Claire’s Column – Dare To Be Different

Published on: 13 Sep, 2016
Updated on: 13 Sep, 2016

In this regular column – a must-read for all those interested in Guildford business – Claire Dee reviews Guildford businessman Keith Churchouse’s latest book offering.

Claire Dee.

This month, #backtowork has been trending on Twitter: a clear sign the summer break is over and it’s, well, back to work!

The return to my desk and overflowing in tray (virtual and real) brought a crisp new copy of local entrepreneur Keith Churchouse’s latest business book Scared of Something Different. His sixth publication, it covers his own journey of business disruption and innovation and offers tips on how others can follow the same path too.

Having run his Guildford-based traditional financial planning business Chapters Financial for over 10 years, Keith decided to launch a complementary online-only financial planning business too. SaidSo.co.uk was born and with it a whole new concept in so-called robo-advice now known as the FinTech (financial technology) sector. In other words, financial advice at the touch of a button – no meetings, no calls, just click and receive.

And for the established financial services world, this was very innovative and in turn disruptive.

Co-written with his colleague Esther Dadswell, Scared of Something Different is a light and easy read (around 200 pages) with lots of anecdotes and real-life tips. Both writers are generous in offering what has and hasn’t worked for them, enabling other business owners to listen and hopefully learn.

The book challenges readers not to be afraid and not to be left behind: “Technology and its distribution opportunities have transformed business…don’t be disrupted, be the disruptor. Innovation doesn’t stand still, and nor should you.”

The chapters are broken down into bite-sized chunks, with each clearly labelled so the ever-busy executive can focus on those most relevant to them (very few of us read business books cover to cover these days). Titles include expectation, passion, construction, emotion and, of course, disruption.

So, if you’re looking to take your business to the next level and want to try something different, give this book a go and disrupt! As Harvard Business School professor Clay Christensen notes: “Disruptive innovation can hurt, if you are not the one doing the disrupting.”

Scared of Something Different by Keith Churchouse and Esther Dadswell was published in July 2016 and can be purchased from Amazon.

Claire Dee runs her own communications consultancy near Guildford, and is an active member of the local business community including sitting on the Surrey Chambers of Commerce board and the Institute of Directors Surrey committee. To learn more visit www.clairedeecommunications.com

Responses to Claire’s Column – Dare To Be Different

Adrian Atkinson Reply

September 16, 2016 at 12:28 pm

Perhaps Claire should give the Guildford planners and the GBC Executive a copy. The proposals for retail and business development of Guilford town centre, as part of the Local Plan, are as disruptive as a non-disruptive thing in a padded cell.

Guildford can and should expect better; not more retail space when the sector is in permanent decline at the expense of much needed housing. That is a flawed planning policy of the 90s and naughties – it should not be given any oxygen in this day and age.

Guildford is at the forefront of 5G, yet we are planning for the retail development equivalent of dial up modems. Guildford is the beating heart of the digital gaming experience industry in the UK yet we plan to give our residents and visitors the retail experience equivalent to the outdated Nokia “Snake” game.

Why are we not the “disruptors” rather than the disrupted in following the flawed retail strategies of Woking and Kingston.