Height at ten years – reflections, gratitudes and Lessons learnt from 10 years of Business

At ten years, it would be too easy to say that this was all part of a considered and well-thought-out master plan. The fact is, nothing can be further from the truth. It has been a journey of thousands of little decisions, values-aligned people, a good dollop of luck and a little bit of fear.

It started in the garage

It is a stereotypical small business story we started in a garage in Sandringham, Auckland.

After a mixture of travel, public service and corporate careers, Liz and I decided that we wanted to create something that gave us the flexibility of time and to be able to control our destiny around our young family.

Dad came up to help line out the garage, Uncle Ray installed the electricity and my neighbour Dean sorted the internet. We were in Business – Height was born.

It's often easy to glamourise startups but to give the situation some context, we had a big mortgage, two kids under the age of 2 and no stable income except for some minor savings in the bank – the runway was short, and the pressure was real.

Who luck and the importance of the first customer

When you start a business, your first customer is incredibly important. It turns a dream into a reality, validates assumptions, allays fear that your decision was right, and moves you from being a hobby to a real business.

Like every entrepreneurial story, there is an element of luck and good fortune. The common factor in that luck has always been the company I keep and the relations I nurture and form. Jim Collins describes it as "who luck" in which the right person appears at the right time to do the right job.

My startup "who luck" came from my good friend Tristan Lees-Baker who gave me my first opportunity. It then followed quickly when Wayne Harrison, a friend from Downer days, asked me to do some preplanning for a new Wastewater Treatment Plant in Whanganui. I am forever grateful for the faith Tristan and Wayne showed me.?

The real Business had started – we had something of value.

Scaling Beyond the Garage – a photocopier and imposter syndrome

When hiring staff and clients who want to visit your office, taking them to a garage next to your kids jumping on the trampoline is a lead indicator that you have moved on from the garage.

Even with early success, self-doubt crept in. I knew we needed to grow and made what felt like the biggest investment decision ever: signing a $300-a-month two-year lease on a photocopier. Even after nine months of good trading, I genuinely doubted whether we would be here in two years.

We took the plunge, got the photocopier, and signed our first lease on our Dominion Road office.

The Dominion Road office created our first real home, a place to develop our identity and evolve a brand.

We reached the next stage of Business – which I describe as real commitments.

Business success – the flywheel, 1000s of sensible little decisions and borrowing other people's ideas ?

With a team of 33 across New Zealand and Australia, a great base of clients and a strong order book, it would be easy to say now that we had a clear master plan. Those in the know will attest that this is not true.

Our 10-year journey has been a combination of thousands and thousands of little good moral and value-based decisions, some luck, with a slight touch of a commercial nouse that has led us to this point.

Business guru Jim Collins describes business success as a flywheel as no single eureka moment but a journey of these sensible little decisions, which describes our ten-year journey to the tee.

Nothing beats experiential learning – learning and sharing from those who have been there and done that. Those visiting our office and spending time with our team are often impressed with our systems, processes and how we articulate our brand and value proposition. I can assure you that, in most cases, those ideas were copied, borrowed or shared with us from other entrepreneurs and business people, particularly those friends I have made through the? Entrepreneurs' Organization .

So it is appropriate to pay special acknowledgement and thanks to all my EO colleagues, particularly Thomas Dietz , Cameron Houston , Stuart Chrisp , Marisa Fong , Dawn Engelbrecht , Diane Hurford , George Roberts, Michael Pearce , Kimberley Ramsay , Tony Falkenstein, ONZM , Fletcher McKenzie and Horst Miehe .

The importance of coaches – structure, accountability and strategic

Like all startups, the early years were hard work, long hours and stress. The boundaries between Business and family were becoming blurred and unhealthy.

I realised we needed structure and strategy around this entity to grow it from a job to a business.

Another fortunate piece of "who luck" was when I met our first business coach Adrian Pickstock . He gave us the structure, vision and accountability to "work on, not in the business". The structure and disciplines he helped us build are our base today and the pillars we are evolving as we grow internationally with our new coach Stephen Lynch .?

Like all great sports teams, these great coaches helped us see what we couldn't see and provided strategic accountability when we wrongly thought operational things should take priority.

A huge thanks. You have both been integral to our success!

Clients – the responsibility of outsourced success

Without our clients, we are nothing. We are acutely aware that you are outsourcing your success to us, and we do not take that responsibility lightly or for granted.

Your endeavours give us the energy and purpose to do what we do. From rail signalling systems, social housing, transport, road maintenance, helping Māori and Pasifika businesses win contracts to government, 3-waters, defence estates, working with Mana Whenua and now being part of Cyclone Gabriel rebuild. We love that stuff, so thank you so much for your faith and for allowing us to do what we do.

Business is about a coming together of great people

It's easy to describe business success as increased revenue and scale. In my experience, true success is proportional to the quantum of great and values-aligned people you have around you.

Our journey has been the amalgamation of great people coming together to do purposeful things, have fun, and try to change the world.

I am immensely proud of our core team and want to acknowledge you all for the love and compassion you show to our customers and how you care and support each other. One of the best compliments I ever got was when one of our PMs, Laura, said, "I actually genuinely like hanging out with the people at work". Peer-to-peer endorsement and accountability are the best acid test of team culture.

So a huge thank you to Beaufa Brown , Bradley Rossi , Dany Rassam , Emma Foulkes , Erin (Baker) Black , Gail Lorigan , Georgia R. , Jess Lace , Jan Marsh , Julie Youngman , Kelly-Anne Penrose , Laura Hercus , Perry Fon Sing , Sam Murphy-Dreaver , Rebecca McGarry , Sophie Mak , Steve Martin , Sue Hart , Venla Autio , Kathryn Hill , Greg Harrison , Veronica Tam , Pallavi P. and Lulu we would not have done it without you.

Our Leadership team - Servant leaders and good wingmen (wingwoman)

Using the Air Force analogy of wingman / wingwoman epitomises the servant leadership model our leadership team uses. A wingman / wingwoman supports the lead in aerial combat by making the flight both safer and more capable: amplifying situational awareness, increasing firepower, and allowing more dynamic tactics.

My Height leadership team is the best I have ever worked with. They care deeply about their clients, constantly challenge my thinking, are passionate, love their people and are consummately professional – thank you for being you - Claire McCarthy , Heather Murray , Matt Willis , Melanie Llewelyn , Stephen Dempsey and Liz Young .

The CEO / COO Balance and hurrying slowly

As a business leader, you need balance and challenge.

Kel McBeath , our COO, has a great saying, "Festina lente" which means hurry slowly. So between my unbridled enthusiasm and Kel's cautious optimism, we strike an excellent balance of respectful disagreement, challenge, genuine respect and love.

Kel, our team, we owe you a great deal for your warmth, genuine care, attention, love for us and wisdom – I am proud to call you my business partner and friend.

Business is a family affair

It would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge our families my Dad (Ted), Mum (Faye), Step Mum (Meme) and Liz's parents, Graham and Barbara. Without your unconditional love and support, we wouldn't have had the self-confidence, life lessons and work ethic to be where we are today.

Thank you for being great parents Liz and I are both so lucky to have you.

Height entering puberty

Finally, like all good ten-year-olds we are entering puberty and teenagerhood. We are in the big playground now, mixing it up with the big kids, a world of crushes, first kisses and awkwardness as we find ourselves in the world.

But we are wise 10-year-olds. We know our limits, are clear on our values and behaviours, care and love each other and our clients, and are humble and always hungry. ?

Arohanui Warner and Liz?

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