Product Description

every year thousands of hopeful entrepreneurs decide to take the plunge. many fail, but many go on to achieve great success and huge profits. why is it that some race ahead to glory whilst others fall at the first hurdle?

in how i made it 40 successful entrepreneurs explain how they managed to defy the odds and turn their dreams into reality. they tell how they decided what to do, how they got started, how they found the money they needed and how they went about it. but they also reveal how they had doubts, made stupid mistakes, and encountered overwhelming frustrations along the way. this new edition updates their stories to reveal what happened next and how, in most cases, they sold their businesses and made millions.

gutsy, inspiring, and life affirming - if you have ever dreamt of starting up your own business how i made it is for you.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12455 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-03
• Original language: German
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

—Edge, April 2005
"Inspiring stories of people who have made their fortunes through innovation and entrepreneurship, sometimes against all odds."

Review

“interviews taken from the how i made it column of the sunday times, highlighting common themes and assessing the factors that have led to success.”

—publishing news

“read this book to inspire you when the going gets tough, to reassure you when you’ve run out of ideas and to give you a kick up the backside when you are feeling sorry for yourself. but whatever you do – read it.”

reading chronicle

“a good read.”

professional manager

“intriguing collection of first-hand testimonies.”

birmingham evening mail

“lively, inspiring portraits show that there is no recipe for success: they have all achieved their goals through a very personal route.”

business plus

“should make inspiring reading for any wage slave who is stuck in a rut.”

accounting & business

“a collection of 40 of the best stories of ideas and innovation from the world of growing business.”

mba business

“with the inspiring stories and incredible results, it becomes a book to refer to whenever you are in need of a little motivation or a bit of a spiritual lift.

inspiring stories of people who have made their fortunes through innovation and entrepreneurship, sometimes against all odds.”

edge

“a good read for any entrepreneur who is not getting the results they expected and is seeking some support…a useful companion to inspire during the leaner times.”

lighting and sound

“i found most of (these stories) quite inspirational and they made me think about my own experiences. i even picked up a few tips and ideas…this book might help you identify those strengths within you and you never know, you might even decide to take the next step and become an entrepreneur yourself!”

pharmaceutical physician

“this is the charming concept of the book; that there are no rules.

an honest portrayal of normal people’s different journeys to success. i would recommend this book to any entrepreneur.”

personnel today

“interviews taken from the how i made it column of the sunday times, highlighting common themes and assessing the factors that have led to success.”

publishing news

“i am delighted that a new generation of entrepreneurs is emerging whose ideas and innovation will provide the momentum to drive business in this country forward. rachel bridge’s inspiring book has perfectly summed up the passion, the commitment and the sheer excitement of being an entrepreneur and will help encourage many others to do the same.”

sir richard branson

"for business owners everywhere this book is an inspirational read...covers a wide range of companies from all sectors to give a well balanced overview of today's entrepreneur."

—Birmingham Evening Mail, January 2005
"Intriguing collection of first-hand testimonies."

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Customer Reviews

Inspirational Stuff!
The thrill of being an entrepreneur and giving shape to your own business model is unparalleled but the harsh reality is that more than half of all start-up businesses in the UK fail within the first year. Each year thousands of hopefuls try their hand and each year thousands fail. So what is this fine line between success and failure one wonders? Rachel Bridge, the Enterprise Editor of The Sunday Times, sets about finding the answer each week from those who have made it. Her column 'How I Made It' appears in the Business section of The Sunday Times and attracts a huge amount of interest and comment from readers.

Drawing on the success of her weekly column, comes 'How I Made It : 40 successful entrepreneurs reveal'. The adapted book, 'How I Made It' is a snapshot of entrepreneurial success by 40 of today's successful business owners in the UK. Each piece takes the form of an interview with a successful entrepreneur. The entrepreneurs have been chosen by the author from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds, but in each case the focus of the interviews is on ordinary people that readers can relate to and learn from. They are individuals who started their business from scratch and managed to turn it into a success without the help of influential friends or access to large funds.

In profile format, Bridge probes into the mind of these entrepreneurs detailing their backgrounds, early careers, aspirations and motivation. The interviews chart each of the so- called 'maverick's' rise to success and their current financial worth at the top of their game. But its not all ranting and raving about their success. The entrepreneurs also reveal where they stumbled, what mistakes they made and how they learnt from the experience. The interviewees share with the reader their own business philosophy. One can follow their ups and downs via this book and look to the future of one's own venture with renewed enthusiasm! It covers a wide range of companies from all sectors to give a well balanced overview of today's entrepreneurs and the challenges they have faced in an ever changing business climate.

Some of the 40 entrepreneurs featured in the book include: Lizzie Van (founder of Organix brands), Darren Richards (founder of DatingDirect.com), Maria Kempinska, (founder of Jongleurs), Rosemary Conley (founder of theHip & Thigh Diet), Zahid Kasim (founder of Café Lazeez), Charlie Bigham (founder of Bighams), Harry Cragoe (founder of PJ Smoothies) Heather Gilchrist (founder of Happitots) and Ted Smart (founder of The Book People). The author acknowledges that there is no blueprint towards becoming a successful entrepreneur and no right or wrong way to go about it. What is needed is the right attitude and determination. In this book you hear how those who have made it struck the right chord. If you are a budding entrepreneur and currently run your own business, then Bridge's book is of immense inspirational value which sort of supersedes the fact that it is a thoroughly good read.

Inspiring and fun
It's a great read - lively and informative and tells you exactly how top enterpreneurs such as Rosemary Conley and Mark Ellingham - the guy behind Rough Guides - made it, including the times they made mistakes or the times they got a lucky break, which is often the good bit that other books and profiles leave out. There's a whole range of people covered in the book so it is really interesting and I think it would make a really good present for anyone stuck in a boring job who is thinking about setting out on their own. It is also a great nosy look into the minds of self-made millionaires! And any book recommended by Richard Branson has to be worth a look...

great inspiring book
I've read a couple similar to this book, but this is the best.
The profiles are written well,are up to date with the credit crunch etc, explain their differing situations and inspirations and are just the right length to make this book a must for anyone interested in how ideas were borne, and how to make your ideas become a reality.