So Long Mr B.....but not goodbye.

Such a sad post to write in so many ways, but today I say goodbye to my brother George Birtchnell – my longest serving legend, my right-hand man, my great friend and also weirdly in some ways my son (as I’m so old).

George is moving onto pastures new.

I’ve always said that the best single decision I have made at The Point.1888 is the one I made to offer George a role as Brand Manager back in 2015. Hiring someone and recruiting them onto your crazy rollercoaster after 9 months on your own is terrifying. 

Recruiting someone is actually a harder decision than the one to start the company in the first place. 

That said having someone to celebrate the wins and commiserate the losses is an absolute game changer for anyone starting as a sole founder.

I’d always felt jealous of starter uppers who do it as a team. I delayed starting my business for over a year because I couldn’t face it going alone – yeah I was scared but anyone who starts a business and says they’re not is a liar. Yes, there’s more mouths to feed but having two or three brains on something makes a big difference. It’s also I imagine, comforting to know that 2 other people are as crazy as you. If nothing else, in the dark moments you at least have someone to give you a hug. 

Before George joined, I had Ralf Dolan – our head of HR – a beautiful and loyal short hairy chap, with a big tongue, who was happy to follow me around the house. I loved him so much, I let him poo in the garden and I happily congratulated him as I picked it up in a sandwich bag. I haven’t recruited anyone since who earned that liberty. 

But then came George and I was a boss once again – it was the start of the almost continual hiring process I have been through ever since – we now have 22 quality legends in the team and so in some ways the timing of George leaving couldn’t be better.

I’ve built four outstanding teams in my career and had lots of fantastic people work for me over the years. George was certainly one of my favourites. Losing him from the family is tough but it’s just part of the journey of running a small business. 

The key point here is that it’s teams that have been built. The team is stronger than the individual and adapts to change quickly. My leadership team is the strongest it’s ever been and that is what is so important for the future of the company.

It would be difficult to sum up the impact George has had at The Point.1888.

Luckily, phones have a photo by face sorting function so in actual fact the following photographic journey tells that story for me.

If a picture tells a thousand words, here’s 46,000 words on how special George is.

Years one to three were hectic...

The last 12 months has been ridiculous...

Thank you for everything you’ve done for us George – it’s been a unique, hilarious, inspiring, terrifying and ultimately phenomenally successful partnership. 

I wish you every success in the future mate, and you never know…