Rory James MacLaren-Jackson, CEO

With a unique, confidently alternative business style, Rory has successfully developed businesses working in a variety of different industries. He set up his first property agency 'from scratch' in 2003 and then lettings training company Letting4Success in 2005. With a strong property, sales and marketing background, he is a vocal advocate of a high-profit, commercially-focused approach to business.

Rory has a particular flair for new start-ups and now advises others on the best strategies for successfully starting their businesses, running them effectively and keeping them profitable. He is a strong believer in the freedom and lifestyle that self-employment can provide, but also in the value to individuals and companies from applying the 'entrepreneurial mindset' within the employed sphere.

Personal Profile

Interview

What is your background?

I've had a strong interest in business, especially entrepreneurship, for as long as I can remember. Throughout my education, I was always finding ways to make extra money as well as getting experience from a range of different businesses through part-time jobs. Even then, I was actively taking notes and modelling both the businesses I was working for and the people in them.

After completing my degree, I studied Law at Post-Graduate level, but after that, I just couldn't contain my desire to run my own business any longer. After gaining experience working in a number of property, sales and marketing roles, I set up my first property agency Bloomsbury Residential in 2003.

Since then I have expanded my business portfolio, particularly in the area of training, which includes Letting4Success founded in 2005 to deliver the 'blueprint' of our own successful property agency to others looking to start up in the industry. In addition, I am a co-founder of business skills and services resource The Business Ladder and a practising life and business coach, both of which allow me to share my skills through training and coaching.

What is your most memorable experience / achievement?

Being fond of new challenges it's hard to choose one, but I guess that setting up my first lettings business in 2003 was the most memorable achievement. We were VERY young and it was fair to say it was the steepest learning curve imaginable. After all, there was no Letting4Success Business Package for us to follow - hence we wrote it 2 years later!

From renovating a dilapidated office to sleeping in that office, to the tough first year as the business builds up, the business hiccups and wondering at times whether it will all be worth it. But then you begin to turn the corner as the hard work pays off and the rest is history. Looking back, it was the best business experience I could have gained, and that's also why I'm so enthusiastic about sharing what I've learned with others.

What do you like about running your own business?

It has to be the flexbility that it brings to the process of doing business. I'm a very creative 'ideas' person in business, so to be able to implement those ideas rapidly and see the impact of them in a short timescale is an invaluable benefit. I also enjoy my directorial roles in overseeing my business operations as a whole, seeing how effective strategy can both generate new and develop existing business opportunities.

What's your tip or gem?

I think it follows on from my last answer in some ways, that as business develops in the 21st century, it is clear that the ability to adapt and keep your operation flexible will be more and more important to individual success. With rapid change in terms of consumer behaviour and information technology, you must ensure that your business and its personnel are attuned to such an environment and prepared to navigate it.

In this way, smaller businesses have an advantage in being able to move more quickly than larger operations in fulfilling a new need or adapting to a new trend, but that's not to say that bigger businesses can't instill such an approach with the correct training and mindset.

What do you do to have fun?

I'm quite keen on the 'Renaissance Man' concept and try where possible to indulge in as many rewarding activities as possible. After all, I am a coach so it's no surprise that I think this approach is also the key to personal development as well as happiness and wellbeing. I enjoy fitness training to quite a high level, martial arts and also play bass guitar. My other main passion is art and writing, which I'm fortunate enough to have been able to pursue successfully alongside my 'conventional' business career.

Meet The People Behind The Training

We know that training is very much a 'people' business so learn more below about the people that make it all happen.

Fabio Del Piero, Chairman