ANDY BOUNDS, 38, is a corporate trainer, an international speaker and a best-selling author.
His expertise lies in helping business leaders, sales people and large organisations all over the world to communicate in ways that get results every time they speak.
Andy lives in West Kirby and is a father of two. This is his day.
6am: During the week, I’m usually working away with clients, and today I’m in London. I get up early and go for a walk for fresh air for the day ahead. I always have a healthy breakfast and today I have my personal trainer, Greg Pye, with me. He often comes with me during the week so he can train me in the morning and evening. It’s critical that I’m always at my best, so I give myself the best possible start to the day.
7.30am: I’ve recently released my first book, a business communications book called The Jelly Effect. This morning I’m being interviewed on the radio about it – it’s the UK’s best-selling new business book this year, so it does involve me doing a lot of radio and press interviews.
8am: Because my day is so full, all my client calls are diarised. My first one today is with a large bank to discuss how we can help their sales team win more global accounts.
9am: A crucial morning starts now as I’m working with a team on writing and delivering a £300m sales pitch. If they win it, it will change their business beyond recognition. They are one of six and our work has got them down to the final two . . . exciting time.
Noon: I make a quick call into our offices in the Corn Exchange, on Fenwick Street, to speak to my PA, Liz. She is setting up an important meeting for me with the sales director of a large pharmaceutical company. I also speak to Sarah in the marketing team, to check on the progress of the book on Amazon’s best-sellers list.
12.30pm: I’m back to working on this sales pitch. While I finalise the content side of things, the company’s new trainer, Keith Warren, shows the team how to deliver the pitch with charisma, energy and impact.
2.30pm: I speak to our in-house designer, Tony, about the look and content of the sales pitch presentation slides – he has only 48 hours to turn it around. Our line of work always involves tight deadlines.
4pm: I’m picked up by a taxi motorbike and taken to my next meeting with another client to discuss some problems they are having with their internal communications. Staff are not engaging with the new CEO’s vision, and we are looking at ways to clarify the message in order to get buy-in.
6pm: I board the train from Euston to Liverpool for the journey home. Users of my website receive regular emailed newsletters with useful tips on how to improve their business communication, so while I make the trip back up north, I write my latest handy hints – how to avoid death by Powerpoint.
7pm: The managing director of Andy Bounds Ltd, Emma (my fiancée), is busy getting ready to franchise the business in 2008, so I carry on working on the training manual in preparation.
8.30pm: A car takes me back home to West Kirby.
9pm: I spend the evening relaxing with Emma. We’re currently renovating our house, so it’s a bit of a tip at the moment, but we’re getting there.
11pm: I have to be up at 5.30am to catch a flight to Edinburgh to work with one of our key clients. It’s time for bed.
