Ten
Many Chelsham friends and clients know the story.
Lazing on a hillside in Andalucía in 2004, I decided to formalise my existing coaching experience, gain one of the most highly rated coaching qualifications and set myself the longer-term objective of setting up my own coaching business.
On another of my annual retreats in 2013, in the same area and again gazing at the mountains, I made the decision to strike out on my own and Chelsham was born as an executive coaching, facilitation and consulting business, now specialising exclusively in executive coaching, supervision and inclusive leadership.
It’s a cliché to say that establishing one’s own business is a rollercoaster ride, and yet clichés exist for a reason. It really has been just that. But it’s been a blast and I’m in reflective mode as we hit our tenth birthday.
Obviously things have gone wrong, I have made business mistakes (one or two howlers), there have been disappointments and there are significant learning points, but this is about celebrating a milestone so I’m focusing on the many positives.
Firstly I would like to thank every single person who has encouraged me, all our clients and coachees, Chelsham associates and suppliers, people in my network and on social media (which has played a surprisingly important role in my business; Twitter isn’t all bad) and some close friends who have been a massive support throughout.
A few highlights, if you will indulge me:
Nearly every client who has engaged us, and who has been in a position to offer us repeat business, has retained us for further work.
We have operated across a broader range of sectors than I could ever have imagined. That said, we have a deep specialism in the legal, professional services and consulting worlds. In professional partnerships. It’s not my style to plaster logos on our website but it’s an impressive list even if I do say so myself.
We navigated the pandemic and lockdowns with greater ease than I expected; one or two key clients were proactive in supporting us with business whenever they could and I am eternally grateful to them.
With my particular brand of neurodiversity it was never likely that I’d keep a tally of the number of coachees we have worked with, but it’s a massive figure now. I do this because I enjoy it and I think it’s my greatest strength so, well, lucky me.
I am proud of the list of coachees. CEOs; Partners; future CEOs; future Partners; leaders; future leaders; amazing people at all levels and in so many disciplines; our pro bono assignments in the third sector; owners of small businesses; private clients (we don't take on many but they are all talented and fascinating people); teams; inter alia
We only work with successful people who are seeking the next level of success – and wow our coachees are impressive.
Our specialism in inclusive leadership and culture has led to a select number of wonderful projects
Sticking to our values including refusing to operate in certain sectors, even when we really could have done with the revenue, and in turning down/advising against assignments which weren’t actually coaching.
And now supervision: two of our Associates and I qualified from Hult Ashridge a couple of years ago and we manage a small number of extremely rewarding and interesting supervision cases.
Our tenth year turned out to be our best year financially so we must be doing something right.
Most importantly: my business case for Chelsham had a headline objective of “happiness”. I don't think I’ve ever been so content professionally, or in life, which tells me that I have more than met that objective.
Thank you for reading this.
Thank you for your support.
Thank you to our clients for your business…every single engagement really does mean the world to me.
My warmest regards
Tony