S2, Ep3 – In conversation with Alpesh Patel
7 October 2022
Life & Smile The Podcast brings together business, lifestyle, dentistry and much more. In our second season we wanted to explore the business world in-depth with exclusive first-hand accounts of what success means and how key industry figures achieved it from the ground up.
As an Entrepreneurial Business leader with 20+ years of experience in managing professional services where discretion is key, Alpesh Patel has built his career to an international level of success.
Renowned for inspiring others, Dr Reena now turns the tables with a unique opportunity to find out what inspires Alpesh himself, with a flashback on his life so far. Celebrated for strategy development and execution, through to attracting and recruiting high profile talent to grow and establish market leading companies, during this conversation on Harley Street we are rewinding back to where it all began.
Conversation Show Notes – The Recap
The conversation began on Harley Street, delving into Alpesh’s early life experiences, particularly the profound impact of losing his father. This pivotal moment shaped Alpesh’s mindset, driving him to avoid finding himself in a similar position in the future. He recognises that immense success can often come at the cost of one’s health and well-being.
At the start of his career, Alpesh chose to enter the corporate world rather than immediately launch his own business. For him, this seemed like the more relaxed option. However, once he immersed himself in the industry, he quickly realised that he had always been destined to be the ambitious entrepreneur he had become. He shared with Reena that his father’s illness acted as the initial trigger, and his drive stemmed from a desire to do something different. Ultimately, it gave him a larger platform to pursue his true ambitions.
Describing his academic journey as “pretty average,” Alpesh opted to join a boutique corporate firm rather than compete for a role in a larger organisation. This experience taught him how to compete, overcome bigger firms, and acquire the valuable skill of managing multiple tasks. From there, Alpesh was headhunted by a global accounting firm, where it became evident early on that he would never fit their conventional pathway. His entrepreneurial mindset set him apart from the standard approach.
As Alpesh built a global career and operated at the board level, he oversaw impactful business expansions across regions, including Germany, the Middle East, and India. Dr Reena shifted the conversation to his greatest milestones. For Alpesh, these began with becoming the youngest equity partner—a goal he had relentlessly pursued. He had aimed to achieve this not in five or ten years, but within two years, a feat that set him apart not only as the youngest, but also as the first Asian partner at his firm.
The second significant milestone was transitioning from an individual who knew how to generate revenue (and contributed significantly to his firm’s profits) to someone capable of leading and managing people.
When asked if there was anything he would have done differently, Alpesh discussed how he made his mark by driving change, without being overly concerned about the consequences. He surrounded himself with exceptional individuals who were brilliant at what they did. Alpesh’s approach was fast-paced, results-driven, and set a high standard—being average was simply not acceptable. He naturally gravitated toward selecting high performers, which some found intimidating, but it was integral to his success.
Dr Reena then turned the discussion to mentors and coaches, inquiring about the guidance Alpesh had sought throughout his career. He explained that the first step was identifying what he called “Beacons of Excellence”—individuals with skills or traits he aspired to possess. The next step was honing those skills, where coaches and mentors came into play. Alpesh noted that many high-level professionals struggle to accept change, so adapting to and thriving through change became a key focus of his professional development. He shared with Dr Reena how he trained with top-tier coaches to ensure he could perform at the highest level in the international business arena.
When the topic of networking arose, Alpesh emphasised its critical importance in building his career, treating his network as both assets and liabilities. Dr Reena added that the people you surround yourself with, especially your core group, have a profound impact on your success.
Dr Reena then asked Alpesh about his top priorities when starting a new business. Alpesh acknowledged that while it may seem easy to list three essential steps, the reality is that every business is unique, with different challenges and individuals involved. The key approach, however, is to first define the end goal and then work backwards to develop the strategy for achieving it.
On the subject of retirement, Alpesh admitted that it was initially a daunting transition. Going from a high-profile role, where people constantly required his time, to a quieter lifestyle was a drastic shift. To cope with this, Alpesh redefined productive time. Now, it involves doing things for himself and his family—whether that’s traveling to Thailand or taking a golf lesson. Conversely, unproductive time post-retirement is simply working without the need for constant engagement, though he still ensures intellectual stimulation when necessary.
Although officially retired, Alpesh continues to run businesses, but now only when he has downtime, like during car rides to the airport—often all through his iPhone. He’s reached a point where he has designed a lifestyle that allows him to make the most of his time and enjoy the rewards of his impressive career.
Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas
Success, When Taken Too Far, Can Leave You Empty: Achieving success at all costs can sometimes prevent you from truly reaping its rewards. It’s important to find balance.
Success Through Others: Learning to help others succeed and celebrating their achievements is a different kind of success. It’s less tangible, but often more fulfilling.
The Power of the Team: The strength of a team goes beyond the individual who scores the goal. Remember, it’s a collective effort that makes success possible.
The Power of a Non-Traditional Background: Coming from a place where high performance isn’t expected can fuel your drive to achieve things that may not seem within your natural scope.
Staying True to Your Values and Culture: If you compromise on your core values and culture, you risk losing them entirely.
The Desire to Learn is Key: You must first have the desire to learn in order to truly absorb new knowledge and grow.
Personal Trust Creates Business Opportunities: Building trust at a personal level can unlock doors and opportunities in the business world.
Network Maintenance is Crucial: Regularly assess and curate your network to align with your goals and evolving needs. This may mean making annual adjustments.
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