Product Description

How you, too, can get rich - by Felix Dennis, one of Britain's wealthiest self-made entrepreneurs

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #814 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-02
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Mail on Sunday
"If this book doesn't get you rich, nothing ever will"

Luke Johnson, Chairman of Channel 4 in The Sunday Telegraph
"best book I've ever read about the magazine business...funny,
wise, fearlessly frank and truly inpsirational"

Independent on Sunday
"startlingly frank and very funny"

Customer Reviews

It's a book about what its really like to get rich and how to do it
I have just finished a very interesting book by Felix Dennis, called "How to get rich". He calls it, and I agree with him, an anti-self help book. It's a book about what its really like to get rich and how to do it.

I don't agree with everything Felix says, especially in my field of work in IT, about how to grow and build a business to make real wealth - mainly the part where he insists you own 100% of your business. In my case this is a practical impossibility unless you are very rich to start out, as you need large amounts of money to build a world class IT business. In order to raise money you usually need to trade equity for capital.

However, in most of the rest of his assertions which are pretty focused on his area of expertise in publishing and mail order I would agree with him.

The core things I learned from this (or he reminded me what I already knew) where that to succeed in any endeavour to an extreme (i.e. to get really rich) you need to be an extremist. You need an internal drive that will never be diminished. Desire is not an option.

In order to actually make it past the point of good or great, to insanely successful you must have the patience and perseverance well beyond a normal person. In being extraordinary you need to insulate yourself from negative people that will try and slow you down. Remember - who you spend time with is who you become!

Great ideas are `ten a penny' - In order to make any money of an idea you need world class execution from a team of talented and focused people.

Keep bringing yourself back to your core goals (yes write them down and visualise them) and remember why you do what you do. If that's making money then kill the dead projects, invest in those that are likely to win big.

Get the best team, motivate them and fire them with your passion then give them the power. When they succeed reward them very well indeed from the profits.

Own as much of the equity, preferably all of it, that you can of your business. I agree to a degree with this if you can build a massive business without giving away equity. If you can't I believe you should use equity and not debt to build your business in the early stages.

Maximise the value of your company by selling near the top, but leaving room for the new owner to grow and build the business further.

Remember we are all `people' in the end, no-one is better than you and nor are you better than anyone else. In the end we are all souls that will die and we cant take any of the wealth or power with us, so fear no one and get rich!

When you are rich, spread it around as you see fit and try not to spend the rest of your life in fear you will lose it.

In summary his 8 secrets are:

Analyse your need. Desire is insufficient. Compulsion is mandatory.
Cut loose from negative influences. Never give in. Stay the course.
Ignore `great ideas'. Concentrate on great execution.
Focus. Keep your eye on the ball marked `the money is here'
Hire talent smarter than you. Delegate. Share the annual pie.
Ownership is the real secret. Hold on to every % point you can.
Sell before you need too, or when bored. Empty your mind when negotiating.
Fear nothing and no-one. Get rich. Remember to give it all away.

Practical, Sensible advice...
...but like any book, unless you put the lessons into practice, you might as well write 'I'd like to be rich' on toilet paper, and flush it.
I purchased the book having heard the author discussing it on the radio.
Yes - it has some interesting and useful tips, but really - stop buying books about 'how to get rich', unless you are going to do something about it.
How to get skint is to buy lots of how-to-get-rich books, and continue on the path that you're already on.
99% of the population still work for other people. The other 1% work for themselves, and may buy books like this for guidance, ideas and tips.
People don't get rich buy just reading - action is the key.
This is not the best getting rich book, but is an interesting read with a handful of useful points.
No - I'm not rich - I keep buying and reading these books "under the dim light that seeps into this comfortable rut of employment"

Terrifying but compulsive reading
I started making 'good' money around 10 years ago as an IT consultant. I suddenly realised that I could work hard, enjoyed and was capable of making money. I've got a nice house (still mortgaged!), a few investment properties, land with horses, no debt, own my cars outright etc.

Over the years I have invested in a library full of 'self improvement books'. Almost all 'get rich' books give you an instant buzz that get you fired up and ready to take on the world. The problem is that the 'buzz' is short lived and I guess 99.9% of us quickly revert to our old, unsuccesfull ways.

This is the first book I have read that that describes the stark reality of getting rich. I must be honest as I turned the pages and recognised the behaviour that prevented me from making more money - it made me very uncomfortable indeed. If you accept what Felix says - that the vast majority of us are not ruthless enough or driven enough to generate great wealth - then you can kind of excuse yourself for giving up and just settling for a quiter, more comfortable life.

For me this book has had the opposite effect - I realised am not willing to accept 'death my a thousand cuts'. I know I would bitterly regret it if I gave up without a fight.

Most books of this type advocate taking action NOW and learning to deal with the fear that manifests itself in various ways when striking out on your own. Felix reiterates the point - but much more effectively than most authors. Personally I have learned that fear and lack of committment to your plan are usually the main barriers to success - not laziness, lack of ability, lack of funds etc.

My reading of Felix's main message is that if you overcome the fear you mainly need to focus on how well you execute your plan. As Felix says, it doesn't matter how mundane your business is - 'execution is the key'.

I really enjoy his writing style - even though he repeatedly claims he is no a smart man - I beg to differ. Maybe this is a clever ploy to disarm his business foes?

If you are serious about starting a business or achieving great wealth I think you HAVE to read this book. If you are truly driven to succeed this book will not put you off. It's worth every penny.