G’day, I’m Darren Finkelstein, and I’ve been known as ‘The Accountability Guy’ for a while now. It sits well with me being known for something as crucial for businesses as that. Besides, I’m proud that I can make a big difference in both your business and your private life, just by being held to account.
I’m an Accountability Coach, Business Advisor and Presenter that delivers measurable results to high-performing individuals and teams.
I’ve been well-credentialed throughout my entrepreneurial journey, which is filled with high achievement and great success. Additionally, with over 30-years of experience in both the corporate world and in small business, I bring solid skills and an informed perspective that confirms – I walk the talk.
When working with high-performing entrepreneurial business owners, executives and teams, I ensure full accountability, so they meet obligations, goals, promises and commitments they have made to others and to themselves. This is critical when building successful businesses. Being passionate, energetic and focused. A leader who is accountable and driven, this is my life’s journey, that’s how I roll and that’s how I play. Furthermore, I also have a proven track record in both large corporate, big and small businesses which demonstrates that I deliver across all sizes and shapes of business.
For 10-years, I also worked for Apple as ‘Manager of Commercial Markets’ under the inspirational leadership of Steve Jobs. During my time there, I won the prestigious ‘Golden Apple Award’ for the Asia-Pacific region. I regularly hosted senior executives and VIP’s from Australian business to visit the Apple HQ in Cupertino, California, for technology tours and meetings with the Apple Executive team. What an amazing experience for the high-school dropout from suburban Doncaster, to play on the biggest tech stage right in the heart of Silicon Valley. I often pinch myself to see if I was dreaming.
So, after 10-years of incredible experiences and beautiful learnings from my time at Apple, along with a few battle scars (I was a genuine corporate escapee). I needed change, an actual ‘sea change’, which had always appealed to me. So, that is what I did!
With a business partner, we created a boutique and entrepreneurial ‘lifestyle business’ in the marine industry. Our business started small, and then we snowballed to meet the needs of the market. My business partner Andrew and I successfully sold the business and exited some 15-years later.
My next challenge was as Marina Manager and Ambassador for Wyndham Harbour. This was a new residential, marina and harbour development for about 1,500 people (kids, dogs and boats) located on the north-western shores of Port Phillip in Melbourne’s west.
Along the way, I have also written three award-winning bestselling books on boating, family and lifestyle. During this time, I developed ‘The Boat Guy’ as a brand and became ambassador and industry expert, regularly presenting at Boat Shows and industry events. My first book title ‘Honey, Let’s Buy A Boat! went Top 5 on iTunes. I built a strong community on social media, a growing media profile which is also widely respected within many entrepreneurial circles, where I’m known as the guy who constantly innovates, who doesn’t stand still and who
“Gets Sh!t Done”.
Naturally, this works for me. It’s what I do and I’m very happy indeed to own it.
Also, I’m a seasoned presenter with radio 3AW where I present the ‘Beach and Bay reports’ over summer, which I’ve done professionally since 2014. Furthermore, I love the challenge of live radio, and this aligns well with my passion for the outdoors, lifestyle and the ocean. If truth be known, I’m a wanna-be pro surfer with very little ability, but that’s never stopped me.
I then graduated from Dent Global ‘Key Person Of Influence’ entrepreneurial accelerator program back in 2012, where I was the first back-to-back winner of the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award for Australia.
Enough about me, let’s create your story too!
Being ‘The Accountability Guy’ naturally, I’m focused on making a business work by eliminating any hindrances or distractions standing in the way of reaching the goals that have been set.
I am confident that with my knowledge, experience and with the support of my community/mentors, I will make the business succeed. I exude confidence in everything I do.
As an entrepreneur, I realise that every circumstance, event and situation are potential business opportunities. This means my ideas constantly flow about workflows and efficiency, people skills, product eco-systems and potential new business opportunities. And finally, I can also look at everything around me and focus it towards my goals.
First of all, if something needs to be done, I get in and start it myself, because there is no better time than the present to ‘just do it’. I also set clear parameters and make sure that projects follow that path. Being that I am proactive and intuitive, I do not like waiting for someone to give me permission, so I prefer to ask for forgiveness rather than permission.
I have formed businesses where I can see a growing opportunity to do it better. Tick Those Boxes is a perfect example of where there is plenty of ‘Business Coaches’ in the market, however, rarely do they focus on actual ‘Accountability’. This is why I work with clients of business coaches, to also offer hands-on implementation of what’s been agreed to between the client and their coach.
I formed Tick Those Boxes because I know that with my knowledge, experience, and energy I can do a better job of solving a client’s real problem, thereby making a quantifiable difference to them by simply delivering a much better outcome rather than the others. Finally, I’m also incredibly competitive and I respect my competition knowing their role is to largely keep me accountable, so that makes me better.
I’m really good at being able to make connections between seemingly unrelated events or situations. I do so in a creative and commercially focussed manner. Also, as an entrepreneur, I often come up with solutions which are the synthesis of other items. Furthermore, I’ve been known to repurpose products to market them to new industries and new clients.
I look at defeat as an opportunity for success and as a learning experience. I am determined to make all of my endeavours succeed, so I will try and try again until it does. As a successful entrepreneur, I do not believe that something cannot be done or at least I’ll try so many times, that every opportunity is explored and/or exhausted.
I understand the importance of people, they are an asset in any business. Consequently, I have strong communication skills, I like to sell the product and motivate employees and others as we work together as a team toward a common goal. Knowing how to motivate my employees, so the business grows overall. I am great at highlighting the benefits of any situation and naturally coaching others to their success.
I lead from the front. As a successful entrepreneur, I will often be the first person to arrive at the office and the last one to leave. I will come in on my days off to make sure that an outcome meets (or exceeds) expectations. My mind is constantly focussed on delivering products to fix customer problems.
Passion & Energy is one of the most important traits that I possess. With a genuine love for my work and my why I’m willing to put in those extra hours to make the business succeed because I just love what I do which goes beyond the money. I’m constantly reading and researching ways to make the business better.
I’ve worked in both BIG business(Apple) and as an entrepreneur in my own right.
Having built several of my own entrepreneurial businesses throughout my working life. Largely in the service and lifestyle industries, we have also acquired businesses as part of a strategy to achieve growth and market share.
We have also started businesses to see ‘how it goes’… We’ve built a great reputation supported by a strong business model. Furthermore, we got the annual turnover to $5m+ and some 15 years later, my business partner and I successfully sold the business and exited. So I know what you’re going through, I’ve walked in your footsteps, have been a ‘solopreneur’ and I know the roller-coaster journey ahead of you all too well.
Download your copy of Darren’s resume
– Darren Finkelstein Resume 01112019
– RADIO 3AW ~ MACQUARIE MEDIA
– LIFE’S BETTER WITH A BOAT
– MIRVAC
– ALL ABOUT BOATS for Ch7 and Foxtel
– DENT GLOBAL ~ Key Person of Influence
I was the 2019 Entrepreneur-in-residence and Ambassador for CoWork Me in St Kilda. CoWork Me is a southside coworking hub and business incubator in St Kilda, opening up spaces for new and seasoned professionals to do their best work.
“For our members, Darren runs regular learning sessions, he hosts great ‘lunch and learn’ events in which he brings in subject matter expert speakers and he shares all of his knowledge and experiences with our members and this greatly assists their businesses to grow and prosper”, said Rob Materia, General Manager.
– WYNDHAM HARBOUR
– ST KILDA BOAT SALES & SERVICE CENTRE
– APPLE
Current
Past
HOPE - IS NOT A STRATEGY
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Darren is the best and came very highly recommended by several others from within the Dent Global 'Key Person of Influence' entrepreneurial community. I wanted to work with somebody who was going to keep me accountable and who did the program. Because of Darren's own career success, I knew I needed to work with him and it's been incredible, several weeks already and I'm literally ticking those boxes and getting things done as I've shared with you today. He offers great value, he is easy to talk with, cares about you and is direct which is what I love and need and most importantly he listens to you! The weekly accountability is what makes such a difference and because you are a fire starter and can Get Sh*t Done it would be easier. Darren just has the right advice to give and he's great to bounce ideas and get clarity and confirmation on what needs to be done.
When I think about Getting Stuff Done, I think about Darren Finkelstein. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Darren over the past 6 years. During that time, I’ve seen him get more done than many do in a lifetime. He’s become a bestselling author, with three books to his name, a sought-after expert in the media and is a successful entrepreneur. He’s smart, action-oriented and easy to get along with. Darren has been of significant help to me personally and is one of my ‘inner-circle’ of trusted, go-to experts when it comes to business. When I need to make things happen, I talk to Darren.
Darren has a take-no-prisoners approach to getting stuff done. He's achieved so much in his own businesses for years (like, who writes three books in a row whilst running a business?!). So, if you're a frustrated business owner who feels like you could be ticking more boxes, your next step is to get Darren on your side.
