10 Q’s with Alfie Best

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Q. How do you think the industry can be improved as we move forward?

A. I think the industry can be improved massively. It has come a long way in the last 50 years and it has got a lot further to go. It’s through companies like us and through new associations like the Park Home and Holiday Park Association who are challenging how people perceive caravan parks and mobile home parks.

It’s changing the stereotypical perceptions of many and showing that the park home industry isn’t just about the caravan site. It is the solution to affordable housing. Companies like us, get a lot of criticism because tall trees catch a lot of wind. So it’s us that takes a lot of criticism from the public. I’ve got broad shoulders, I will continue lobbying for what I believe is right.

Q. What are the 3 most important principles you live by in terms of managaing your business?

A. It is that you must have a goal. And everybody within that business must share that goal. Everybody must understand the end goal. Because that gives everybody a solid purpose to work towards. That’s number 1. Number 2. Only have people around you that are committed to the business, not committed to you.

Thirdly, do what you love and make sure you love it. If you love it, you will not work. It will just be your glorified hobby.

Q. Can you tell us about one of the biggest challenges that you have faced in your career? What did you do to overcome it?

A. Biggest challenge that I ever faced was again, to stop myself going bankrupt. And I would say there’s not 1. There’s 3.

Second is, trying to balance your personal life with your business life. I can’t say that I’ve been particularly very good at that because all my life I have lived, ate and breathed whatever business that I’ve done. That has a profound effect on you. It has a profound effect on the people that are around you and it is often hard to find the right balance, but it is essential that you do.

Third principle would be, understanding how finance really works. Understanding how you can grow your business, that it is not about cash coming into the business. It’s a model of saving cash, investing cash and making sure that you’re borrowing money at the right figure that you can afford to pay back.

Q. What is the last thing you think about when you go to sleep and the first thing in the morning?

A. Can I improve on my goal of where I want to be. And how could I improve the systems that are in place on getting us to that goal. I also think of the people, and this is what goes through my mind basically on the nightly basis. I think about those around me and the people that are loyal to the cause, to the business. Because my job is to create a dream that they can share.

Q. Do you have any tips for start-up park operators?

A. If you’re starting a business, don’t be frightened. Be nervous, but don’t be frightened. Absolutely join a good association that can help you that you can gain knowledge about the industry, and you can become an expert. It is very important to become an expert in the
industry that you’re in.

Q. Would you say people are born leaders or are they trained and coached to be a leader?

A. Both. Nature or nurture. Some of us are born leaders and some of us are trained and coached to be leaders. Now if I put this into perspective, I was a reasonably half decent boxer. On a scale of 1-10, I was a 6. As a coach, I was terrible.

The reason I was terrible was because I was trying to relive my own youth through the boys I was coaching. Now that is a bad coach. A good coach should realise that he has had his time and it’s now time to pass on the experience. And that is the same in business.