Stairway to Seven

Alistair Brown , founder and CEO of LUMENSTREAM.

My seven steps for business success

Alistair Brown is the founder and CEO of LUMENSTREAM. The former Weightmans and Slater & Gordon legal advisor switched from law to sustainability before launching LUMENSTREAM, an energy service company that upgrades large energy users to energy-efficient technology for zero capital cost via its innovative LED Lighting as a Service platform.

1. PERSEVERANCE

This will resonate with any business disruptors who have launched an innovative product that breaks the mould. Unfortunately, many people have an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” ethos. Therefore, it is critical to persevere. Use the word “no” as an opportunity to educate your audience and help them understand the problems that your product solves.

2. MENTORING

I have benefitted from several mentors who have offered me experience and wisdom at critical stages along my journey. Sometimes it’s vital to have someone who has seen it all before to use as a sounding board for pitching ideas and discussing strategy. You can’t always make the correct decisions as a start-up business, but you can make educated decisions by drawing on the experience of mentors.

3. COLLABORATION

Connecting with other businesses and collaborating to provide innovative solutions is crucial. Start thinking of yourself as a master collaborator. LUMENSTREAM’s business model was born out of collaborating with other creative-minded people within the renewable energy and finance sectors. Collaborating stimulates inspiration, innovation and opportunity.

4. MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION

For a long time, I would have described myself as a workaholic and probably suffered from putting too much pressure on myself. During the first COVID-19 lockdown, I began meditating every day and started using mindfulness as a tool that provided context and clarity. Taking as little as a 10-minute break to meditate and gather your thoughts each day will refresh your mind and give you more energy.

5. NEVER COMPROMISE ON YOUR VALUES

Probably the hardest thing to do as a start-up when trying to generate sales and grow the business. However, it’s essential to understand what your company stands for, know the red lines you are unwilling to cross and learn how to say no. It may seem counterproductive at times, but if your goal is to focus on a specific niche and offer an unwavering level of quality, you must know your values and stick to them.

6. INNOVATION

Innovation is the key to success – think outside the box. The German-American economist Theodore Levitt said, “People don’t want to buy a quarter-inch drill, they want a quarter-inch hole.” Thinking outside the box is one of the core principles at LUMENSTREAM. Just because something has always been done a certain way doesn’t mean that it’s the best way to do it; there’s always room for improvement.

7. SUSTAINABILITY

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the sustainable practices of businesses to the point where the commitment to environmentally friendly policies will decide brand selection. Deploying a sustainable strategy will earn you credit with your customers, increase efficiency and save money in the long run. At LUMENSTREAM, we take great pride that what we do every day accelerates the shift to a more sustainable, carbon-neutral future for our planet.