Create Your Own Success with a Proven Franchise Model

Making his mark after following in his father’s footsteps

In 2011, Steve Mullins left his job to join his dad’s franchise as a Business Development Manager. He then made the life-changing decision to become an Action Coach in 2014. Now, a decade later, Steve is a fully-fledged ActionCOACH senior partner, was inducted into the ActionCOACH Hall of Fame and is ranked 50 out of over 1,000 coaches worldwide.

“My dad, Gary Mullins, became an Action Coach in 2007 after attending ActionCOACH’s global conference earlier that year. He was blown away by the brand’s systemised approach to business coaching and, after his 10 days of training, had not only learnt the technical knowledge of this new profession but had experienced a huge personal transition. It allowed him to become clear on what he wanted to achieve as a business and as a coach and how he could make a difference to people’s lives. He launched our Portsmouth firm in August 2007.”

A Valuable Insight

“I joined Gary’s firm as a Business Development Manager in 2011. Having studied business at college, I’d always had a passion for entrepreneurship and had worked in business for over five years before joining the firm. Throughout my time as a Business Development Manager, I witnessed first-hand the efficiency of the ActionCOACH toolbox, the results ActionCOACH achieves and the transformation of Gary’s work-life balance. With every week my passion for the company grew until I had cumulated the passion I have for it today.

“After three years working as a Business Development Manager, I decided to become an Action Coach myself in 2014. Whilst it was never my plan to become a coach, I can safely say it’s the best decision I’ve ever made for my career.”

Making His Mark

“Whilst I was already bought into ActionCOACH and everything it had to offer, the training confirmed I had made the right decision in becoming a coach. It was incredibly in-depth and extended my knowledge of business development and what it takes to run not only a successful company, but one that gives back. It was the best training I’ve ever undertaken – even today, after having completed other certifications, ActionCOACH’s induction programme is still the one to have provided me with the strongest training toolbox that’s on the market.

“Since then, the ongoing support has been world-class. The conferences, which feature the best-performing coaches in the world, are really inspiring, and the ongoing education is second to none – it’s one of the strongest parts of the franchise. As I began my ActionCOACH journey, I was supported every step of the way, improving my coaching skills and ability for the first three years. Now, although I’ve been a coach for over a decade, I’m still learning, and the amount of encouragement I receive hasn’t changed. The additional training programmes mean I’m becoming more knowledgeable with each year, and the ever-present help from both ActionCOACH as a franchisor and the coaching community has been invaluable.”

Leading the Way

In the last two years, Gary Mullins has reduced the hours he spends managing the firm, Steve is now taking on more responsibility as he looks to build the Portsmouth firm into a multi-million-pound business in the next five years.

“We’ve just started recruiting for our fourth coach to help manage our 54 one-to-one clients which will help to further increase our growth. Our goal for the next five years is ambitious but definitely attainable – I want to get to eight coaches and reach our turnover goal of over £4 million, with our ultimate goal being to eventually reach a £10 million turnover. 

“Since I’ve taken a more senior position in the firm, I’ve focused on projecting the future of our business. Gary and I will eventually be stepping away from the business – Gary to gradually move into retirement and myself to take my own advice we teach as a coach – to work on the business rather than in it. I want to continue expanding my toolbox to be the best firm manager I can be and shift my focus to putting coaches in to cover the complete delivery of our sessions. I’ve achieved and I’ve made more of an impact than I ever thought I would – my dad and I are in the ActionCOACH Global Hall of Fame and my client, Meridian Medical, won three awards at the Arun Business Awards as a testament to their success.

“It’s not only my professional life which has been completely transformed, but my personal life too. We have an advantage at our firm because we’re growing to a considerable size - originally when I took on more responsibility, there was more to be done, but the balance has now equalled out again. Since becoming a coach, I have started my own family. Having the time to explore my son’s love of animals and nature with him is so precious, and something I wouldn’t be able to do if I was a full-time senior coach elsewhere.”

Giving Back

For Steve, one of the ways he measures his success is through his commitment to giving back – both to the ActionCOACH community and to those in developing countries. “Both ActionCOACH as a franchisor and the community of coaches have supported me no end since I began my coaching journey, which is why I now make a point to contribute to the network in any way I can. As a firm, we support other coaches, bestowing the knowledge we have accumulated so they can become better coaches for their clients. Currently, Gary coaches four Action Coaches whilst I still find my feet in my new senior position. We also speak at events and conferences – we’re very open and abundant and want to share everything we know with anyone it will help.

“Educating those who don’t have the same opportunities we grew up with is also really close to our hearts as a team. This is why, multiple times a year we contribute to B1G1, a non-profit organisation which offers many different projects to donate to – we choose to support access to education for children in third-world countries. For me, I want to pass the education theme on from ActionCOACH to those who are less fortunate. I want to ensure I’m mirroring the positive changes we make in our communities to those in developing countries. This is part of what makes our firm successful – we’re not only transforming business owners’ futures but the futures of children all over the globe.”

Join the ActionCOACH Legacy

As Steve Mullins' decade-long journey with ActionCOACH shows, the path to becoming a senior partner is not just about achieving business milestones but also about personal growth and giving back to the community. His remarkable transition from a Business Development Manager to a celebrated figure in the ActionCOACH Hall of Fame is a testament to the power of commitment, learning, and community support within the ActionCOACH network. Steve's story could be a blueprint for those seeking to make a significant impact in their professional lives and beyond.

If you're inspired by Steve's journey and looking to transform your career while making a positive impact on your local businesses and communities, ActionCOACH offers a gateway to such fulfilling experiences. Watch our overview video today to learn more about our franchise opportunities and how you can start a journey similar to Steve’s. Embrace the opportunity to grow, lead, and contribute to a global network of business leaders. Your path to becoming an influential coach and business leader begins here with ActionCOACH.