Learn how to market and sell. You can market or sell your way out of any challenge.
Rob Nixon has 22 years of experience as an advisor to accountants, with clients in over 30 countries. In his current role, Nixon is helping define and execute how PANALITIX’s cloud-based accounting solution software helps thousands of accountants improve their firm’s position across profit, capacity and growth through a connection with the ultimate accountant membership community. With a belief that accountants are the naturally trusted advisors to effective business through innovative technology, quality content and transformative methodology, Nixon empowers accountants to a position where they are able to exert a tremendous impact on their client’s conditions. With landmark strategies in use by over 16,000 clients in 30 countries and two bestselling books to his name, “Accounting Practices Don’t Add Up – why they don’t and what to do about it” and “Remaining Relevant – the future of the Accounting profession,” Nixon is the lead speaker at Firm of NOW, an international touring conference that delivers the latest research and thoughts on practical steps and necessary tools needed to create a leading accounting firm.
Where did the idea for PANALITIX come from?
After working in the accounting profession as an advisor for 20+ years, I understand the accounting profession marketplace extremely well. I noticed a rising tide where Cloud Accounting and Cloud Computing would make accounting firms more efficient and need fewer people. Or they could use the efficiency created to sell new clients or new services. Creating, efficiencies, marketing, selling & delivery of new services does not come naturally to accountants so we decided to build innovative technology that assisted them in upping their business capacities and performances.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
05:00 – Gym or bike ride
06:30 – 07:30 Clear emails great ready for the day
07:30 – 18:00 Work or travel
18:00 Family, bed, rinse & repeat
I make it productive with technology and with smart people around me. I am fast so I get things done quickly and I delegate as much as possible.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I read a lot. I listen. I seminar. I am always meeting interesting people and I write ideas down in my journal. From there I scope new ideas out, then get the right people around me who can implement the ideas.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
Artificial Intelligence
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Lifelong learner – always reading, listening, questioning.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
Being the General Manager of an accounting firm for 6 months. Terrible job. Learned the typical behaviors of accountants first hand.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
Raise money before I had any expenses.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Learn how to market and sell. You can market or sell your way out of any challenge.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
It’s my 3 point plan for growing any business: 1) Develop a brand that means something, 2) Build a very large database of target customers and 3) Use direct response marketing activity to get the database to respond.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
My business was being acquired in 2013 @ $20M valuation. After 12 months of talks, the deal fell over and I got very mad. I swore at the CEO of the other business and I told him it was the best thing he could have done as I will sell it back to him for $100M plus.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Someone needs to reinvent the Real Estate buying/selling model. The Realtors get paid too much for doing little. Surely we can research, buy direct and transact direct through and app / website The middleman needs to go.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
A good bottle of red wine. I get lots of ideas when I drink good red wine.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
Google everything. Works on everything and seamless.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
So many. It changes every month. I just read Elon Musk’ book by Ashlee Vance – Fascinating.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
Peter Diamandis
Jay Abraham
Jason Lemkin
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.