The Entrepreneur In You

I decided to read this book as a friend of mine had lent it to me and I was very interested in finding out just how this person operated in businesses, as I believe that if your business is online or offline, internet based or bricks and mortar based, business is still business.
Duncan Bannatyne may no be a name which is instantly recognizable to many, but in the world of business he is one of Britain’s most respected entrepreneurs who over several decades has created a considerable fortune through making shrewd investments as well as hard working.
It is his business acumen which over the past few years has provided him with celebrity status as he was offered the chance to become one of the investors on the BBC’s business show “Dragon’s Den”. "Dragons Den" provided Bannatyne with a successful platform from which he could write his first book "Anybody Can Do It", which details his life from his poor childhood, through to his multi-million pound business empire.
Bannatyne's family originate from Scotland, they lived in a poor but happy household, with their parents providing as best they could, although it was this which triggered Duncan into wanting to build himself a better future. his first venture getting a paper round so he could save enough money for a bicycle.
The story takes you from here, through his days in the navy, onto his surfing and clubbing days on Jersey. Here is where he decided that he wanted to do something more than just the usual with his life.
From ice cream vans, doing up cars and taxis, through care homes, nurseries and hotels, to a health & fitness centers, bars. radio stations, restaurants and property, this man has started and succeeded in a broad range of businesses.
Bannatyne is clearly a man driven to succeed, both professionally and personally. He is not afraid to work hard to achieve his goals, and does inspire his staff to do the same. It is no understatement to say that he has a skill for finding and motivating the talented staff which have helped make his businesses successful. He possesses a business mentality built on morals and common sense and always seems to have a plan b if a does not come off, one example is that he sold everything he owned, and more, to achieve his goal of building nursing homes.
Leverage is a word which is often used when discussing businesses, and this man Duncan Bannatyne certainly knows the power of leverage, especially when it comes to the banks, when some of his bankers were getting twitchy about lending more, he managed to get one bank to not only loan the £90+ million he needed for an expansion, but to actually pay of the £90+ million he already owed, therefore lending Mr Bannatyne a cool £180 million plus change.. Now that is Leverage.
A major part of Duncan Bannatyne's life, which surprised me as I had no idea, is the charity work he does around the world, after starting with a visit to Romania with a friend of his Bob Shields, to working with Unicef throughout the world, helping to generate hundreds of thousands of pounds for various charities.
This book is worth a read, no matter which walk of life you come from, inspiration or just admiration can be taken from this book. As the man says,"Anyone Can Do This", given the right mind set and determination. Duncan mentions in the book that he is often asked if people are born to succeed, he does not think so, in fact he insists that it is inside of everybody whatever there age, and just need to be released.
Looking forward to getting my hands on his next one, and hope you enjoyed..
Trevor
www.whoistrevorford.com
www.trevor-ford.com