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Murray is Managing Director of Strachan and Partners, a specialist business advisory consultancy, and Chief Executive of Albyn Ventures, a business investment group. He also holds a number of non-executive Chairman and director positions in a diverse range of companies throughout the UK, many of which he is a shareholder in. He is also Vice Chairman of the Entrepreneurial Exchange in Scotland.

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Some other lessons from 25 years in business!

At the conclusion of the annual entrepreneurial lecture at The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen earlier this year I was asked to provide any other key lessons that I'd learnt from 25 years plus in business.  After consideration my response was that:

  • you need to be always selling (yourself and your business) and that if you "make a friend you’ll make a sale"!
  • you need to surround yourself with quality people!  If you fly with the crows you're likely to be shot.
  • you should ensure you have good counsel - NEDs and best experts & today’s man rather than yesterday’s.
  • if you get out-with chartered territory you become exposed to external elements and unforeseen factors
  • it was essential that you maintain values and common sense
  • you need to learn to trust your gut!  Plus, if it looks too good it normally is!
  • there are days, months or years when things don’t happen for you.  That’s life!  You need to learn from these situations.  Things will change!
  • you don’t need to be ruthless to be successful in business
  • first impressions are critical

Murray Strachan
Murray works with executives, funders and shareholders to recover & create value!  You can contact Murray via his website www.murraystrachan.co.uk or follow him on twitter @murraystrachan

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