Apply for a Pilot Seat | Benjamin Trengrove

Quick one to start

We don’t want to be strangers, what’s your name?

What’s the best email for you?

About you

Now, who are you in the business?

The business

What kind of business is it?

The business

Roughly how many people?

Where it hurts, the business

Where does it bite day-to-day? (pick any)

✓ Everything depends on one person, it can’t really run without them

✓ Nobody’s clear on who actually decides what

✓ It’s all in people’s heads, barely anything’s written down

✓ The day-to-day eats any time to work on the business

✓ Jobs & quotes leak time and money from quote to paid

✓ Something else, let me explain…

Where it hurts, your seat

And on the authority & family side? (pick any, or none)

✓ I carry the responsibility, but not the authority to change things

✓ My decisions get overruled, sometimes in front of the team

✓ I’m ready for more, but the handover’s stuck

✓ Still treated as “the kid”, respect hasn’t caught up with the role

✓ Nobody talks openly about ownership, money or my future here

✓ Old family history keeps bleeding into work decisions

✓ Something else, let me explain…

The other side of the table

Is the founder open to changing how things run?

Why now

What’s making you look into this now?

Readiness

Be honest, how ready are you to step up and lead?

There’s no wrong answer. It just tells me how to help.

Where it hurts, the business

Where does it bite for you day-to-day? (pick any)

✓ It all depends on me, the place can’t really run without me in it

✓ I can’t take a proper break without it wobbling

✓ It’s all in my head, barely anything’s written down

✓ I’m too buried in the day-to-day to work on it

✓ Growth has outpaced how we actually run

✓ Something else, let me explain…

Where it hurts, stepping back

And on the handover & family side? (pick any, or none)

✓ I can’t see how to step back without it falling over

✓ I’m not sure the next gen’s ready to carry it

✓ Worried they’ll change too much of what works

✓ No clear plan for ownership or succession

✓ Too much of the value is tied up in me

✓ Family tension about who does what, or what’s next

✓ Something else, let me explain…

The next generation

Is the next gen ready, and wanting, to take more on?

Why now

What’s prompting you to look at this now?

Readiness

Be honest, how ready are you to actually start handing things over?

There’s no wrong answer. It just tells me how to help.

Last bit

Last thing, a number to reach you on?

Mobile *

Business name & where you’re based

Anything else you want me to know? (optional)

I read every one myself. You’ll hear back within a couple of working days, from me, not an autoresponder.

Let’s see if it’s a fit.

Thanks, it’s with me.

Hold on, you’re nearly there.