Franchise partners: 6 Questions to Jörg Schlake
Location: Berlin, Germany
Joined Expense Reduction Analysts: 2008
Professional background: More than 20 years professional experience in the automotive and captive financial services industry
Field of expertise: Insurances
1. What is your professional background?
In my former business life I held a variety of management level positions in a global company of the automotive industry. I especially enjoyed my time working abroad when I had the exciting opportunity to start a new business from scratch.
2. Why did you join the network?
Basically, I consider three reasons being crucial for me. First, I found the business model of cost savings very attractive together with the unique selling proposition of no savings-no fee. Secondly,
I felt very comfortable with the people in the network from the first moment. They were serious, focused, powerful but also listening, caring and team players. After three years with ERA my assessment is unchanged, although I learned that everybody is different. The third reason was that I wanted to work in an international environment.
3. What does your day look like?
After working in my home office for the first two and a half years, I decided to take advantage of joining forces with a colleague by setting up a common office. It is a 10–12 hours business almost every day, it is discipline, it is rewarding and it is fun. It is the sharing of ideas, the development of joined market approaches and out of the box thinking.
4. What are your key success factors?
When I think of the feedback I received from colleagues and from clients as well it was both, the accuracy, the ability to motivate people and to manage processes. And finally to make the result happen even if it takes longer than expected and you need to cope with challenges to accomplish your target.
5. What has been your experience so far working as a partner within the Expense Reduction Analysts network?
When I started my business I learned a lot about other industries. But I discovered also very quickly that trust and reliability was the key to negotiate client agreements and to getting invited to joint venture projects from other partners in the network. As an ERA partner you are a player on a big market place that provides a broad range of opportunities to you.
6. What is your advice to a new partner?
Work hard, communicate and team up with your business environment, stay curious, be engaged, focused, committed and enthusiastic and do not forget the fun.
