How to get over 'stuff-ups' and improve your business

Erica Crawford. Photo / Supplied

Eight of the country's business leaders have come together to film a documentary about success, failure and how their companies have survived the recession, international expansion and general "stuff-ups".

The aim of the documentary, Stuff Ups, is to show businesses - old and new - that even successful companies have waded through gloomy periods, and all business professionals have at some point experienced severely challenging times.

"I make stuff-ups on a regular basis. If you're not making mistakes, you're not stretching yourself," Bizzone founder and chief executive Sarah Trotman said.

"A successful business takes decades in the making. There is no perfect road map to running a business. There are no overnight successes. It's challenging. It's important to have a holistic, a helicopter view of your business."

Trotman said significant opportunities had emerged for businesses after the recession, and many businesses were now aptly placed for growth because they had been forced to make considerable cost reductions over the past two years.

"The scar of the recession will be with business owners for some time, for some for years to come. My advice would be to stop and think about the business lessons you have learned.

"There have been some good lessons through the recession; people have become closer to their businesses.

"We are a nation of small businesses. [They are] the lifeblood of the New Zealand economy."

The documentary will be screened during Bizzone's expos this year and will feature business leaders, including South Pacific chief executive John Barnett, Harvey's Real Estate owner Ross Hunter, St Pierre's Sushi founder Nick Katsoulis, Trends Publishing founder David Johnson, Urgent Couriers founder Steve Bonnici and Kim Crawford Wines founder Erica Crawford.

Animation Research chief executive Ian Taylor said he almost closed his 3D animation and special effects company after a move into India "crashed and burned", costing him $1.5 million.

The company is known for developing real-time sports graphics.

"Yes, we made mistakes. But if you survive them, it's a turning point in your business.

'We never had a disaster until we went to India. Then we got shafted.

"It should be a warning for all companies moving into foreign territories. Our contract was thrown out. We were told it was watertight.

"At the time I thought it was a joke, then they said have you got 30 years because that's how long it will take to go to [an Indian] court," Taylor said.

It was important for the business community to talk about the pitfalls because the sense of failure could be isolating.

"There are so many people who want to share stories. I felt so alone. It would not be right to say I was suicidal, but I understand how people get there. I'd had this company for 20 years and I felt I had let them [employees] down.

"I felt dreadful. I thought 'I've buggered this up'.

"But two weeks after I almost shut the company down, things started to happen. We got Sky cricket. We're never out of the woods but we haven't been out of the woods for 20 years."

The firm survives and works with the America's Cup, the Louis Vuitton series and about 15 yachting events.