Part 3 - Interview the Founder of ODM Ltd

Part 3 - Interviewing the Founder

Following on from our last article, we are now publishing the next snippet of the interview with Simon Dawes.

We are now going to look at what helped, how it all came together and what happened next.

Who helped you?

"According to my Bank Manager and the appointed Chairman it was an impossible task! And they were very sceptical about the business plan. But I truly believed I had all the ingredients for a successful business.

So my wife to be, took on the wedding plans solo and left me to get my ducks in row; creating a business plan, Incorporating a company, , raising finance, appointing lawyers and accountants, finding and equipping an office, recruiting admin staff, opening bank accounts, setting up accounting/payroll functions and presenting and winning my first contract."

And it all came together?

"Yes, in no particular order and much assisted by Martyn Sanders and the future field management team, including Magdelene Taylor, both of whom are still with odm after 13 years! Things finally fell into place at the eleventh hour on the Friday evening before getting married.

So I turned up to the church in Warwickshire, said hello to Suzie whom I had not seen for 10 days, apologised for missing the rehearsal and promptly got married, had a one night honeymoon and opened the new office on Monday morning."

And then what?

"We hit the ground running and over achieved all targets in the subsequent year one. Client recommendations came in thick and fast and we grew the business at an exponential rate.

odm has gone on to grow from strength to strength having built a great reputation for our service, now employing a head office team of 24, Field Management of 23 and a sales force in excess of 200 staff.

Oh yes and I am still happily married to Suzie and have two wonderful kids, Jenna and Jonty."

So, did you know all of this? What are your thoughts so far?

Do you have a question you would like to ask? Please use the contact form on the right if so.

Next time we will release the part of the interview where Simon talks about - the bank managers feedback, the harder years and the highlights.

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For more information about us please see www.odmltd.com