Asari St Hill: Built a Business Around What Matters Most

Putting family at the heart of business

For Asari St Hill, family has always been a priority. When he decided to leave his career in the public sector and start his own business, he wanted to build something that would provide financial security without sacrificing precious time with his loved ones.

After more than a decade working for the Audit Commission, Asari found a new direction with ActionCOACH UK. He has since built a business coaching practice focused on helping ambitious business owners, particularly family-run businesses, grow their companies and create a better quality of life.

“I worked for the Audit Commission for over a decade, inspecting the performance of local councils. It was always a home-working contract, which appealed to me when my kids were young. It meant my partner Michelle and I could easily cover the school runs and enjoy plenty of family time.

“In 2011, the public sector was struggling and so a move into the private sector made sense. I contacted ActionCOACH, a business growth franchise, to get things rolling.”

Joining a new kind of family

Asari lives in Chingford, north-east London, with his partner Michelle and their two sons, Kimani and Jameel. His commitment to family life was a major factor in his decision to become an ActionCOACH UK franchise partner.

He was also excited by the opportunity to work with ambitious family businesses, helping their owners build stronger companies and enjoy the rewards of their hard work.

“Starting my business meant I could indulge my passion for working with ambitious family-owned businesses. ActionCOACH’s initial training helped me create a powerful, winning mindset and raised the bar on my expectations. I had initially thought I’d just earn enough to pay the bills, but the training got me thinking about growing to a six-figure turnover business.

“I joined a local business networking group in November 2011 before I completed the initial training and then launched the business in January 2012, relying quite heavily on networking to win my first clients.

“My big concern was whether I would struggle with marketing, but I only have praise for ActionCOACH UK. Their support is like joining a global family. The systems and tools to work with clients are fantastic, and I could have set up group coaching and business planning sessions much earlier if I had wanted to, but I decided to concentrate on one-to-one coaching.”

For Asari, the combination of practical business systems, professional development and a supportive network gave him the confidence to grow his business on his own terms.

“I love working with family-owned businesses because people are prepared to take a leap of faith. They’ve normally experienced tough times, having either inherited the business or started from scratch, but ultimately, their business has the potential to give them a great lifestyle.”

Helping family businesses thrive

Over the years, Asari has worked with business owners across a wide range of sectors, including cafés and restaurants, florists, funeral directors, retailers, independent financial advisers, tradespeople, event management agencies and landscaping contractors.

His greatest reward is seeing the difference that business coaching can make, not only to a company’s performance but also to the lives of the people behind it.

“My business earns a good living for me but, more than that, it’s my reward to see client success, especially when you get those emails telling you how your clients and their family are now experiencing a better life too.”

One of Asari’s earliest clients provides a powerful example of what that transformation can look like.

When they began working together, the business was turning over less than £500,000. Over the following five years, turnover grew to more than £5 million. The owner also achieved important personal goals, including buying a second home, enjoying a family holiday, sleeping better, working fewer hours and having time to undertake voluntary work with family in Bangladesh.

The growth was supported by putting effective business systems in place. By investing in an electronic point of sale (EPOS) system, the owner gained clearer visibility of performance across the shops, with figures accessible online. This helped the business become more manageable and created the foundations for potential franchising.

The business grew from two shops and seven employees to 10 shops and a team of 46.

For Asari, the impact went far beyond the financial figures. The growth represented 39 additional jobs and a business owner who was better placed to enjoy the life he had worked so hard to create.

Building a better life, on his own terms

When Asari joined ActionCOACH UK, he was determined to protect his time with his family. As his sons have grown older, family life has naturally changed, but spending time together remains a priority.

“When I joined ActionCOACH, I always intended to protect the time I spent with my family. My boys are now 19 and 14 years old. I still want to enjoy time with them, although my day-to-day father role is rather different to when I used to do the school run!

“As well as enjoying family time, I also watch sport, take part in Aikido and yoga, and talk to young people in my local community about understanding their history, culture and how to make a better life for themselves.”

Alongside his family commitments and community involvement, Asari continues to pursue ambitious business goals. At the time of the original story, he was aiming to grow his business to well over £100,000 a year and reach a six-figure income within the following 12 months.

He had recently hired a part-time Business Development Manager and was investing in additional marketing, speaking opportunities, guest radio appearances and plans to write regularly for an African-Caribbean newspaper.

His long-term vision was equally ambitious.

“Michelle and I are working towards our last big business dream: a leisure resort in Africa or the Caribbean, keeping just one home free for ourselves, friends and family. We have grown our businesses so they can keep running wherever we are in the world.”

For Asari, success means creating a business that can thrive without dictating how he spends his time. It means having the freedom to be present for his family, contribute to his community and pursue a shared dream with Michelle.

Could you build a business that puts family first?

Asari’s journey shows how the right support, systems and mindset can help business owners build successful companies while creating more opportunities for life beyond work.

If you enjoy learning and developing yourself, have experienced success in your career or sport, and are willing to invest in an opportunity with the potential for meaningful returns, business coaching could be worth exploring.

Could business coaching be your next chapter?

Discover how an ActionCOACH UK franchise could help you build a business with purpose, flexibility and the support of an established coaching community.