Product Description

Ex Dragons Den; judge, Rachel Elnaugh exclusively uncovers the moments when she and other business personalities hit crisis point. Contains Rachel's truthful account of the much-publicised crash of Red Letter Days. She then boldly interviews business celebrities such as Jeffery Archer, Donald Trump, Stelios, Karan Billamoria, the Innocent boys, Ivan Massow and many more, about their darkest times in business. This book exposes, through detailed and insightful profiles how even the mightiest business people were fallible and did not make it plain sailing; that all business go through bad times but can still come out the other side and be hugely successful. The author, Rachel Elnaugh is the epitome of a successful failure in that she was running the hugely profitable Red Letter Days, and lost it. Highly exposed in the media due to her celebrity status on the Dragons Den, Rachel became the scapegoat for the crash of this business. For the first time, you can hear Rachels side of the story, exclusively and honestly, in this book. It is written in a series of revealing interviews and delves into the darkest business moments of many massive business personalities, divulging what really went wrong, how the events unfolded, how they felt and how they emerged from the crisis and what they learned from their experience.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #206747 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Review
A valuable check-list of what not to do in business, and how to create plans for worst-case scenarios --Esquire

Elnaugh talks frankly about her fall from grace --Virgin Radio

A warning of the bear traps that wait in line for business owners --Stephanie Welstead, Growing Business magazine

About the Author
Rachel Elnaugh is one of the UK's most high-profile entrepreneurs. She is well known publicly as the original female dragon, who advised and invested in small businesses on the BBC's popular show Dragons' Den. However, Rachel's name really hit the headlines in 2005, when her business, Red Letter Days spectacularly collapsed. The irony of this business failure was splashed across national newspapers and television. This was an extremely difficult and painful time for Rachel. But, she managed to overcome it and move on. Today she is a successful mentor and consultant to a number of small businesses, as well as being an accomplished business speaker at events across the UK. Most recently, Rachel has drawn upon her experiences to write her amazing new book: Business Nightmares. Rachel lives in Bakewell, Derbyshire with her husband Chris and is a mother to five sons: Mark (12), Paul (9), Eddie (5), Michael (2) and Jack (6 months). Losing Red Letter Days was a nightmare time for Rachel and her family. Not only had she suddenly lost her business and income and was having to cope with the intrusion of reporters outside her house, but she was also seven months pregnant with her fourth child. Both Rachel and her children also endured the humiliation of watching her demise broadcasted on national television. To understand the extent that Rachel's business tragedy affected life for herself and her family, and to learn how she overcame it, read Business Nightmares.

Customer Reviews

An absolutely cracking read
I was one of the people who turned up at Rachel's book launch and reading last Friday May the 11th and I was really looking forward to reading her book. I am now reading through it a second time and I would like to say a big thank you to Rachel for writing what has to be one of the best business books of the year. I think that it should be compulsory reading for all wannabe entrepreneurs, MBAs and other business students, as it covers the practicalities, the dos and don'ts of a business, from start up to exit.

Honest and insightful reading for wannabee entrepreneurs
I picked up this book a little warily. Was I going to read a book written by a huge ego saying "I was wronged!!" whose only reading pleasure can be in Schadenfreude - the pleasure taken from observing the misery of another ? Or would I genuinely learn something about business gaffes and see past the television image to the person behind a venture that, in its time, had given pleasure to millions and had made millions. How does someone survive not just a business collapse but a business collapse which happened when she was a key public figure advising on entrepreneurship in a hit BBC television programme?

Within a few pages I was gripped - this was not an ego on speed but an honest, self-critical, funny and insightful book on what not to do when setting up a business. And also on what to do - for remember that Rachel set up a business at the age of 24 which went from zero to an £18 million pound turnover making millions of pounds of profit for everyone along the way. It failed because Rachel took the advice of management consultants and bankers - at a time when she had fallen a little out of love with her creation.

This is a "right brain" book - showing you how emotional intelligence coupled with a good idea and a hawk eye on the bottom line can flip you from dreaming into doing. It is very well written, teaching its lessons and insights through "war stories", the voices of successful entrepreneurs who have made awful mistakes and learnt from them. It teaches you by osmosis.

I learnt a lot from it and it was a book which gave me hope. If in this Depression you are sitting wondering whether to bootstrap your dream and take the risks inherent in starting a business then this book must be on your reading list. If you are studying business or want to study business then spend a few pleasurable evenings reading this - it will focus you onto what really matters.

Packed with good advice.
I've put off buying this book for ages, mainly I think because of the title. But when I did finally get round to reading it I realised it is anything but negative. It's an amazingly positive exploration of some of the problems and hurdles entrepreneurs can encounter and packed with very good advice. Rachel Elnaugh herself is an inspiration - having come through an appalling experience without the least trace of self-pity and an incredibly positive outlook. A worthwhile read for anyone running their own business.