Derek Granger’s Post

Something small yet mighty happened while at the NatWest Accelerator cohort day in Milton Keynes last week Unbeknownst to them, Gemma Spinks and Joss Spinks from Spinks Creative said something that reignited a passion within me For context: going through a transitional period in your business isn’t easy, or fun and for a split second I considered jacking it in to become a dog sitter As a typical Taurean, quitting isn’t an option I can’t quite remember what Gemma and Joss said, but I sure as hell remember how it made me feel And it’s helped me get really clear on the type of brands I want to work with Brands that have purpose Brands that are fighting the good fight when it comes to rewriting the narrative and setting fire to the patriarchy and societal norms Brands that put longevity and sustainability above quick cash wins Brands that are actually giving people a voice The universe always has a beautiful way of honouring what I desire As such, I’m now working alongside 🧙🏽♀️ Sabrina Chevannes (EMBA, CMktr), Justina Lee Rosu and the he rest of the TEDx Shoreditch team on their PR Strategy The brand values of TED and the values of everyone on the TEDx Shoreditch align with mine If being in business for 11 years has taught me anything…. ….It’s that values, alignment and ethics are at the heart of connection, communication and collaboration I’m slowly reconnecting to what I truly want to do I’m slowly embracing the change I want to see in the world And being much more discerning when it comes to the types of brands I’ll work with I can’t wait to see where this re-directed journey takes me

6 months ago I set myself a challenge Here’s how it’s gone so far 👇 When I reflected on what I’d achieved in 2023, I realised one important thing I was letting overthinking stop me from achieving some of the things that had been on my goals list for years. Procrastinating because of perfectionism. So I set myself the challenge to give myself permission in 2024 to experiment. To try out new ideas without the fear of failing Because experiments are supposed to fail. To discover better ideas and solutions to problems. So has it paid off? Reflecting back on the last 6 months this is what I’ve achieved: Hit 5K on LinkedIn Spoke on the Big Change panel Launched 3 new service offers Got accepted onto the NatWest Accelerator  Launched the Confessions of a Creative Series Started my YouTube channel (after years of procrastination) Connected with lots of incredible creators and change-makers  Sent out an email newsletter every Wednesday without missing a week With every high comes a low. It’s important to acknowledge what hasn’t gone so well over the last 6 months too. Experiencing increased anxiety Postponing my LinkedIn Live series Struggling to find a productive routine  Not posting as much content as I would have wanted to. Even with all of the challenges, I’m so happy I set myself the challenge back in January to experiment more. It has helped me step out of my comfort zone and go after the goals I’ve been procrastinating on. What’s one thing you’ve achieved in the last 6 months? I’d love to hear your highlights of 2024 so far #reflections #2024goals #personalbranding

🎉 Taking a moment to reflect on a year driven by hard work and innovative solutions. 📈With the onset of a new financial year, we are determined to take on challenges and achieve milestones. 🥂 Here's to continued collaboration and shared success. #NewFinancialYear #Growth #FluidTransmissions

I started Natwest Accelerator last week. Today was the first networking session and I have to say, I am bloody good at connecting dots. In a short amount of time, I figure out what people are looking for and can automatically see how this can happen. And guess what? It rarely involves working with me. What a fool! eh?? What foolhardy to connect people without taking an opportunity to make money... Sorry folks, that's just what I do. One of my slogans is 'There is always a solution' and I am determined to find it, even if that isn't working with me. This is what my hub for service-based specialists Kaleidoscope thrives on! Connecting the right people with the right people! Together we thrive!!! #PowerUp! #businessgrowth #teamcoaching

So, I met Theo Paphitis... Well technically I didn't...but I attended an Investor Insights event as part of the NatWest Accelerator, and it was mint! Theo’s insights really struck a chord with me. He reminded me that being around the right people is everything! Theo shared some great stories, including how he got nervous when he asked for his first investment via an overdraft, how even he has invested in the wrong people, and how he learnt and then harnessed his weaknesses. The interview was hilariously entertaining and it reminded me that even the most successful entrepreneurs feel jitters at the start. I loved hearing about the importance of resilience in business. Breaking down big goals into smaller tasks makes everything feel more achievable. I was buzzing when he talked about Sunday prep - as I've done that for a while now and really feel the impact. He also made me write a new to do list/moto I want to live by so I thought I would share it: 💪 Try and make more right decisions than wrong (and always embrace the learning from the wrong ones) 💪 Never go all in 💪 There is no rush - Google didn't happen overnight 💪 If I don't know it, learn it!!! I also plan to continue to talk through my challenges so I can ensure I'm focusing on the right problem and asking the right questions. I felt really good listening to Theo's words of wisdom. I'm super proud to deliver quality high impact events & where my business is at/who I work with. I don't have a picture from the webinar so I have used a pic of me, Chris, Ray Laidlaw & Steve Furnell from a Bus Tour with Ray as its an example of me surrounding myself with great people! #InvestorInsights #TheoPaphitis #NatWestAccelerator #Networking #BusinessGrowth #People #PersonalDevelopment

🤔 People often think you need a groundbreaking idea of the highest level of Human intellect in order to build a big business, which frequently leads to over-complicating things, or can actually just act as a barrier to getting started at all! 🏄♀️ When a founder is able to provide a simple solution to a problem that they face day-to-day, they tend to see a lot more success (I had to learn this lesson the hard way - big thanks to the NatWest accelerator at which you can see me socialising below). Which is why, in this week’s Innovators Uncensored issue, we’ve broken down exactly how Nick Woodman was able to build a multi-billion dollar business from a hobby, after failing with 2 highly technical businesses. ✍️ We’ve got that, plus loads of investment opportunities, accelerator applications, marketing hacks and useful tools in this week’s issue of Innovators Uncensored ⚡️ Link in the comments to subscribe and read today’s issue for free 👇

Three years of uncertainty, self-doubt, excitement, financial difficulty, and a heap of self-impossed pressure. 🛴 That's my journey so far 🥵 Fortunately, along the way I've met many other #founders in a nearly identical position. I've seen such a wide range of businesses..... 🌏 Some out of this world ideas that have had to stop before they achieved success. 🌀Some wacky, that have found their niche and thrived. 🧱 And then, the steady ones who work gradually, making a sustainable business. After 3 years we're now at the top of our first mountain and the view is completely different up here than it was 3 years ago when we stared up from base camp 🗻 We've not summited yet, in fact, we're years away from making the global impact we're heading towards, but we're in such a strong position now, with confidence and boundless energy. If you're a founder, or even a concept generator, reach! 👐 Take your first step, keep your goal fixed, but be willing to adapt how you get there. Sometimes, we may only get one shot at changing the world, or achieving our potential - make sure you don't let self-doubt or naysayers prevent this from happening. 💪 We're just coming to the end of our first #tech accelerator with #Exchange at Bonded Warehouse and our third entrepreneur accelerator with NatWest Business. Both have been pivotal in our development and will continue to be a key influence in our growth - shout out to Rich Jones and Jess Grocutt 🩵❤️ Don't stop, find your supporters (like Leo Walker for me 💚) and remember that the problem needs solving and there's no better person than you to do it! #keeponkeepingon #techcommunity #Manchester #investorready Equal Employer® - ready to change the world!

Wow what a wonderful surprise to be recognized by the NatWest Accelerator programme. I’ve always seen myself as ‘Captain Catastrophe’, caught by the inner critic and bogged down worrying about worst-case scenarios and ruminating on every little thing that could go wrong. Starting a new business has meant stepping into uncertainty and at times, it’s been hard to ignore the critical thoughts. Starting the NatWest Accelerator program could not have come at a better time. It has connected me with a group of wonderful, supportive people; willing to share their experiences and give their time to thrash out ideas. As the ‘mindset master’ what have l learnt….mindset isn’t constant!!! It goes up and down, backwards and forwards and sometimes does a loop-the-loop. Mindset has good and bad days, and it can be hard work. But, what’s important is holding onto a mindset that is firmly anchored in your values. Cant wait for the next NatWest cohort #purplehouseclinicbirmingham #Accelerator #psychologist

I so enjoyed reading the Annual Impact Report from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado - their work truly is making a difference. Some key take outs below, which highlights how important it is to continue investing in their work to ignite the promise and power of youth. - Mentoring plays a critical role of social connection which in turn impacts overall health. - Research highlights that youth who participate in mentoring relationships demonstrate better school attendance, higher likelihood of going on to higher education, and a better attitude toward school than non-mentored youth. - Mentoring results in statistically significant changes in a variety of positive outcomes for youth, such as improved grades and reduced drug use. If you're in a position to donate you can do so here: https://lnkd.in/gDiKquAM

Today in the NatWest Business Accelerator session with Chelsea we talked about Strategic Visioning. It wasn't a session we had on cohort 1 and I really wish we had! I have a vision, it's on my website and something I believe, however it's a bit boring and stuffy. It doesn't truly reflect me and what I want, so i'm working on updating it. I've started this work and will be looking to finalise my magic, refine what Admin Fairy:The Agency (AFTA) offers and bring my vision a reality. In the meantime - what is your vision, let me know 👇🏼 #vision #operationalmanagement #businesssupport