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- Wise Words -
Sliding Doors.
My Choice Worked Out

by martin leuw

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I have been lucky in many ways. I have a family, friends and have also experienced business success. What I want to write about is while many of us have the talent to succeed professionally, the determining factor can be down to a choice of which opportunity to take, which door to walk through. It really can be as simple as a sliding doors moment.
 
I say this not to diminish anyone’s success and hard work, but also so that all of us who are striving for it but are not quite getting there don’t get frustrated, instead keep on going, so that when the door opens, you too can walk through it and if you happen to walk through the “wrong” door you don’t berate yourself too much. 
 
Here’s my greatest sliding doors moment and it came after a crisis.
 
The year was 2001. The .com bubble had just popped. I’d literally fallen into the tech sector by chance and spent the previous two years running an early stage healthtech business, MediDesk which we’d pivoted into a .com. Three VC investors, one strategic, a JV, 20 pharmaceutical loan note holders and about 50 employees. I’d run myself ragged trying to satisfy the needs of all our stakeholders including a fast track route to an IPO which we’d pulled at the 11th hour as the market crashed in March 2000 – we were a week behind lastminute.com but that week was a lifetime. The music had stopped and there were literally no chairs left to sit on.
 
I’d then spent the next 12 months frantically trying to find a home for the business, culminating in a successful exit, on the day we ran out of cash only then to have the new owners direct me to make most of the people who had built the company with me redundant. A severe emotional low point, with the final roll of the dice, being my departure as there was only room for one CEO. Looking back on it, as I approached my late 30’s with two young kids and a mortgage, it’s surprising I had the much left in the tank to look for a new venture. But needs must and fortunately I did. I don’t recall mental health awareness being much of a topic in business 20 years ago, but it was certainly stressful.
 
Greasing the doors
I have always placed huge importance on building a strong network by helping others where I can. Whilst in 2001 we were in the midst of a tech downturn and a severe loss of business confidence, so to my surprise, my network delivered two new CEO opportunities quite quickly. They were very different. This was my sliding doors moment….
 
The first was to become CEO of an early stage neural network (precursor to AI) driven cardio ECG monitor that had the potential to revolutionise health monitoring. Accenture had assessed the world market at $1 billion+. At the interview I asked to understand how the kit worked and they wired me up and continued to ask the interview questions – were they monitoring my heart rhythms as some sort of truth detector? A novel approach.
 
The second was a small software business called Transaction Technology that automated statutory and fiscal returns for accountants to service their clients better- Sage was the Goliath in the sector. The introduction came via my former CFO at MediDesk who knew the Founder, as they walked their dogs together and he had mentioned he was retiring and had just sold a majority stake to the PE house LDC and was looking for a successor.
 
But which door?
My heart was super excited by the cardio neural network opportunity (no pun intended) and the technological and commercial potential. However, it was very early stage and I had just been on a high-risk roller coaster so how much risk did I want to take this time? Furthermore, I have learned more from my mistakes than my successes and before I joined MediDesk I had not done as much due diligence as I should have and having run healthcare businesses for around 6 years I had seen how the available technology seemed to run well ahead of market adoption. Would this be a re-run?
 
My head was telling me to look in more detail at the accountancy software vendor. A major concern was that I had trained as a Chartered Accountant as a means to an end (I was more literate than numerate!) but hadn’t particularly enjoyed it. It was a much more stable business, with profits of £2m, revenues of £9m and 100 employees. Of particular importance was the commercial due diligence which confirmed that not only did the customers love the product and service, but there were some technical design advantages that competitors would find hard to replicate. Finally, I really liked all the people I met and felt that we could work as a strong team.
 
Right Move or Wrong Move?
I will never know what might have happened if I had joined the cardio business. What I do know is that Transaction Technology, which we re-branded as IRIS Software grew to become one of the largest UK software businesses, a pioneer in subscription (later to become SAAS) software and a market leader in most of its chosen sectors, pushing Sage out of the #1 position in software accoutancy packages and providing software to over 50% of UK accountancy practices as well as other professional services groups and payroll too. We went through 3 PE backed MBOs, grew to 1,200 employees with EBITDA of £50m, industry leading recurring revenue and customer retention and a $1 Billion exit value in 2007.
 
This was my sliding doors moment, in a blink…

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More business-related content from Martin: "Getting Match Fit" on E2E's Business (un) Usual video channel

Related Content
Careers: "Career as a Journey" and "Careers Happen"
Networking & People: "Be a Giver", "Reputations Travel" and "Networking as a Relationship" 
Stress Management:
"Overwhelmed? Take a Mental Refresh" 
Layoffs: "How I Came Back From Being Laid Off", "Laid Off? Take a Breath" and "Survivor's Guilt"


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Martin Leuw is Founder of Growth4Good, which invests in high growth purpose led businesses in the digital technology sector, principally in social and environmental change.
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He is also Chairman of Leathwaite, an international human capital specialist and Ground Control a leading environmental maintenance services provider. Earlier in his career, Martin was CEO of IRIS Software and grew it from small beginnings to become a market leader in each of its sectors and one of the UK’s largest private B2B (SAAS) software houses, with £50m EBITDA pa, exiting in 2007 at $1bn EV.


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More Wise Words...

Achieve: Focus on Results
​
Achieve: Leading from the Start
Achieve: Small is BIG
Achieve: Take Action
Career Management: Annual Review. A "How To"
Career Management: Annual Review. As Career Plan
Career Management: Choosing a Mentor
Career Management: Careers Happen
Career Management: Career Journey
Career Management: Mentorship Explained
​
Career Management: Post Graduate Degrees
Career Management: Promotion Frustration 
Career Management: Moving up by moving out
Career Management: Selecting Your Company
Career Management: Understand Yourself
Finances: Retirement Saving (1)
Finances: Retirement Saving (2)
Hindsight: Balance the short- with the long-term
​Hindsight: Embrace learning and your manager
Hindsight: Focus at Work
Hindsight: Millennial Reflections
Hindsight: Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
​Hindsight: Take Advice Sparingly
Hindsight: Take a Career Mulligan
​
Hindsight: Transition from College
Hindsight: Winning Nicely
Hindsight: Work hard, network, be honest. Have fun too!
Managing Up: Manage Up to Move Up
Managing Up: Manager As Partner
Managing Up: New Manager
Managing Up: Questions for your manager
Managing Up: Secret Skills for Managing Up
​
People & Teamwork: Be A Giver
​
People & Teamwork: LinkedIn As Networking
People & Teamwork: Networking Hacks
People & Teamwork: Networking as a Relationship
People & Teamwork: Networking Simplified
People & Teamwork: Teamwork As Leadership
Speedbumps: Chutes & Ladders
​
Speedbumps: Laid Off? Take A Breath
Speedbumps: Layoffs. The Afterlife
Speedbumps: Owning Mistakes
Work Life: Work Culture. America vs. UK
Work Life: Ask Why
Work Life: Be Yourself. Be Genuine
​
Work Life: Browned Out?
Work Life: Business Travel Guide
Work Life: Calendar Management
Work Life: Difficult Situations
Work Life: Focus on Fiyah!
​Work Life: Ghosting
​
Work Life: Help the Early Stage Professionals
Work Life: International Remote Working
Work Life: Pre-Vacation Checklist
Work Life: Smartphones & The Office
​Work Life: Start-Up Glamor
Work Life: Stress Management
Work Life: Take a Walk
​
Work Life: They Quit
Work Life: Unlimited Vacation
Work Life: Welcome the Newbies
Work Life: "Work" from Home

Crushing It @ Work

What Time Should I Start? 
What If I am Running Late? 
Taking Vacation
Sick Days 
Working Outside Office Hours
​
How to prepare for One/Ones
Making Meetings on Time 
Business Presentations 
Social Media, Personal Email and Hanging Out on the Web
Give it Six to Nine Months to Feel @Home
Be Your-professional-self
Staying Positive

Money Talk

The Basics
Retirement Savings Guide

Job Search Must Do's

Resume
The Application Letter 
​
The Free Conundrum: Should You Take an Unpaid Internship?
Informational Interviews 
Taking a Shortcut: Using Your Network 
Dealing with a Low GPA
​Responding to Recruiters
The Job Interview
Interview Questions
Questions You Should Ask
Simulations 
Interviews with Other Applicants
Dealing with References
Negotiating Your Salary
How to Resign (if you already have a job)
​
The First Week
You Don't Get the Job: Getting Feedback
​Keeping Motivated Through the Search

USA Today Columns by Fergus Mellon

How to get started on LinkedIn: Do this, not that
Warning: Avoid smartphone shame at work.  Keep them out of sight
To succeed, be a Giver in the workplace, not a Taker
4 ghoulish personality pitfalls to steer clear of at the office
​
How to coach today's not so entitled Millennials as they join the rat race

Crushing IT

Money

Library

WISE WORDS

Bureaucracy

Copyright © 2016 - 2020
  • Home
  • Getting a job
    • Must Do's - Resume
    • Must Do's - Application Letter
    • Must Do's - Internships
    • Groundwork - Informational Interviews
    • Groundwork - Your Network
    • Groundwork - GPA Issues
    • Groundwork - Recruiters
    • Dealing with Rejection - Feedback
    • Dealing with Rejection - Keeping Motivated
    • Closing the Deal - The Interview
    • Closing the Deal - Interview Q's
    • Closing the Deal - Your Questions
    • Closing the Deal - Simulations
    • Closing the Deal - Group Interviews
    • Closing the Deal - References
    • Signing On - Salary Negotiation
    • Signing On - How to Resign
    • Signing On - First Week
  • Crushing It
    • The Hours - What Time Should I Start
    • The Hours - What If I Am Running Late?
    • The Hours - Taking Vacation
    • The Hours - Sick Days
    • The Hours - Working Outside Office Hours
    • Professional Skills - One/Ones
    • Professional Skills- Making Meetings on Time
    • Professional Skills - Business Presentations
    • Professional Skills - Social Media, Personal Email
    • A Level Head - Feeling @ Home
    • A Level Head - Be YourProfessionalSelf
    • A Level Head- Staying Positive
  • Wise Words
    • Achieve - Focus on the Results
    • Achieve - Leading from the Start
    • Achieve - Showcase Your Work
    • Achieve - Small is BIG
    • Achieve - Take Action
    • Achieve - Your New Job. A Plan
    • Career Management - Annual Review
    • Career Management - Annual Review Feedback Meeting
    • Career Management - Annual Review: How to Guide
    • Career Management - Career Contentment
    • Career Management - Careers Happen
    • Career Management - Career Journey
    • Career Management - Choosing a Mentor
    • Career Management - Discomfort Is Good
    • Career Management - Freelancing and Employment Gaps
    • Career Management - Mentally Healthy Choices
    • Career Management - Mentorship Explained
    • Career Management - Post Graduate Degrees
    • Career Management - Promotion Frustration
    • Career Management - Promotions. Move out to move up
    • Career Management - Selecting Your Company
    • Career Management - Understand Yourself
    • Finances - Preparing for a Downturn
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (1)
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (2)
    • Hindsight - Balance the Short- with Long -term
    • Hindsight - Embrace Learning & Your Manager
    • Hindsight - Focus at Work
    • Hindsight - Millennial Reflections
    • Hindsight - Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
    • Hindsight - Take a Career Mulligan
    • Hindsight - Take Advice Sparingly
    • Hindsight - Transition from College
    • Hindsight - Winning Nicely
    • Hindsight - Work Hard. Be Honest. Have Fun
    • Managing Up - Manager as Partner
    • Managing Up - Manage Up to Move Up
    • Managing Up - Mastering Your Manager
    • Managing Up - New Manager
    • Managing Up - Questions For Your Manager
    • Managing Up - Secret Skills of Managing Up
    • Managing Up - Yes Power
    • People & Teamwork - Be a Giver
    • People & Teamwork - First Time Manager
    • People & Teamwork - LinkedIn as Networking
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Hacks
    • People & Teamwork - Networking as Relationship
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Simplified
    • People & Teamwork - Reputations Travel
    • People & Teamwork - Teamwork as Leadership
    • Sliding Doors - Decision Paths
    • Sliding Doors - Success Requires Luck
    • Speed Bumps - Chutes & Ladders
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs & Survivors Guilt
    • Speed Bumps - Laid Off? Take a Breath
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs. The After Life
    • Speed Bumps - Owning Mistakes
    • Work Life - American Work Culture
    • Work Life - Ask Why
    • Work Life - Be Yourself. Be Genuine
    • Work Life - Browned Out?
    • Work Life - Business Travel Guide
    • Work Life - Calendar Management
    • Work Life - Change is Certain
    • Work Life - Difficult Situations
    • Worklife - Focus on Fiyah
    • Work Life - Ghosting
    • Work Life - Help the Early Stage Professionals
    • Work Life- International Remote Working
    • Work Life - In the Zoom
    • Work Life - Mom Skills
    • Work Life - Office As A Stage
    • Work Life - Office Ghouls
    • Work Life - Pre Vacation Checklist
    • Work Life - Returning to Work
    • Work Life - Smartphones & The Office
    • Work Life - Speak Up
    • Work Life - Stage Fright
    • Work Life - Startup Glamour
    • Work Life - Stress Management
    • Work Life - Take A Walk
    • Work Life - Tasks We Hate
    • Work Life - They Quit
    • Work Life - Unlimited Vacation
    • Worklife - Vacation Overview
    • Work Life - Welcome the Newbies
    • Work Life - "Work" From Home
  • Money
    • Money - The Basics
    • Money - Saving for Retirement
    • Money - Retirement Saving
  • Library
    • Book Reviews
    • Webinar Hub
    • USA Today Columns
    • Buy Early Stage Professional
    • Bureaucracy
  • Help Center
    • Annual Reviews
    • Career Speed Bumps
    • Managing Up
    • Promotions & Career Planning
    • Stress Management