If you want to learn how to build a successful business, it pays to speak to someone who has seen hundreds of businesses fail.
James Stewart is an insolvency expert. Wait, don’t leave! He’s actually very interesting, and I’ve invited him on specifically for a few reasons.
Firstly, if you want to learn how to succeed in business, you need to know how and why businesses fail.
Secondly, James was a senior partner at KPMG, and they are in the business of selling their services for millions and millions of dollars. I wanted to know how they and he did that. Because at its core, copywriting is no different. It’s a service, and whether it’s a $500 blog or a $500,000 website, learning how to sell your services without selling yourself is a skill everyone needs to learn.
James Stewart has spent 40 years helping companies navigate their toughest moments. From major retail collapses to high-stakes turnarounds, James has seen exactly what works… and what doesn’t.
And the surprising part?
The lessons aren’t just for big corporates. They apply just as much to freelancers, creatives, and small business owners trying to grow something meaningful.
This conversation dives into the secrets of success from some of Australia's top corporate leaders: how to sell without selling, how to become more likeable so people want to do business with you, and how to cope with rejection and stay strong.
You’ll also learn how to:
- Play to your strengths and overcome your limitations
- Simplify and package up your offering so it’s easier for clients to understand and buy
- Solve a customer’s problem before you start selling your service
- Leverage the secrets of success from some of Australia’s top founders
- Set up your own self-employed business (from someone who’s just done it)
Bio:
James spent 26 years as a partner at Ferrier Hodgson, a boutique insolvency and turnaround firm serving as Chairman of partners and then negotiating the deal to sell the firm to KPMG in 2019.
At KPMG, James became the leader of the firm’s national turnaround and restructuring team, served on KPMG Australia’s Board, chaired the firm’s acquisition committee, and was the national consumer and retail leader.
With four decades of business experience, most of it in crisis management, James has taken the helm of companies facing existential threats, shifting competitor dynamics, and major market disruptions.
Names such as Dick Smith Electronics, Harris Scarfe, the Colorado Group, Topshop and Jeanswest were all his clients. Most recently James acted for Anna Bligh at the Australian Bankers Association, to solve the Armaguard crisis which threatened to disrupt the distribution of cash in Australia.
He has implemented complex turnaround strategies and has gained deep insights across diverse industry sectors. His extensive knowledge of the consumer and retail landscape sets him apart, and he is widely regarded as a respected thought leader and public commentator in the field.
James is now an independent senior commercial advisor, public speaker and host of the podcast What I learned in business (that didn’t kill me!).
Mentioned in this episode: