If you’re writing an action-drama novel, and you need a great storyline, you might look to the fascinating life of Roger Vertannes for inspiration.
Growing up the youngest of 10 kids, Roger learnt that if you want brand new football boots, you’ll have to work for them… and so at the tender age of 12, he joined the family business.
Since then, his journey has been full of adventure: wheeling and dealing in the Middle East; starting up a national franchise in the UK; immigrating to Australia and reinventing himself as a business broker. Now, he’s in demand advising other business leaders, through his work as a Certified EOS Implementer™️ at Leadership Counts – using a unique set of tools called the ‘Entrepreneurial Operating System’. In our interview, Roger opens up about some of the toughest lessons he’s learnt in business; what happens when you don’t watch your balance sheet; and the great rewards that come when you know your values – and run your business by them.
Key Moments in This Episode
03:22– The youngest of 10 kids, Roger starts learning about business as a 12-year-old.
07:22 – At 17, Roger joins the family export trade, and finds his niche in the Middle East.
11:55 – A crushing blow in the family business leads to some serious soul-searching.
16:24 – With his brother, Roger starts a business that changes the face of sports education.
22:58 – ‘Team Elite’ is a roaring success – until they hit cash-flow issues.
27:10 – A plan begins to form: shape up, sell up – and leave the country!
29:00 – Roger immigrates, with a mix of “What the hell am I doing?”, and a deep a sense of ‘calling’.
31:20 – Landing in Australia, Roger is confronted by a lot of closed doors.
33:30 – A famous cricketing family gives Roger his first break.
37:31 – Roger explains EOS – the ‘Entrepreneurial Operating System’.
41:48 – Advice for business people who are feeling ‘stuck’.
43:34 – The struggle is real: balancing business life and family life.
Books & Resources Mentioned
- Drive by Daniel Pink – Find it
- Traction by Gino Wickman – Find it
- Good to Great by James C. Collins – Find it
- Free Downloadable EOS Tools – eosworldwide.com
Learn More
- Connect with Roger Vertannes on Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogervertannes/
- More about Leadership Counts – https://leadershipcounts.com.au/
- Explore all episodes – https://theonlineco.net/podcast/#podcasts
