About the Author: Ashley Thomson
Professional Journey
Ashley started in business improvement in 1998, working for an Australian consulting company. He honed his skills by optimising corporate giants like Coles Group, Myer, ANZ Bank, Telstra, and Zurich Insurance. This hands-on experience gave him practical insights into the workings of great businesses and the pitfalls of poor performers.
Accolades and Awards
Ashley’s exceptional coaching prowess has earned him a place in the prestigious Coaching Hall of Fame (2019). Additionally, his achievements have been acknowledged through multiple awards, solidifying his reputation as a world-class business coach. He leads a team of award-winning business coaches at Tenfold, setting the gold standard in the industry.
Expertise Across Industries
With diverse experience spanning FMCG, manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, construction, trades, retail, and professional services, Ashley has successfully coached businesses across various sectors. His expertise lies in coaching mature businesses with revenues ranging from $5M to $50M, guiding them through complex financial structures, marketing strategies, operational improvements, and leadership development.
Innovative Problem Solver
Ashley’s background as a convergence task force manager and project manager at leading organisations like Show Ads and NewsCorp – PMP Print equipped him with the skills to streamline complex business functions. His ability to sift through data, identify key business drivers, and provide agile financial models enables businesses to thrive in competitive markets.
Published Author and Global Authority
Ashley’s influence extends far beyond his coaching practice. He co-authored “The Quiet Sales Genius,” a definitive guide to effective sales strategies. He has been featured in prominent publications, podcasts, and conferences, cementing his status as a thought leader in the coaching community.
Ashley’s influence reaches across the globe, with features and accolades from esteemed platforms such as:
Trade Services Labour Demand | July-Sept 2024
In this briefing: Update on labour demand for the quarter April - June 2024 The Tenfold Construction Job Index tracks levels of demand for roles in key trades. By tracking the number of jobs ads for tradie roles of plumbers , electricians, landscapers, and carpenters, we keep our clients informed and provide relevant insights to support recruitment strategies. Here's what tradies need to know about the labour trends of the quarter for July - September 2024. Labour Demand for Electricians Demand for electricians continues to remain high: What the data tells us: Electricians continue to be the most in ...
How AI and Industry Automation Are Transforming Small-Medium Businesses – Part 3
This briefing is part 3 and the final in our series on how AI and industry automation are transforming the way businesses operate. Based on the volume of feedback from Tenfold clients to parts 1 and 2, it's clear that you value this as an important topic. As a refresher, my intention for this series is to make sure AI is part of your awareness and your strategic thinking. In part 1 I discussed the short-term implications of AI and how we can use the AI tools that are currently available. The key areas I explored were keeping up ...
How AI and Industry Automation Are Transforming Small-Medium Businesses – Part 2
This client briefing is part 2 of our series on how AI and industry automation are transforming the way businesses operate. My intention for this series is to make sure AI is part of your awareness and your strategic thinking. In part 1 I discussed the short-term implications of AI and how we can use the AI tools that are currently available. The key areas I explored were keeping up with the advances in tools like ChatGPT, autonomous machines and job roles that have been replaced or changed already. You can revisit the briefing here: Tenfold Client Briefing - Artificial ...
How AI and Industry Automation Are Transforming Small-Medium Businesses – Part 1
The AI chatbot ChatGPT landed with a lot of fanfare around November 2022. Since then most of you have played around with it and other chatbots and many of you have now integrated them into your daily work. What I wanted to explore in this client briefing series is where I foresee artificial intelligence going and what we as small and medium size businesses need to be thinking about and doing to ensure we survive and thrive as artificial intelligence begins to permeate each industry that we operate in. Just because your industry has been fairly constant for several decades, ...
Taking your Small Business to the Next Level: What does it Actually Mean? [examples]
We often hear business owners say, "I want to take my business to the next level." In fact, as a business coach for small-medium businesses, I reckon I've heard that said at least 1,000 times since I started in this industry in 2002. That's no exaggeration. The surprising thing is that even though it's one of the most universal expressions small business owners say, "the next level" means something different to each of them. And some people struggle to describe what "the next level" would even be. So I thought I'd look at 8 main areas of business and explain ...
Essential Guide for Small Business: Ins and Outs of Cash Flow Forecasting
In small business there are many elements that seem important. High profile items, like your brand and winning work, tend to get a lot of attention. And rightly so. However there's a lower-profile function that actually underpins every aspect of your business operations: cash flow management. And the tool for managing the flow of cash through your business is known as cash flow forecast. Imagine your business is a car. Your cash flow forecast is the GPS—it helps you navigate the twists and turns, making sure you’ve got enough fuel in the tank to reach your destination. Without it, you’re ...
Trade Services Labour Demand | June 2024
In this briefing: Update on labour demand for the quarter April - June 2024 The Tenfold Construction Job Index tracks levels of demand for roles in key trades. By tracking the number of jobs ads for tradie roles of plumbers , electricians, landscapers, and carpenters, we can keep our clients informed and provide advice on recruitment strategies. Here's what tradies need to know about the labour trends of the quarter for April - June 2024. Labour Demand for Electricians Demand for electricians continues to remain high: What the data tells us: Electricians are the most in demand of ...
Economic signals for small-medium businesses in Australia | June 2024
It's challenging to understand what's going on in the economy at the moment. Some signals, like the low unemployment rate, point to strong economic conditions. Other signals point to the contrary, such as the number of company insolvencies trending up. It’s important for many of you as you implement your big picture plans to understand what the economic conditions might look like around the corner. Insights like these can guide you, whether you're planning on purchasing a factory, thinking about whether labour is going to be easier to recruit in the future, whether sales orders are likely to surge ...
Buying a Van for Your Tradie Business: What You Need to Consider
Planning the growth of your trades business means that there are some key financial decisions you’ll have to make. Even when you have a good pipeline of jobs booked and cash flow is positive it’s worth weighing up what you spend your money on. Buying a vehicle for your tradie business can be exciting; it’s not just a big present from the company, it’s a marker of growth. It means you have employees on your books and you have jobs to get them to. As an electrician business coach and a business coach to tradies in general, I’ve been ...
Glossary of terms for manufacturing
This glossary has been collated for growing manufacturing businesses, with a special nod to businesses that we coach. (Tip: If you're specialising in the commercial sector, check out our glossary on tender terms.) Before you dive in, I'll say this: it's one thing to understand the concepts of manufacturing; it's another thing to apply them to run your business well. If you want to know how to take your business to the next level, give us a call or drop us a line. A Alternative Components (ALTS) Components that can be substituted for those initially specified without compromising performance ...
