UW Network Director Wayne Coupland shares his recipe for UW Partner success before hanging up his boots
The UW Senior Management Team is the best we have ever had and the Company is in such a good place says Wayne Coupland
This is a story of Wayne Coupland, his recipe to success with UW and ‘rewirement’ from the role of Network Director. Tonight’s Big Night in with Wes Linden was pivotal on so many levels. One thousand UW Partners joined Wes (via Zoom) and his special guest was the ‘one and only’ Wayne Coupland, who only a few days ago announced his ‘Rewirement’ (retirement) from the role of UW Network Director. This has happened after an amazing and hugely successful twenty-two years working with Utility Warehouse (also known as Telecom Plus PLC).
Wayne opened the chat by expressing how being Network Director has been his best job in the company on account of being able to work so directly with Team Purple as well as being able to personally witness the success of this incredible team of UW Partners. Wayne expressed that the role of Network Director has also come with the price-tag of being full-on, within a highly commitment-based role. Wayne joked that during some weeks his diary would take him to all corners of the UK and in such a way that from one night to the next, he would not know where he would be sleeping!
Wayne then touched on his personal life, the re-evaluation of priorities and the need for some important decisions. There was a humoured reference to ‘still having healthy knees at 61’, and wanting to take advantage of this with his lovely Partner Val. Having witnessed the time-freedom rewards that success as a UW Partner can bring, Wayne explained that he would now like some of the same, hence hanging up his Network Director ‘boots’ and adjusting his work-life balance down to just two days of UW work each week.
“The UW Senior Management Team is the best we have ever had and the Company is in such a good place”, explained Wayne Coupland – then going on to define that the new directors are “moving mountains and driving through projects at an incredible pace”. Wayne affirmed that Justin Bozzino is doing a phenomenal job and that UW now has the best training in the world for an MLM company. Along with a greatly expanded ‘Network Team’, Wayne explained that his two days per week would now be spent helping Justin to move even further forward. Wayne’s personal focus will also extend to looking after Team Purple in the South West of the UK.
Wayne Coupland negotiated that first mobile deal with Charles Wigoder
Wayne went on to talk about his first encounter with Telecom Plus over 22 years ago, at which time he was key to the negotiations with One-to-One to make mobile the company’s second service. Wayne recounted that he had never been previously aware of Network Marketing and was greatly impressed with the potential mobile sales that could be generated from the 500 Distributors that he met at his very first Telecom Plus event.
Still working with One-to-One, Wayne Coupland negotiated that first mobile deal with Charles Wigoder and within twelve months, the Telecom Plus mobile service went on sale. It was when Wayne was on the verge of moving from One-to-One to a new role with Motorola that Charles made a job offer that Wayne couldn’t refuse and he began working for Telecom Plus.
“There I was a telephone expert and Charles said, ‘Let’s go and get us an energy licence’. That was how things were, back then with Telecom plus”, Wayne commented. Despite a number of obstacles, Telecom Plus secured a licence for Gas in 1999. This was followed shortly after by an electricity licence. An early proud moment for Wayne was when in the first ‘Which’ consumer survey, Telecom Plus was awarded its first recommended supplier award for energy.
It was in this first year that Wayne saw Charles Wigoder laying down his vision for a future Telecom Plus. “What he spoke about 20 years ago has all come to pass. The guy is a visionary. His word is his bond. He is a fantastic guy to work for.” Wayne further explained that Charles is also a man of integrity and values.
If you are aiming for a promotion, you must get all your ducks in a row
Next, Wes moved the conversation on to discussing Wayne’s experience of ‘What makes a successful UW Partner’, especially with regards to what drives people to take the required action.
Wayne explained that just wanting it and needing it, are not always enough. Sometimes the negativity of others who are less than supportive can be the perfect catalyst to succeed. But mostly having a big enough ‘why’ is the critical ingredient. When you have the ‘why’, it is then all about being consistent and persistent. You must be part of this and live this as much as you can. A perfect example being Hannah and Will Grover, who simply agreed to give up two evenings each week, plus a half-day at the weekend. They did this consistently, week in and week out. It is this consistency that was key for Hannah & Will reaching Senior Group Leader (SGL) and is likewise key for so many of the Company’s top Partners.
Wayne Coupland uses the term ‘meritocracy’ to frame his view of success as a UW Partner compared with success in a corporate environment, where you must wait for a vacancy. The route to success as a UW Partner is very clearly defined. There is no glass ceiling, but if you consistently do the work, you get the rewards and uniquely, those rewards are available to everyone.
If you are aiming for a promotion, you must get all your ducks in a row. Leadership is about delegation and duplication. You need to identify the leaders and contract with them. You must help enough other people to get what they want and in turn the rewards will follow. Robin Brooks is an excellent example of this in how he approached and attained promotion to National Group Leader (NGL). This then sparked interest from Wes Linden, Jimmy Chapman and Stephen Longworth – all of whom reached NGL as a result and which in turn created massive belief within the Network. You could liken it to when Roger Bannister ran the first four-minute mile which in turn inspired club athletes from all over the world to embrace a belief that they too could do the same.
Discussing his own personal highlights, Wayne eluded to the constant joy of presenting UW Partners with the keys to their own brand-new, fully branded UW BMW Mini One. Often this would be their first experience of a new car or the first time a family could afford the benefits of a second car. He touched on the emotion of this special moment and how this company recognition would always reflect the determination and effort required to qualify.
Wayne then expressed his personal pride as to how UW has navigated the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly the speed in which the company’s response was to get staff working safely from home. He praised how the IT department created innovative online solutions to keep Team Purple in the driving seat. Watching Team Purple overcome so many obstacles has been remarkable and this was reflected in the words of Art Jonak who described the UW response as being “world class and as a test case that would be used by others for years to come”.
Ideas are a big part of UW Culture and Wayne touched on how the best ideas that have worked for the Company have always tended to come from Team Purple. Don Lampard invented the neighbour letter. Keith Bassi introduced the idea of a Partner Mini plan. Win-a-Mini was invented by Rob Barras. The Cashback Card challenge was Stan’s idea and QUIP was born through the idea of Distributor. Bev Blackburn and Hannah Grover proved the worth of team support and through their results, so the Company added supporting bonus payments to the UW compensation plan.
Wayne has always been well known for his ability to recognise success. He explained that babies cry for it, soldiers die for it and raising people up is so important – and not just those who are being promoted. It’s just as important to simply catch people doing something right. Recognition is amazing and we do it so well in Team Purple and what happens in Team Purple is likewise echoed within the corporate environment at Utility Warehouse HQ.
Do not quit being nice, happy, smiley and friendly people
At the request of Wes, Wayne then took a moment to recommend his top personal development books:
- Jim Rohn – Building your Network Marketing business.
- Jeff Olsen – The Slight Edge.
- Darren Hardy – The Compound Effect.
- Big Al – anything by Big Al
- Wes Linden – 79 Network Marketing Tips
- Fenton – Go For No
Wayne’s closing words were, “Do not quit being nice, happy, smiley and friendly people. Thank you for making my last twenty-two years incredibly special. Recognise where you are right now and the role we can all play in helping the country. Now is such a good time and the nation needs our help. We have what is needed in out tool bag to make a difference”.
Here’s to your ‘rewirement’ Captain Wayne Coupland and to the exciting adventures that lay ahead for you and Val.
