Failing Forward: The Recruitment CEO Who Embraces Mistakes As Stepping Stones to Success, with Nick Price, Ep # 36

Most people are afraid of failure. Especially in recruitment, we’re very focused on achievement -- making placements and hitting sales targets.  We’re concerned about how we’re perceived by clients, candidates, coworkers, friends, and family.  We naturally want to project an image of being a successful person. 

In reality, success is like the tip of an iceberg. Beneath the surface, success is built on a vast multitude of challenges, mistakes, failures and struggles. In this episode of The Resilient Recruiter, my very special guest, Nick Price, shares his perspective on why he celebrates his mistakes and downplays his successes. 

Nick is the CEO of Bright Purple Resourcing which he co-founded in 1995. They are headquartered in Edinburgh, with 25 staff specializing in placing technology change and transformation professionals. Listen to the entire episode and hear Nick share a number of critical mistakes that he made during his 25 years in business -- and why he believes those setbacks have been stepping stones to sustainable success.

Episode Outline and Highlights

• [3:30] Nick shares his recruitment journey and the biggest challenge he dealt with as a CEO.
• [14:58] Nick’s perspective on business growth - and why he prefers to remain small.
• [18:06] A mentor’s insight on “big pitfalls” that new business owners should avoid.
• [27:50] What it means to stick to the core of your recruitment strategy.
• [30:14] Why Nick turned down a big offer to buy his business.
• [35:13] Hear about “Fvck Up Nights” and Nick’s views on success

Avoid the Mistake of Not Making Mistakes

Nick is a mentor to several founders of start-up technology businesses. When asked about what advice he can give to those aspiring to be recruitment business owners or those who are new to the industry, he believes that learning from mistakes is essential. 

In his words, “I suppose the important thing is that they make the mistakes. One of the things I am a firm believer in is if we don’t try and take those risks, we will never know.” Listen to the entire episode and hear Nick share a number of critical mistakes that he made and why he believes it is key to him successfully running his 25-year-old business.

Why We Learn More from “Commonality of Failure”

Nick also shared a very interesting perspective on why he’s sick and tired of hearing “success secrets” from ultra-rich entrepreneurs and self-appointed experts.  “I am 59, I am not a young recruiter anymore… I still have the spark and energy when I entered this industry. But what happens when you get older is you start to realize that the people who tell you how successful they are -- and how they can afford their Ferraris and Lamborghinis and their yachts etcetera -- they never really teach you anything. You go along to a chat by some amazing guy or some amazing lady, you get super motivated. You feel invigorated.”

“I’ve been on many of those over the years, but I never learned anything. Because their view of success isn’t the same as my view of success… The problem with trying to view success is it means different things to everybody else. So how do you teach success? That’s impossible. But one thing you can learn from is the commonality of failure.”

Nick Price Bio and Contact Info

Nick is the CEO of Bright Purple Resourcing which he co-founded in 1995. They are headquartered in Edinburgh, with 25 staff specializing in placing technology change and transformation professionals. Nick is someone who is deeply involved in business and community in Scotland, including industry associations, entrepreneurial groups, and charities. He is also currently working as Director of Communications of PRIMED, an information technology business, as well as a Non-Executive Director of Lifelink, a non-profit organisation supporting mental health.

• Nick on LinkedIn
• Nick’s email: nick.price@brightpurple.co.uk
• Bright Purple website link
• Bright Purple on Facebook
• Bright Purple on Twitter @BrightPurpleR
• PRIMED website link
• Life Link website link
• Fvck Up Nights website link

People and Resources Mentioned

• Richard Hoon on LinkedIn

Connect with Mark Whitby

• Get your FREE 30-minute strategy call: www.recruitmentcoach.com/strategy-session/
• Mark on LinkedIn
• Mark on Twitter: @MarkWhitby
• Mark on Facebook
• Mark on Instagram: @RecruitmentCoach

Related Podcasts You Might Enjoy

• TRR #24 Father’s Day Special: Bringing Honour Back to the Recruiting Profession, with Richard Hoon

 

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