Steve Flory of Hudson Signs

A group of entrepreneurs and business leaders have teamed up with the Eastern Enterprise Hub as “Enterprise Superstars”, to encourage more people around the region to consider running a business of their own. In the first of an occasional series of Question & Answer profiles of the “superstars”, the spotlight falls on Steve Flory of Hudson Signs.

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When you were a child, what did you want to be?

My childhood was heavily influenced by television, it was new then! I remember two things that happened, broadcast to the world via the BBC, that shaped what I wanted to be. In 1966 I watched Geoff Hurst score a hat trick for England in the World Cup final; three years later I watched Neil Armstrong take his first steps on the Moon. At that time and even to this day, a footballer or an astronaut would be what I wanted to be!

What is your greatest business success; the thing you are most proud of achieving?

I left a job with Willis Group in 1996; they were then and are to this day a fantastic company and in many ways I regret leaving, but I believe my proudest achievement was the day I managed to pay myself a salary from a business that I had set up.

What is the most important business lesson you have learnt?

There are many lessons you learn along the way and I certainly haven’t stopped yet. One of the most important is written on the office wall: It’s not how many times you get knocked down, it’s how many times you get back up.

Who is your greatest inspiration and why?

I am inspired every day by people who overcome adversity and make things happen. Individually, my business partner has helped me a great deal through our various ventures and I will always be grateful to him for his advice, guidance and support

Why have you become an enterprise superstar?

The country, indeed probably the world, isn’t in great shape economically. I believe the way we will make it easier is to stand up and make things happen. Anyone that we can influence or help along the way, who makes something, employs someone, sells something, exports something or just stands up to be counted will eventually help get the country back on its feet again. It’s everyone’s responsibility and anything we can do through the Eastern Enterprise Hub must be worthwhile.

What single piece of advice would you give to someone starting out in business?

Never give up and always remember that, somewhere, there is a solution to the problem, if you haven’t found it yet you possibly haven’t looked hard enough!

What piece of music do you listen to when you need some motivation?

My favourite track is an old one now! David Gray - Babylon. In general I wouldn’t use music to motivate myself, but whenever I have been lucky enough to visit somewhere inspiring in the world I always take a few minutes out and play myself that song.

What keeps you awake at night?

I have a fortunate metabolism and I rarely wake, but if I do spark off on that 4 o’clock in the morning moment I write it down and promise myself to deal with it in the morning. When I wake I can rarely decipher the handwriting and most times when I can I look at it and think “What did I worry about that for”.

If you were Prime Minister for a day, what would you do?

I would immediately implement two changes to the school curriculum. Firstly, a lesson a day teaching life skills: how does a house mortgage work, how to apply for a loan and what implications borrowing money actually has, what is a credit score and how is affected, how do I apply for a job, what are our responsibilities as a parent? Too many children leave school without a knowledge of what will affect them the very first day they step out into the Big Wide World. We could make that transition a lot easier if we concentrated on a few more practical facts. Secondly, a lesson a day of some form of physical activity, whatever the children may want it to be, even if it is walking round the school field for half and hour (and it doesn’t matter if its raining!)

What was the last book you really enjoyed and why?

I have a huge admission here; books are not really my thing. I can normally guarantee that reading half a page will solve any problem of keeping awake at night! So I will take the liberty to change it to the last film I saw which would have been The King’s Speech; never again will I worry about speaking in public when someone can overcome an impediment and speak to a nation at the outbreak of war.

What is the best thing about

doing business in Suffolk?

People in Suffolk are great. I am sure every county says that and every county is probably correct! But, I have always enjoyed doing my work here; there are many great people with some fantastic ideas and very successful businesses. Long may it continue.

When you’re not at work how do you relax?

I follow Ipswich Town FC, which at times relaxes me; I play tennis, visit the gym as often as I can and try to enjoy my life to the best of my ability. I always try to have a challenge lined up; we have been to the arctic to build an igloo, climbed Kilimanjaro earlier this year with my good friend Leslie Dolphin of Radio Suffolk fame and many others, trekked to Everest base camp and have now announced the latest expedition of buying a £500 car and driving it back to Mount Olympus in Greece at the end of the 2012 Olympics. Volunteers very welcome!

If you were in the den, what new idea would you pitch to the dragons?

I have harboured a notion that every house should have a flood alarm, similar to a fire alarm that sounds of when a water leak from a kitchen appliance or a burst pipe threatens to cause a house flood. I have had friends who have come down in the morning to a deluge of water sitting in the downstairs rooms. So the alarm sits under the kick boards in a kitchen and sounds when it comes into contact with water. A very good friend of mine owns a plastic injection moulding company and one day I will persuade him to make me a prototype!

All the Enterprise Superstars are available to speak to audiences around the region; to book, call 01473 527100 or visit www.eehub.co.uk .