and used to playing in front of crowds of 60,000 at Twickenham there are some things which business cannot replace in his life, “you’ll never ever replace the buzz that you get doing something you love for a living. I’d have played rugby even if I wasn’t being paid but then to do something you love in front of large crowds week in and week out in front of 17,000 at Leicester- you’re never going to replace that buzz. In my business life that buzz is more about satisfaction, working with teams and watching them grow and succeed over time- that’s a bit like sport and it’s what I enjoy most. “
Perhaps the nearest Austin has come to replacing that buzz came in 2008 when he partnered Erin Boag on Strictly Come Dancing. In Austin’s first show head judge Len Goodman said “That was the best first dance for a man I have ever seen”, despite Austin admitting that he felt “completely out of my comfort zone. By the end of the show I was very fit. It was a great experience but an immense amount of pressure. I’d never danced before. I’m just not the sort of person that would go out and dance, I’d be stood at the bar having a chat.”
be overcome, “I think we live in something of a jealous society where we want people to succeed until they do. Once they do and they start telling you how good it’s been and how it’s done then you start to resent them. For me it’s completely alien. I believe that if you are going to do something and do it well, then you should share it with people rather than have to hide it away. A lot of really successful guys go into their shells. Those guys who have made something of themselves from a range of different businesses tend to play themselves down rather than build themselves up and that’s definitely a social thing in the UK.”
Austin’s quest for new challenges, whilst juggling multiple broadcasting roles and business interests comes at a time when he has dedicated more time to spending with his wife Louise and four young daughters. He admits that a life plan didn’t really factor until three or so years ago but building and leveraging his network is critical to his business interests, “I wasn’t really bothered. I’m not mass affluent but over the past year or two I’ve had a plan with a number of
investments. A work life balance is important
but I do business wherever I am. If I’m on holiday I spend 30mins a day just keeping on top of things and working within my network. My network is critical to me leveraging my investments. I may not know about a product or a sector but I’m surrounded by people who do.”
For a man acclaimed for his big match temperament
With his television profile continuing to expand and his business interests including Super Skills Travel and the widely acclaimed LabelSneak, the online flash sales site, both looking like sound businesses, Healey has once again shown himself not only to be versatile and dynamic but to do so on the biggest of stages. He can’t help but share his favourite success stories, “the most astute thing I’ve done in business is closed most of my pensions and moved all my money into red wine. Over the past five years it’s out performed gold, so the more people who drink the happier I am.”
“you’ll never ever replace the buzz that you get doing something you love for a living. I’d have played rugby even if I wasn’t being paid”
Regardless of whether you’re a fan of his cheeky on the field banter, his undoubted self-confidence or simply the toned body in sequins you can’t help but thinking he’s a good horse to back in any race. If his taste for fine red wines is anything to go by he may well have the ability to sniff out a gap in the market in much the same way as he was famed for his opportunistic darts past defences and mazy runs on the rugby field.
15 entrepreneurcountry
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