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:
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 an ...
Bounce Back from a Sales Slump: Actions To Boost Your Sales
Understanding Sales Prospecting What is Sales Prospecting? In the world of small to medium-sized B2B service businesses, hitting a sales slump isn't just a bump in the road—it's a wake-up call to reassess and realign. I've been in the trenches, coaching business owners through thick and thin, and I've seen the resilience and creativity it takes to bounce back. Whether you're laying cables as an electrical contractor or drafting blueprints for the next big commercial project, the principles of recovery are the same. It's not just about hard work; it's about smart work—understanding the core of your challenges and ...
18 Business Objectives to Measure Success [Examples for B2B]
Ask a business owner what their goals are, and you’ll get a quick answer: “I want a profitable business that runs well, makes me good money and gives me financial freedom.” Confident nod. Now ask what their objectives are, and that nod might shift to a head tilt. “I just told you my objectives… didn’t I?” Mmmm, no. So, what’s the difference between business goals and business objectives? Business goals are the big picture of what you want to achieve in the future. It’s what the business owner described – the broad, long-term aims of their business. Business objectives, ...
Tradie Business 101: A Guide to Managing Employees
Remember your first job when you started as an apprentice working for a tradie business? You spent the day looking for left-handed spanners, doing the Dare iced coffee run and trying to remember what you'd learnt at trade school. Now you're the boss of your own tradie business — whether plumbing, electrical contracting, HVAC installation, landscape construction, carpentry, or residential building - you realise that trade school didn't teach you about managing employees. Trade schools are essential for developing the knowledge and skills of tradies to do quality work that's essential for every part of Australian life. However, as business ...
Tradie Business 101: A Guide to Marketing
Remember when you enrolled at trade school because you knew you wanted to be a... marketer? Wait, what? Nah. You signed up to be an electrician or a plumber or a landscaper or a chippy or to learn HVAC or roofing. So it wasn't a surprise to you that marketing wasn't in the TAFE curriculum. Yet now that you've got your own tradie business — whether plumbing, electrical contracting, HVAC installation, landscape construction, carpentry, or residential building - you realise that maybe they should've taught you something about marketing. Trade schools give you the knowledge and skills to do your ...
Small Business, Big Impact: Tactics to Stand Out and Compete with Larger Businesses
"They're so much bigger than my business, how can I possibly compete?" If you've ever thought that about your small business before, you're not alone. It can seem daunting to submit a tender bid knowing you're up against a multi-million dollar (and multi-generational) business. But size isn't all it's cracked up to be. As a seasoned business coach based in Australia, I've witnessed firsthand the challenges and triumphs of small B2B businesses navigating the competitive landscape dominated by larger corporations. The journey of guiding these businesses towards growth and success has been incredibly rewarding, and it's clear that with ...
Creating a Brand on a Budget: Essential Guide for Small Business Success
When it comes to branding, the common misconception among small business owners is that impactful branding requires a $$$$$ budget—think big bucks for flashy logos, high-end marketing materials, and expensive advertising campaigns. However, in my 20+ years of coaching small business owners across Australia, I've witnessed firsthand that branding excellence doesn't have to cost a bucket. In fact, with a strategic approach and savvy investment, small businesses can achieve remarkable brand recognition and loyalty within a budget of $5,000 to $10,000. This free guide, "Brand Building Basics: Essential Strategies for Small Business Success", has been designed to help you, ...
Understanding Profit Margins: A Guide For Small Business Owners
As business coach, I’ll often find myself at a barbecue or a school sports day with people asking me about profit margins; how do you calculate them?, what’s a reasonable profit margin for a small business?, and what can I do to improve my profit margins? Ah, profit margins. The bread and butter of any small business conversation, right up there with "How's the cash flow?" and "Any tips for dodging those tax headaches?" If you've landed here, chances are you're hunting for the lowdown on what a decent profit margin looks like, how to crunch those numbers, and ...
Economic conditions you need to prepare for in 2024
Welcome to the first briefing of 2024, I hope you had relaxing break and are re-energised for the year ahead. I thought I’d start the briefings this year by giving you my insights on what economic conditions are likely to influence our businesses in 2024. To do so, we need to look at the two big factors that are driving the economy: interest rates and immigration.Two big factors driving Australia's economy The increase in spending from the record level of immigrants is balancing out by the reduction in spending by the rest of the population, who in general have cut ...
