We recently had the opportunity to interview Steven Glover, Managing Director at Glover Investments. With a passion for doing something different, Steven decided to change the course of his career at the age of 60 and founded Glover Investments. At the organization, Steven is on a mission to craft bespoke living experiences in treasured locales.
With an expertise of over four decades in the industry, Steven has led the business to the forefront of the luxury real estate market. Glover Investments has a network of expert contractors and consultants, promising excellence in every project undertaken.
The Beginning
We started the interview by asking, “Can you recount the journey that led to the creation of your company and the core mission that drives it?”
Steven Glover shared, “Reaching 60 this year was a wake-up call to realize I can’t get my youth back, and made me review ‘was I happy with where I was in life,’ but the answer was no. So I needed to do something about it, hence, I left the company that I co-founded twenty years ago and decided that I had one more chapter in me.
Covid taught us all, we didn’t need the head office or members of staff; these could all be employed on a job-by-job basis, reducing the overhead burden. So my mission is to leave a positive mark on this planet, by developing small communities where my clients become my ambassadors who will sell my new developments through friends and family. I can’t take this for granted and need to constantly work hard at this, as nothing is free in life.”
Staying Ahead Of The Curve
We were interested to learn more about how Steven incorporates the latest technology in his business. So, we asked, “What ways are you integrating cutting-edge technology to enhance innovation and operational efficiency in your business?”
“In the residential development sector, I work in, this is all about selling, not building, and having unsold stock, that isn’t good! So, I need to create developments that people want to live in, this involves creating great-looking buildings and having the latest internal designs. The developments need to have green technology that keeps the buildings cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and using renewable technology to keep costs down and green footprint.” He shared.
Redefining Businesses With AI
AI has been transforming businesses across industries. So, we asked, “With the surge in AI utilization, how is your company embracing this trend to stay ahead in your sector?”
Steven Glover mentioned, “We are at the early stages of AI, so we need to keep our eyes open for the latest information, ideas, marketing, and reports. Personally, I use this to obtain a massive amount of market research from anywhere in the world, this is fast and cost-effective! Even my logo was created by AI at a fraction of the cost of going to a marketing agency.”
Crafting Effective Strategies
We further asked, “How do you ensure your business strategies remain relevant and effective in a rapidly changing industry landscape?”
Steven Glover replied, “Providing I’m developing in the right locations, have these priced correctly they should sell. However, where my industry struggles are related to global current affairs, such as interest rates, housing prices dropping or even increasing, changes of government, taxation, and other developments that create competition. So, we need to react to adjust to the marketplace conditions, if we leave it too late the cost of finance goes up and the price goes down.”
Career-Defining Moment
Eager to learn more about the crucial moments in Steven’s career path, we asked, “Can you share a pivotal moment in your entrepreneurial journey that significantly influenced your approach to business?”
“When I set up my first business in 2004, I was 36, young and blinkered to the world and assumed I could walk on water when I couldn’t. Over the next twenty years, I made many mistakes and learned from them and when I reached 58 last year, I resigned from the company I co-founded and decided to start again. This time around, I’m the only member of staff with no overheads, used my huge database of contacts, and now I am recognized as a respected member of society. Now, I try to focus on fewer projects and more detail on each of them.” Steven shared.
Adaptability Amidst Uncertainties
We asked, “What measures do you implement to maintain the agility and adaptability of your business in the face of evolving challenges and opportunities?”
“Each week, I sit down with my wife (Debbie) with notes and record my activity for the previous week, review short-term goals, and plan ahead for the new week’s objectives. Having this short-term record allows us to be agile and adjust accordingly. Even in the past two years, we have seen this happen regularly, and don’t forget it affects others as well, if they react and you don’t, you will lose.” He reflected.
Fostering Growth For Business
To learn how Steven ensures constant growth for his business, we inquired, “Could you shed light on a particular project or initiative that has made a substantial impact on your company’s success?”
Steven Glover added, “I use LinkedIn regularly and with my 20,000 contacts this allows me to promote myself, and my brand to all of these. By doing this regularly people don’t forget me, this allows me to promote my developments and from this, I have had buyers contact me. On a typical post, I have over 40,000 hits. I don’t know 40,000 people but I know that my message is reaching far and away.”
Plans We Asked Steven Glover
Addressing the plans Steven has set for his business, we asked, “What are your short-term and long-term objectives for growth and expansion, and how do you plan to achieve them?”
Steven Glover responded, “You need to have short-term goals to achieve the long-term goals! Mine have been easy to measure: promoting my business, and generating opportunities for me to consider, this then allows me to make offers, and then agree to the purchase. They are recorded to measure the success of my hard work.
The business world is made up of converting inquiries in whatever we do. Without the inquiries, you won’t move forward! My mid-term goal is to have active developments under construction, with the long-term goal to have the developments completed (two years after the start) which then shows the profits. Profits are healthy, which allow our companies to grow.”
Words Of Wisdom For Beginners
For beginners and aspiring professionals in this field, we asked Steven, “What unique advice would you offer to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to carve out their own path in your industry?”
Steven Glover shared, “If you have a vision or a dream this will only ever be a vision or dream unless you do something about this and make it happen! Anyone who has gone to work got a promotion, and set up their business has probably failed along the way. This is how we learn, and providing we adjust future decisions we won’t move forward. Also, stay in your lane. What I mean here is if you are great in a specialized area then grow within this industry. A good pop singer may be able to play football but will never be a good footballer.”
Follow Steven Glover on LinkedIn.
Find Glover Investments on their website https://www.gloverinvestments.uk
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