About
Building a business is tough. You don’t have to do it alone. Let an experienced guide help you navigate the journey and reach your goals.
Who Am I?
After starting my first e-commerce business in 2007, at my kitchen table, I was able to grow it into a brand and business that had offices and operations across 4 continents, with distribution and sales in more than 30 countries, generating more than $10 million in revenue.
Having never run a business before, I had to be hands-on with every aspect – website design and construction, marketing and advertising, product conception and design, legal and accounting practices in various jurisdictions across the globe, logistics and more.
I haven’t studied how to grow and operate a business – I have DONE it. Multiple times. And in addition to consulting with companies across the world, I am still involved in the creation and growth of multiple businesses.
I now spend my time helping other entrepreneurs and businesses do the same thing. Expand their product range, diversify and update their manufacturing base, and grow their businesses overseas.
Why ‘The Business Porter’?
In 2023, I was able to be a part of a team that hiked The Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. This track was the site of fierce and deadly battles in World War II, between Australian and Japanese troops, and the bravery and comradery of the Australian troops is etched into the culture and folklore of Australian life and history.
With its dense jungle and elevation of over 3,000 metres, the track is often ranked as one of the toughest in the world – and it certainly lived up to that title.
While I trained intensely as part of my preparation, and brought the right equipment with me, there was one element in particular that helped me succeed.
I Had a Porter
Reuben was with me every step of the way, carrying gear, showing me where to step (or NOT step), guiding me across rivers, ditches and along precipices, and on a couple of occasions, literally catching me so I wouldn’t fall and injure myself.
What made Reuben so good at his job?
He had walked the track before, many times. He knew the safest and quickest routes; he knew the most treacherous parts of the track; he had experience dealing with the heat, humidity and exhaustion I would endure, and he was in better physical shape for the journey as a result!
Reflecting upon my adventure at Kokoda, I saw similar parallels with my business journey. I had successfully navigated my way through multiple challenges and pitfalls in 17 years of building businesses. I had made missteps, and experienced the emotional, physical and mental exhaustion that comes with the territory of business ownership.
I had endured some tough seasons where it looked like I’d never get beyond a certain challenge or season, and I’d also experienced some incredible highs.
It was over the next few months that I started seeing the parallels. I was talking with multiple business owners about the struggles and challenges they were facing, and often found myself responding that I’d been through similar things and I knew the way to navigate those challenges. The more I started to help, the greater my awareness became – this was a big issue!
This is how The Business Porter was born. Not a lot of theory and ideas, but lived experience that can help individuals and companies successfully navigate the toughest areas and succeed.