ESRC Festival of Science

How I sold my business because of Widow Twanky

Ian GordonEntrepreneur in Residence

Lancaster University

O God, not another ESRC seminar

Wray Castle

Suppliers

Network Clubs

Family

Customers

Banks

Work/Life Balance

Selling the business

Cash Flow

Profitability

The Paradox of the Owner/manager

Number of contacts

Am

ount

of

Tru

st

Busy Fool

Mates in the pubFriends in the gymPals in the wine bar

Thursday Night Boys

GOLD?

Other networks of the

owner/manager

To what extent does the social capital created in the HEI generated network translate to pre-existing and other networks of the owner/manager?

[Rothstein, ISOCA conference 2007]

Entrepreneur

HEI

Simulated NED

LEADING• Mind Set• MBWA• Articulatio

n of Future State

MANAGING: Customers Competitors Competencies Cash

Passion, Pace & Preparedness

Network high in social capital

Your business network is like a garden, it needs tending

Avoid network events, but do networkNepotism is not always bad, in fact it’s goodDon’t ask for business, ask for an

introductionOffer to help if you can, whenever you can

without thought of repaymentDo something to get them to phone you