In this episode we hear from Geoffrey Kent, who not only founded world renowned luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent, but is also credited with creating experiential travel as a concept.  I have long admired A&K for being leaders in sustainability across environmental, economic and social responsibilities. 

Geoffrey shares his stories and experiences as an entrepreneur of nearly 60 years’ experience, including a foray into space travel and why delivering a business, service or product that no one else does is paramount for success as an entrepreneur.

Geoffrey founded A&K in Africa in 1962 with little more than a refrigerated ex-Army truck, and the best tents money could buy with the motto ‘off-the-beaten-track safaris’. Nearly six decades later, with Geoffrey still at the helm.  If you’d like to get in touch with Geoffrey you can contact his team via [email protected] or A&K plus his book ‘Safari’ is also available.

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too!

Geoffrey’s advice:

• Have passion, as you need to love what you do: dedication and hard work are what it takes
• Never give up, always aim to be Number One 
• Come up with something new, something that no one else offers 
• Give your clients all your time and attention 
• Listen to and learn from others; it helps to take notes 
• Expect a long working day, and try to start each new day ‘driven’
• Think through your decisions, write them down and consider them carefully to make sure they are the right ones
• Turn your lifestyle into your business, not the other way around 
• Plan a business cycle and commit to the years it’ll take 
• Always put yourself into the shoes of your stakeholders so you know what they really want
• Be exacting with your due diligence
• Accept that you’re responsible for the company if you’re self employed and that you are ‘the last one in the room’ 
• Never send an angry email; draft it, save it and think about it again the next day

Links:

• LastPass the password keeping site that syncs between devices. 
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• I use Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory to create this podcast series as well as their super simple hosting platform.
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• For contracts check out Law Depot.

Thank you for listening.  I would also be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast with anyone else who may be starting a company in 2020 as it helps other people find it. 

Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason, How To Start Up hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement and reassurance that you’re on the right track.

Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield in September 2020.
MUSIC CREDIT  Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Licence

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