PETER SUCKLING, GENERATION HOMES

I’m a firm believer that you need someone who knows more than you do to guide you in the right direction when it comes to business. I was really keen for some fresh ideas and a sounding board, someone who would keep me honest but also have a perspective that was outside of the business. For me, that’s the value Zac provides.

Generation Homes Auckland North is the first business I’ve owned. I worked in multiple related roles — including carpentry, quantity surveying, off-plan sales and sales management — before I joined Generation. I bought into the business in 2015 and started working with Zac not long after.

Most businesses can do well in boom times — it’s how you get through market slowdowns that really matters. Since working with Zac we’ve moved into new markets, with a spread of products to better cater for the ups and downs of the new home industry. We feel like now whatever happens in the market we have it covered with our range of product, price and locations, thanks to being strategic about what we do. 

We cover everything with Zac, from HR issues to strategy. I find Zac’s flexible in his thinking and helps us change our course as things are thrown at us — he’s certainly not stuck in his ways. He brings out the answers you need: you intrinsically know what to do but he draws the answers out and clarifies them for you. And things definitely get done quicker if you have a mentor, knowing they’ll check in with you the next time you meet. He doesn’t crack the whip and he doesn’t need to — it’s not that sort of relationship — but he definitely provides and promotes accountability. 

I worked one-on-one with Zac for a year or two and then joined his high-performing client group TAP three years ago. The joined learned experiences of the TAP group, facilitated by Zac, have been incredible. You soon realise all businesses have the same issues to contend with: sales, staff and cashflow. Being a part of that group has given me so many priceless business insights and knowledge.

We have done his full-day strategic planning sessions for the past 2 years, taking along my senior team. I always get a huge benefit out of those days but it’s also a great way to upskill my team. When they are involved in the making the plan, they’re then on board to help achieve it.

Zac’s made me realise how important leadership is. I probably didn’t appreciate the impact those planning days could have on the team but it’s been huge. One of the things he says is, “Your team is always watching you” — and that’s a good thing to keep in the back of your mind. Always do what you say.

Zac introduced 30 / 60 / 90 day goals for me, which gave me the focus I really craved, making sure I was working on the important things and being crystal clear about what those were. In turn, we’ve rolled out those 30 / 60 / 90 day goals to the  whole team. The goals are not your usual day-to-day tasks — they’re about refining the business and constantly getting it better. It’s simple but powerful stuff.

He’s a really easy guy to get on with and an extremely positive character. It’s nice to have someone who’s enthusiastic about your wins because they know what’s it taken for you to get there.

Our work with Zac has meant we’re well positioned and structured for proper growth that’s both managed and planned. Now we’re proactive rather than reactive, which is a big turnaround. For us, working with Zac is a long-term growth plan — I’m absolutely confident that we will be far more successful in the future thanks to Zac’s help and involvement.