The Adventures of Lee The SME Owner

Lee stood in the kitchen, staring at the phone in his hand. He wasn’t one to hesitate, but today, he found himself hovering over the number Mike had given him. John Luxton, the business advisor—or as Mike had called him, “The Anti-Consultant.”

Lee chuckled to himself. What kind of business advisor calls himself that? But it had worked for Mike. He’d heard about John Luxton’s straightforward, no-nonsense style, and the fact that he seemed allergic to the kind of consultant-speak that drove Lee crazy.

Mike had been adamant. “Mate, John’s the real deal. His business is called RegenerationHQ and he’s got some very smart associates to help in different areas. He knows what it’s like from the inside, not just from a textbook. He didn’t show up in some shiny sports car. He didn’t hit me with buzzwords or fancy presentations. He actually listened, understood what I needed, and got me thinking about the future in a practical way. No fluff.”

That had stuck with Lee. He’d hated the idea of bringing in some fast-talking consultant who would throw around business jargon and charge through the nose for the privilege. But Mike had been in a situation similar to Lee’s. If Mike trusted this guy, maybe there was something to it.

Finally, with a deep breath, Lee dialled the number. As it rang, he felt a strange mix of nerves and curiosity. He’d spent years avoiding this kind of thing, but there was no harm in a conversation, right?

The phone clicked, and a warm, confident voice answered on the other end. “John Luxton speaking.”

Lee straightened up a bit. “G’day, John. My name’s Lee. Mike Ritchie suggested I give you a call. I’ve been running an engineering firm for a few decades now, and I’ve started thinking about... well, what comes next.”

There was a brief pause on the other end, then John’s voice came through, calm and steady. “Ah, Lee, great to hear from you. Mike spoke highly of you. So, you’re at that point where the future is calling, but the path forward isn’t quite clear yet?”

Lee chuckled. “That’s one way to put it. I’ve never been in this position before, and to be honest, I don’t know what needs tidying up to even think about selling—or stepping back.”

John’s tone was easygoing but direct. “You’re not alone there. Most business owners who’ve spent decades building something reach this point and realise they don’t know what the landscape looks like on the other side. It’s a big change—emotionally, financially, everything.”

Lee nodded, feeling a bit more comfortable. “Exactly. And, well, I’ve never been keen on the idea of bringing in outside help. No offence, but I’ve seen enough of those fancy consultants who roll in, talk a lot, charge even more, and leave you scratching your head.”

John chuckled, a sound that instantly put Lee at ease. “None taken. That’s why I started calling myself ‘The Anti-Consultant.’ Look, I’ve been in businesses just like yours. I’ve worked from the ground up, not from behind a desk. I understand what it’s like to be in your shoes, and the last thing I want is to spout jargon and leave you with more questions than answers.”

Lee leaned against the kitchen counter. “Well, that’s a relief. I don’t need fluff—I need someone who understands the business and the people who run it.”

John’s voice softened slightly. “That’s what it comes down to, Lee. You know your business better than anyone. My role is to help you figure out what needs to be done to make sure that if you want to step back, sell, or take on a partner, you’ve got everything in place for that transition. And the thing is, you probably know more than you think.”

That caught Lee’s attention. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” John continued, “you’ve been running the company for thirty years. You’ve got systems in place, a team you trust, and a clear understanding of your market. What you might need help with is stepping back and looking at the business from a buyer’s perspective. What are the strengths? Where are the risks? What needs a little polishing? And, most importantly, what do you want out of this transition? Do you want to stay involved in some capacity, or are you ready to hand over the keys?”

Lee thought about that. He hadn’t really considered what he wanted beyond “less stress.” Selling up sounded appealing on some days, but on others, the thought of walking away from the business completely made his stomach churn. And then there was Glenn. Could his son ever be ready to take over? Or was that a lost cause?

“I don’t even know where to start,” Lee admitted. “I mean, I’ve got a few ideas, but there’s so much to consider.”

“That’s where I can help,” John said. “I don’t have a cookie-cutter approach. What I do is sit down with you, look at where the business is today, and help you figure out what needs to be done to get it where it needs to be for a sale or a step-back. No jargon, no ‘consultant speak’—just practical advice. And we go at your pace.”

Lee nodded slowly. This wasn’t sounding so bad after all. “And you don’t drive a flash sports car, do you?”

John laughed again. “Nah, mate, I’m an all wheel drive SUV kind of bloke so I can tow a caravan or a trailer to the dump. Practical, reliable, and built for hard work—kind of like your business.”

Lee chuckled, feeling some of the tension ease. “Alright. How about we meet up, then? No harm in having a proper conversation.”

“Sounds good,” John replied. “Let’s meet somewhere that works for you—your office, a café, wherever you’re comfortable. We’ll talk, and I’ll walk you through what I think the next steps could look like.”

Lee agreed, feeling oddly relieved. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but John seemed like a straight shooter—someone who wouldn’t waste his time or try to sell him on something flashy. Just practical advice from someone who understood the business world in a way that made sense to him.

As Lee hung up the phone, he felt a strange mix of apprehension and excitement. He wasn’t sure what the next steps would look like, but at least now he had someone in his corner who wasn’t just going to throw fancy words at him.

For the first time in weeks, he felt like maybe—just maybe—he could figure out what the future held without getting lost in the process.

It was time to see what John Luxton, the so-called “Anti-Consultant,” really had to offer.