update March 2019
What impact does a long sought-after baby have on our business and family plans…? (Read last month’s update here; and (eventually) next month’s here.) Family Yes indeed, the day we thought may never arrive actually has, and yours truly is a father. Unlike driving a car, or driving a golf ball, or working 9-5 for…
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…
My Pond Theory Part II, or How Social Networks Avoid Failing [Archive]
Originally published on the Shirlaws Business Coaching Blog, 2007-2010. How to change So I think I have the answer to why, as they currently exist, social networks must ‘fail’. (You will have noted I put ‘fail’ in inverted commas. Many will succeed in their own way, by staying small and avoiding this issue. Most of those…
My Pond Theory, or Why Social Networks Must ‘Fail’ [Archive]
Originally published on the Shirlaws Business Coaching Blog, 2007-2010. If social groups are valued by their size and Google ranking, why does my favourite site work so hard to remain anonymous? I’ve noted before that the main Social Networks (like MySpace and Facebook) each had their own position in the market, but are now pursuing the seemingly…
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