I prefer to be quite thorough in developing an idea, so I usually return to the concept and revise it several times over before I feel comfortable implementing it in any way.
As the managing director of Synergy Financial Services, Darren Pawski is in charge of overseeing all aspects of the firm’s operations relating to finance and mortgage services. In keeping with the vision of the boutique financial services firm, Darren is responsible for ensuring the company’s clients are able to benefit from a highly individualized approach to their finances that considers the many unique factors capable of influencing the results a short- and long-term financial plan is able to yield.
Darren is a graduate of Deakin University, where he earned his Diploma of Financial Planning before going on to secure his Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking from Kaplan. A longtime advocate of continuing education, Darren is currently enrolled at Edith Cowan University and is working on completing a Master of Finance and Banking.
With almost 30 years of professional experience in the finance industry, Darren is able to draw on a number of previous roles in which he has served in senior leadership positions with some of the most widely recognized financial firms in Perth and the surrounding area, including Commonwealth Bank. Darren has also been recognized for his exceptional contributions to the independent financial planning sector, earning honors as Member of the Year from the Association of Independently Owned Financial Planners.
Where did the idea for Synergy Financial services come from?
I felt that this was an industry in which my experience and expertise could do a great deal of good for a wide range of people in need of assistance with their financial strategies.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I have a hard-working staff in place that ensures my time is used as efficiently as possible each and every day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I prefer to be quite thorough in developing an idea, so I usually return to the concept and revise it several times over before I feel comfortable implementing it in any way.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
There appears to be a greater public awareness regarding the importance of putting a long-term financial plan in place.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I realized long ago that I am not capable of doing absolutely everything and I am certainly not able to be in more than one place at the same time, so I’ve always emphasized the importance of assembling a talented team of professionals.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
My worst job was hauling wheelbarrows full of stone for a mason.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I would have been more aggressive during the initial hiring process and would have sought to assemble a larger staff right from the outset.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Always keep tabs on what is happening elsewhere in the industry and make every effort to be the innovative force rather than the one reacting to the innovation of others.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
Investing in human resources has been our best strategy by a wide margin.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I tried to keep one of my ventures on a budget that was just too lean to enable an appropriate level of growth, and I believe I missed out on an outstanding opportunity as a result.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Anything that addresses the need for a greater degree of specificity in the financial services industry ought to do quite well.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I recently started working with a swing coach with the goal of vastly improving my golf game.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
I mostly use the traditional software and web services associated with the finance industry, but I have had our tech personnel tailor it to my specific needs.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
“Unmarketing,” by Scott Stratten. It’s basically about the need for professionals in every industry to focus more on client engagement in addition to utilizing traditional marketing techniques.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
Simon Sinek’s books have really helped me develop a better understanding of how to become a better leader in every circumstance.