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:
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 ...
Top 5 Most Profitable Plumbing Niches in Australia
If you run an established plumbing business, niche selection has a direct effect on profit, labour efficiency, pricing power, and cash flow. This article is for owner-operated plumbing businesses in Australia with staff, overheads, and a serious interest in building a more profitable operation. It focuses on where margin comes from, what the benchmark numbers say, and which niches are most commercially attractive. Quick Answer The most profitable plumbing niches are the ones that combine strong pricing power, repeatable demand, and a margin structure that leaves enough room after labour and overheads. For plumbing businesses, the benchmark numbers matter. Based ...
Grow Your Tradie Business By Saying No
If you’re running a tradie business, does this scenario sound familiar? In the early days of your business, you take any work; you say yes to every job, you learn how to price it, you do the work, maybe make some money or maybe lose some money. You get asked to quote on something you haven’t done before, you have a crack and it’s ok. You buy specialised tools and add new services to your website. The phone is ringing and you’re busy. Great. At some point you check your bank account. Sure, there’s money in there but the ...
Top 8 Benefits of GPS Tracking for Your Trade Service Fleet
Running a trades services business isn’t just about fixing leaks and replacing switchboards; it’s about delivering reliable and efficient service to your customers, which then drives profit to your bottom line. When it comes to driving, your fleet of service vehicles is an essential revenue generator. At Tenfold, we coach business operators to look at technicians and vehicles as economic units. Let me explain why: a tech without a van can't do much - they can't get to a client's site and they can't transport materials. Likewise, a vehicle without a tech is useless - it isn't going anywhere ...
Tradie Business 101: Tips for Winning Tenders
Tenders can be lucrative for tradies. Long-term contracts that provide regular work and predictable recurring revenue can be the goose that lays the golden egg. Given the importance of tenders, I'm surprised that the topic doesn't get more air time at trade school. But that's where a tradie business coach can help. If your business provides commercial maintenance or construction services such as plumbing, electrical contracting, HVAC installation, landscape construction, or carpentry, then these tips on how to submit a successful tender bid are for you. By the way, if you've ever thought to yourself, "I didn’t learn how ...
Glossary of business terms for Australian small businesses
Understanding the language of business is crucial. Not only will it help you navigate day-to-day operations, it will also give you confidence when dealing with other business owners and support specialists, like accountants, bookkeepers and business coaches. This glossary has been collated for all Australian small businesses, with a special nod to businesses in trades services that we coach. (Tip: If you're an electrician, plumber, or other tradie 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 business; it's another thing ...
Tender Glossary: Know Your Terms
A Alternative bid Initiate an offer that is alternative to the tender requirements. Meaning the offer is different to what is being asked for in the tender procedure. Often the alternative bid provides advantages or benefits over the stated requirements regarding cost and/or performance. Also known as variant bid (see variant bid). Approach To Market (ATM) ATM refers to a business opportunity advertised on a tender site. ATMs can be published as an open, prequalified or limited tender procurement method source. Award criteria A list of key criteria or requirements, which is required for a contract to be awarded. ...
A Guide to Systemising your Business
Welcome, small business owner. As a business coach, I’ve worked with business at different stages of growth so I know what it takes to get a business to the next level. This business coach’s guide to systemise your business aims to unlock the power of streamlining your business, a game-changer that can revolutionise the way your company operates. As you navigate through these sections, you'll discover the key to unlocking growth, efficiency, and scalability within your business. However, in my experience coaching business owners I’ve observed some common obstacles that impede the process: Time Constraints: As a small business ...
Sales Prospecting: A Guide for B2B Service Providers [Examples]
Sales prospecting is like Vegemite; some people love it, some people can’t stand it. Those who love it don’t get what the opposition is; you spread it on and eat it up. Yum. But those who aren’t fans would probably rather eat broken glass. Whether you’re reading this because sales prospecting doesn’t come naturally to you or because you want to expand your toolkit, our guide has got you covered. As a business coach with 20 years of experience, I've seen firsthand the benefit of effective sales prospecting, especially for small to medium-sized businesses providing B2B services. Whether you're ...
