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:
What got you here won’t get you there: 7 strategies for taking your business to the next level
As a business coach, the thing I hear most from new clients is that they’ve hit a ceiling in their business and need some guidance on how to get to that elusive next level. That fact is, the skills, experience and knowledge you’ve gained throughout your life, education and initial business journey will only get you so far. At some point, the strategies that worked so well up until now will become less effective. You’ll need to build upon them in order to reach that little bit further. It’s an idea explored by Marshall Goldsmith in his best-selling book, aptly ...
Mental health first aid: why your business needs you to have it covered
Rob*, the owner and director of a facilities management business, was conducting what he thought was a run of the mill performance discussion when he discovered that there was something bigger going on behind team member, Tim’s* recent drop in performance. “I just didn’t see it coming. I didn’t know what to say when he told me he was struggling with depression that made it hard to get out of bed in the morning. He’d been trying to put a brave face on it all, but it was starting to get the better of him. I felt pretty helpless and ...
Not a coincidence: 7 attributes the most successful business owners have in common
Find out what qualities you must bring to the table to get the most out of your business coaching experience.
Branding is more than a logo: 5 steps for growing your business into a brand
How much is a logo? Any graphic designer worth their Mac will tell you that this is often the first question most business owners ask as they set out on their branding journey. But as a business coach, I mentor my clients that growing a business into a brand takes more than just a new logo or website. It’s about having a clear understanding of everything your business stands for, who you want to serve and what signposts to set out in order to lead those people towards your business. Thinking about branding this way makes it easier to see ...
How a focus on customer experience drives business growth
Have you ever thought about the journey a customer goes on when they do business with you? According to business experts, customer experience (sometimes known as CX ‘for short’) is set to overtake price, product and even branding as the main arena where the battle for top spot in the marketplace will be won. Studies have shown that while 80% of businesses believe they offer a great experience, only 8% of customers agree. More than just the latest buzzword, the success and ongoing growth of your business depends on closing that gap. That’s why, as a business coach, I mentor ...
11 strategies to keep the RIGHT clients
It’s the worst kept secret in the fitness industry: most people only stay with their personal trainer for six weeks. And 80% of people who join a gym in January will quit within five months once New Years resolutions have faded. This is an extreme example. But without a client retention strategy, businesses often get stuck in the endless cycle needing to find new clients and never establishing a strong base of existing clients. While there's a certain thrill in hunting for and acquiring new customers, keeping your existing customers will continually result in a greater return on investment. In ...
Using cost benefit analysis to make solid investment decisions for your business
The adage is true: you must spend money to make money. It’s a red-letter day when your business is profitable enough that you can start investing in its growth. But in my time as a business coach I have seen many business owners struggle to work out the best way to invest this resource; often it’s a case of new level, new devil. There are so many ways you could choose to spend some extra cash: do you take on more staff or lease a new premises, purchase equipment or a company car, boost your marketing efforts, train up your ...
Offering your team a company car: is it the right decision for your business?
As a business coach, I am seeing increasing numbers of business owners grappling with whether not to offer their team the use of a company car. There are a few reasons you might consider offering access to a work vehicle to an employee, including: It can help them do their job more effectively - especially if travel is an inherent requirement of their role (ie tradespeople, salespeople, consultants etc). It may also solve access issues related to your location, eg lack of reliable public transport etc. A company car can be an attractive non-cash perk that could position you as ...
Managing your SEO like a Pro: how taking the wheel protects your investment
SEO. One of those mysterious tech TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms). As a business coach, whenever I discuss outsourcing search engine optimisation (SEO) with my clients, I always find myself equating it with sending your car off to the mechanic; you may be left wondering “The bill was big but did they really do anything?”. (At least with your mechanic, you’ll know the problem has been fixed when that mysterious banging noise stops!) The objective for businesses doing SEO should be to get your website in the top 3 of organic search results. Why? Because 59% of clicks are from ...
Keep the cash flowing in your trades business with the Security of Payment Act
As a business coach I have seen one challenge come up more frequently than any other for our coaching clients working in the building and construction industry: dealing with payment disputes. Late or unpaid invoices cause more than just headaches for those running a business. Payment disputes have a significant negative impact on a business owner’s ability to pay their team and any subcontractors. Plus, with rumbles of an Australian recession still on the horizon, maintaining regular cash flow becomes an even more pressing issue. (See our previous blog for 10 strategies to recession-proof your small business) Thankfully, for those ...
