The ICEHOUSE, business growth centre, has launched the book Changing Gears: How to Take Your Kiwi Business From the Kitchen Table to the Board Room by David Irving, Darl Kolb, Deborah Shepherd & Christine Woods on Friday 8 October at the University of Auckland Business School.

The authors celebrated the book launch with colleagues from the University of Auckland Business School, Auckland University Press and The ICEHOUSE, as well as past participants of the award-winning ICE Bridge Owner Manager Programme.

Current and past participants of the Owner Manager Programme – Miranda Smith, Managing Director of Miranda Smith Homecare, and Bernie Crosby, CEO of Pro Life Foods Ltd – shared their first-hand experience as business owners including the challenges they face as owners, why they came to The ICEHOUSE and how the programme has made an impact on them, both as business owner and as an individual.

David Irving, who spoke on behalf of the authors, shared some insights from the book, including the key traits of owner-managers and why a programme that is dedicated to the growth and wellbeing of owner-managers is important to NZ economy.

From Monday 12 October, you can get your copy of Changing Gears from any major retail book stores, RRP $29.99.

PRESS RELEASE - 23 September 2009

At last, a practical guide to one of New Zealand’s biggest business problems. How can we grow our small to medium sized enterprises [SMEs] into world-class companies?

The ICEHOUSE co-founder David Irving has teamed up with colleagues from the University of Auckland Business School to produce Changing Gears, an insightful guide for SME owner-managers wanting to scale up their business.

In easy-to-read format, the book explains how owner-managers can tackle some of their biggest issues.

The book shows how to align skills, knowledge and company structures at each step along the path to growth.

It examines the interplay between the owner and his/her business and provides tips on how to manage each interlocking aspect of work and personal life.

It details how owner-managers can overcome loneliness, learn to delegate, set up high-performance teams, and look after their own health and wellbeing.

The authors draw inspiration from New Zealand owner-managers, the understated heroes of our economy.

David Irving says the SME segment of New Zealand’s economy is often overlooked.

“Yet the 2009 ANZ Privately-Owned Business Barometer shows the sector has a value several times the size of our publicly-listed markets and forms the engine room of our country’s future economic growth.”

Irving believes a high-performing SME sector could grow to represent 40% of GNP.

Changing Gears uses real-life New Zealand examples to show how this can be achieved.

It celebrates the vision and tenacity of New Zealand’s owner-managers and provides the tools for taking a small business from the kitchen table to the board room.

Bill Day, managing director of marine services company Seaworks, describes Changing Gears as the Kiwi entrepreneur’s handbook.

“It covers every aspect of growing your own business and even tells you what to eat for breakfast!

“I wish this book had been around when I was starting up because I would have made far fewer mistakes and eaten far better breakfasts.

“Get this book, highlight the parts that are most relevant to you, scribble all over it, make it your own and keep it in your top drawer as you will be dipping into it frequently.”

ENDS

Changing Gears is published by Auckland University Press.