Do Accountability Partners Work?
Do Accountability Partners Work? Working with accountability partner to achieve your goals can seem like a new concept and most
The Accountability Guy™
Nice shirt,
but who is this bloke Darren Finkelstein?
Accountability Coach, Advisor, Mentor and Presenter also known as The Accountability Guy™
About Me
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, Advisor, Mentor 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.
Working with others
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. I’ve got a full playbook to share, we’ll implement and execute to ensure we meet the outcomes set. 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.
Working with others
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.
Moving on from Apple,
I got my sea change
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!
Successful Entrepreneur
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.
Marina Manager and Ambassador
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.
Award-Winning, Bestselling Author
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.
Radio
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.
Entrepreneur of the Year
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!
My Skills & Experience
Skill Set, Here's what I bring to the table
1. Disciplined
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.
2. Confidence
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.
3. Open-Minded
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.
4. Self Starter
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.
5. Competitive
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.
6. Creativity
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.
7. Determination
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.
8. Strong people skills
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.
9. Strong work ethic
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.
10. Passion & Energy
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.
11. Been There, Done That
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.
Recognised in the following areas:
- Strong Listener
- Positive Attitude
- Energetic and passionate
- Highly Accountable
- Takes the initiative
- Excellent Communicator
- Media Experienced (TV, Radio, Podcast & Newspaper/EDM)
- Author – bestselling, award winner
- Teamwork Centric
- Willingness to learn
- Proficient financial knowledge
- Thinking skills (problem-solving and decision making)
- Resilience
- Strong leadership
- Sales and results-focused
- Channel and reseller management & distribution
- Sales management (sales funnel and process)
- Customer focussed
- Customer experience driven – Net Promoter Score (NPS)
- Proficient marketer – above and below the line, eCommerce, and social media
- Emergency Management Plans and OH&S
- Tourism, and competing in an overcrowded market
- Stakeholder & investor liaison, reporting and engagement.
- Business Collaboration
- Partnership Management
- Business initiation, establishment and turnaround
My Resume
Download your copy of Darren’s resume
– Darren Finkelstein Resume 01112019
Accountability Coach, Advisor & Mentor (2019 - present)
– TICK THOSE BOXES AUSTRALIA
Over the 12-month period 1/2/19 to 30/1/20 amazing results were achieved:
Key achievements
- Working with me increases my clients’ probability of achieving their goals, promises and commitments made to others and to themselves by a whopping 95% when following my one-on-one programs and sessions.
- I also work with a number of business coaches to offer their clients direct hands-on implementation of their strategies and actions.
Over the 12-month period 1/2/19 to 30/1/20 amazing results were achieved:
- 91 x One-On-One Sessions with clients
- 169 x ‘Weekly Check-Ins’
- 1,225 x Goals/Actions/Tasks created by my clients during our sessions
- 1,189 x Goals/Actions/Tasks completed by my clients
- 97.1% – Client success rate
- 97.8 – Client Satisfaction Score
Get started today!
- Completing my sessions gives you; increased sales and higher profitability which means you make more money $
- Implement processes and strategy to solve real problems that give weekends back to my clients, so they can spend quality time with those that are important.
- Create outcomes which enable my clients to meet obligations, promises and commitments to others and also to themselves.
- And finally, enjoy an ongoing partnership and collaboration with ‘Entrepreneurial Futurist’ Andrew Griffiths, to deliver world-leading programs, sessions and workshops for entrepreneurs worldwide.
Radio Presenter, Author & Speaker (2012 - present)
– RADIO 3AW ~ MACQUARIE MEDIA
– LIFE’S BETTER WITH A BOAT
– MIRVAC
– ALL ABOUT BOATS for Ch7 and Foxtel
– DENT GLOBAL ~ Key Person of Influence
Key achievements
Radio
- Radio Station 3AW’s ‘The Boat Guy’ presenting live Beach and Bay reports each summer (December to March) with a listening audience of 400,000+ each day.
- Clicked over 500+ radio segments on Radio 3AW (693AM or DAB+) since I commenced in on-air in 2014, and still going strong today.
Author
- Author of 3 x boating and lifestyle books:
– Honey, let’s buy a BOAT! (2012) *
– Honey, let’s go BOATING! (2014)
– and Honey, let’s sell the BOAT! (2016)
* iTunes Top 5 bestseller and industry award-winning title.
TV
- On-screen presenter and Boating Ambassador for ‘Life’s Better With A Boat’ for the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV)
- On-Screen Presenter for TV series: ‘All About Boats’ screened on Foxtel and Ch7 Mate
Speaker
- Regular Melbourne Boat Show speaker/presenter on super stage.
- Boating Ambassador for Mirvac. Objective to engage a residential community on the banks of the Yarra River, to the joys of boat ownership.
- International Case Study for Dent Global the ‘Key Person of Influence’ entrepreneurial program.
- Highly acclaimed speaker & presenter at Dent Global’s Brand Accelerator events held in: Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Singapore
Entrepreneur-In-Residence & Ambassador (2019)
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.
Marina Manager & Ambassador (2014 - 2018)
– WYNDHAM HARBOUR
Key Achievements
Management
- 4-year association with Wyndham Harbour (a residential and marina development that opened in 2015)
- Marina Manager (last 2-years) responsible for marina’s entire operations covering 150-berths and associated infrastructure
- 4-star Industry Accreditation
- Built (recruited and trained) a strong marina team to deliver a ‘great customer experience’ in a safe environment
- Set up three restaurants with the development team
- Built and commissioned a fully automated, unattended, vessel fuel dock open 24/7, the first established in an Australian marina without services connection to water or electricity
- Established a net promoter score (NPS) customer engagement program for all marina visitors, now achieving a top-quartile 52 score
Marketing
- Marketing Ambassador encouraging non-boaties to consider boat ownership at Wyndham Harbour. Introduced the ‘Discover Sailing’ program to Alamanda College for children of the west aged 8-16. Sailing is now an elective subject, part of the educational curriculum.
- Marina ‘boating ambassador’ (responsible for the marina’s brand establishment, community engagement and also marketing campaigns)
- The comprehensive marketing program for the 2018/19 season resulting in the achievement of growth targets, brand awareness, and marina occupancy
Environment & Regulations
- Clean Marina Certification
- Created industry best practice ‘Marina Emergency Management Plan’ commended by CFA and WorkSafe
Finance & Technology
- Also responsible for a $1m operating budget with full reporting to the Board of Management and Shareholders
- Implemented eCommerce solutions integrated into the remodelled CRM program managing all aspects of the customer onboarding and touchpoints
Dealer Principal & Co-Founder (2002 - 2017)
– ST KILDA BOAT SALES & SERVICE CENTRE
Key achievements
- Self-employed, small business owner
- Creator and founder of boutique industry accredited boat broker, service and repair centre and new boat dealership called: St Kilda Boat Sales and Service Centre. Also, Based at the iconic St Kilda Marina, Victoria Australia.
- We created a product ecosystem where our ‘active money tree’ system that identified many new, innovative revenue streams that focused on customer solutions and delivering new service opportunities.
- Sold 500+ vessels over 15 years of operation, valued at over $45m
- We also employed a team of sales and administration staff to support sales program.
Our Services
- We opened the Service Centre in 2003 to complement the boat sales business.
- Serviced & repaired over 300 boats per year. Managed slipway, chandlery, fuel sales and service facility at St Kilda Marina with an annual turnover of $1m+.
- Service, repair and maintained some of Victoria’s most impressive and expensive vessels.
- Client base included the full spectrum of the community – BRW rich list, retirees, self-employed and tradespeople, all wanting to enjoy a boating lifestyle.
- 2016 saw the opening of a second boat sales office at Wyndham Harbour marina
Advertising
- Advertised nationally, first industry broker to use video in sales process & website (an industry-standard today)
- Established YouTube channel (450,000 views), LinkedIn (4,300 connections) Facebook (2,000 friends) and Twitter (2,000 followers).
Representative
- Elected by industry peers to represent as a Director and Board member of The Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV) from the 2008-2015 operator of the Melbourne Boat Show
- Chaired the BIAV team to create an ‘industry dealer accreditation program’ for Victorian boat dealers. Approved by ACCC and still running today.
Moving forward
- Finally, after 15 years of establishing and growing a successful and profitable business, the business was sold in 2017. My business partner and I both exited to seek new opportunities and go our own ways.
Manager Commercial Markets - Apple (1992 - 2002)
– APPLE
Key achievements
- Began as Major Account Executive responsible for Major Account Program (Fairfax, BHP, Telstra), Government, Global Account Program (News Limited, KPMG, Boston Consulting) for southern region VIC, SA, WA, and TAS
- Facility Manager for Apple Melbourne office for five years
- Media trained to respond to all press and media enquiries including; product and financial
- Represented Apple on the Victorian Premier (Jeff Kennett) multimedia taskforce and was a founding board member of the Interact Multimedia Festival for the state of Victoria.
- Escorted Australian VIP guests to Apple head office in Cupertino California for presentations and technology briefings on approx. 20 occasions. Special guests’ speakers from Apple head office included: Jony Ive, Phil Schiller, Fred Anderson & Jon Rubenstein.
- Part of the national roadshow team to launch the original iMac in 1998 to Australia audiences
- Keynote speaker for Apple at Pan Pacific Newspaper Association conference in New Zealand alongside CEO from Fairfax and CEO from News Limited
- Promoted to Manager Commercial Markets across the southern region. Areas of responsibility included: Apple Centre’s, All Resellers, Specialist Retail, and Department Stores, Major Accounts, Global Accounts and also Government.
- Won the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Asia Pacific region in 1998
Board & Advisory Appointments (current & past)
Current
- Baru Threads, Camberwell Vic (advisory)
- Nacre Consulting (advisory)
Past
- Coburns Distillery, Bowral NSW (advisory)
- Board Member and Director of Interact Multimedia Festival for the State Government of Victoria. Invited by former Premier of Victoria: Jeff Kennett, Chairman.
- Board Member and Director of Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV).
- Chairman of Boat Dealer Division of Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV).
- Director of www.BoatOnSale.com.au for Boating Industry Association of Australia (BIAA National Committee).
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