Autobiography: business and industry Books

Book SynopsisThe car world is full of fascinating characters, but few have a story to tell quite as remarkable and inspirational as Tom Hartley. Walking out of school at the age of 11, unable to read or write, Hartley set up his own business buying and selling cars. From that moment on he defied logic and ripped up the rule book on his way to the top. Today he runs one of the most successful independent family-run luxury, performance and classic car businesses in the world, and has built up an unrivalled reputation as 'The Dealmaker.' Tom has been at the top for over 40 years, survived and thrived through four recessions, and overcome three life threatening illnesses. In his own brutally honest words Hartley tells his gripping story of a boy from a traditional Romany family who swapped the classroom for the cut-throat world of Glasgow's car auctions, buying and selling his first car at the age of 12. Having decided to drive himself around illegally, he was only 15 when he had his first car crash, and they don't come more spectacular than writing off a Ferrari Dino - nothing has ever been normal in the world of Tom Hartley! Hartley had made his first million by the age of 17, but soon suffered major setbacks as his business went bust, and he found himself at risk of losing his sight without major surgery. Hartley started all over again, living in a mobile home with his wife and working from the back of a car. He had gone from hero to zero, but his burning desire to be the best saw him climb his way back to the top. His ability to clinch deals in some of the most bizarre places has become legendary, like buying a car in a sauna, while stuck in a traffic jam on a motorway, and even in a swimming pool! Family has played a key part in the Tom Hartley story, his wife has been at his side all the way, and his two sons have followed closely in their father's footsteps. Indeed Tom's belief in family is one of the inspiring messages that comes through. Hartley's inspirational story is about the unshakeable belief in his own abilities, from a precocious schoolboy who had a dream, and then through sheer hard work and a burning desire to make the dream come true. This is not just a book for car enthusiasts but for anyone who has dared to dream. It's a story that will inspire and motivate, and proves you can make the wildest dream come true if you want it badly enough. Tom's remarkable story is written with the collaboration of Journalist Ken Gibson, for 24 years, award winning Motoring Editor of The Sun Newspaper.Trade ReviewAfter reading this you will never look at any car dealer quite the same ... Job done. - Octane (UK) --- [You] will gain some understanding of what goes on in a world often hidden away. - www.silhouet.com --- An inherently fascinating biography - Midwest Book Review --- Hartley always knows what he wants, always has any negotiation fully scoped in advance, never overextends himself. And, seemingly, he never has a bad word to say about anybody. It is philosophy we could all learn from. - Update --- A truly fascinating insight into the mind of one of the car world's great characters. - Classic Cars --- a true insight into [Tom Hartley] ...worth a read - Ferrari Magazine --- Recommended. Tom Hartley's life makes for an amazing story - The View Through The Windshield --- Veloce Publishing has given Hartley a platform to tell his life story; the result is an inspiring story - Jim Donnelly On WheelsTable of ContentsContents: Chapter 1 - Swapping the classroom for the auction halls. Covering the early years as Tom walks out of school aged 11 to start his business buying and selling cars in the Glasgow Auction Halls, unable to read or write. Chapter 2 - Making my first million by the age of 17. The fast track years from schoolboy to businessman and how he made his first million by 17. Chapter 3 - From Hero to Zero. - The dramatic crash of his business literally overnight at the same time as risking losing his eyesight. Chapter 4 - Anytime, Anywhere, Anyplace. - Tells the story of Tom's totally unorthodox way of doing business and the bizarre places he bought and sold cars. Chapter 5 - The Customer is King - How Tom has strived to give his customers the ultimate experience and how celebrities have played a key role in his business. Chapter 6 - Diversify and Prosper - Tom Hartley is known for his car empire, but he also has another successful business in the Park Home industry and why it is equally important. Chapter 7 - Home is where the heart is. A 40 acre estate in the heart of the English countryside is not only the base for Tom's business but also where his home is. Literally showing business and pleasure can mix. Chapter 8 - It's a Family Affair - Family is everything to Tom Hartley and this chapter describes the key role they play in the business - with comments from his family on what makes Tom tick. Chapter 9 - My Mentor and Inspirations - Tom's only mentor was his father Tom, but the chapter also looks at people who have inspired Tom. Chapter 10 - What the Media Say about Tom Hartley - Covers the unique relationship Tom has enjoyed with the media over his life. Also four pages of headlines from various media. Chapter 11- The Winning Formula - Tom describes his winning formula and finishes with his Top Tips on how to win at business.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDirect Wines, The Sunday Times Wine Club, Laithwaites or just Wine People. Known by various names over the last 50 years, Laithwaites is now the top wine company in the UK and a leading example of a thriving family business turned empire. In the 1960s young geography student Tony Laithwaite took a job washing wine bottles in Bordeaux and soon fell head-over-heels in love with the wine and the people who make it. After his inspiring time in Bordeaux, he took a van stocked with his favourite French wines back to the UK to share with friends and neighbours at home as part of a small start-up business. He wrote to Harold Evans at the Times to persuade him of the superior quality of his imported wine, and they soon joined forces to set up the hugely successful Sunday Times Wine Club. It wasn't long before hundreds of small wineries around the world were queuing to take part in Tony's venture, which transformed from a tiny operation to a massive business virtually overnight. Today, nearly 50 years on from its foundation in 1969, Laithwaites' parent company Direct Wines is the world's number one home-delivery wine merchant with operations in the UK, US and Australia and New Zealand. Direct: Tony Laithwaite My Story is not just the remarkable story of a wine company, or its wines, but a tale of the people who have created its success. Filled with rich archive imagery and newly commissioned illustrations by David Eldridge, as well as anecdotes of Tony's early years in France, this inspirational memoir is perfect to enjoy with your favourite bottle of wine.Trade ReviewDirect is an entertaining, occasionally chippy account of his journey from selling wine from a railway arch in Windsor to owning the biggest online wine retailer in the world. -- Henry Jeffreys * Spectator *

Read more less

Book Synopsis***BUSINESS BOOK AWARDS 2022 SHORTLISTED TITLE***An insider’s view of the challenges that big businesses face in the developing world: the opportunities, pitfalls, political and personal challenges involved.Babs Omotowa has spent his life rejecting the status quo. His own career disproves the unthinking perception that Africans underperform in global businesses, and his insistence that issues such as community development, corruption, transparency and pollution belong on the corporate agenda alongside financial targets has helped big businesses to revolutionize their approach in the developing world.The remarkable story of ‘Hurricane Babs’ – from storeroom keeper to global VP – showcases the issues that big businesses face in developing countries and reveals how multinational companies and leaders can best navigate these challenges: with integrity and courage.Trade ReviewBabs Omotowa’s autobiography ‘From Storeroom to Boardroom’ is an inspirational read. Both very personal yet also dealing with issues of international significance such as ethical dilemmas in leadership, corruption in governance and addressing issues of climate change in the energy industry.A positive and uplifting read. * Amazon *STOREROOM TO BOARD ROOM BY BABS OMOTOWA - A MUST READ.The book is exciting, powerful, and inspirational... * Amazon *Table of ContentsAcknowledgementAbout the AuthorForewordIntroductionChapter 1 BeginningsChapter 2 DeterminationChapter 3 AmbitionChapter 4 Making ImpactChapter 5 VisionChapter 6 IntegrityChapter 7 CourageChapter 8 RelationshipsChapter 9 ReflectionsReferences

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe way we measure success is ready for a redo. This is a handbook for a new kind of entrepreneur: the kind that wants to create not just a profitable business but a worthwhile life. With inspiration and insights from a wide range of business builders, Dr Bob Gomersall sets out a vision for a new kind of return on investment and shows you how to create this success for yourself, your way. Whether you're an established business leader or just feeling ready for a change, this is a blueprint for a better life and a better way of doing business. ''An inspirational guide for entrepreneurs to build businesses that allow us to flourish and thrive, rather than just survive'' - Dame Linda Pollard Chair of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe astonishing true story of the Scottish coal miner’s daughter who took on the Mafia-backed creators of the world’s biggest financial fraud and helped the FBI to convict them Soon to be a major Hollywood film directed by Scott Z Burns ‘In the 1990s, Erin Brockovich showed what a difference one smart, angry woman can make in a world that marginalized her. Jen McAdam stepped forward in our time to shut down a diabolical fraud that preys those most desperate.’ Scott Z Burns, Director (Contagion and The Bourne Ultimatum)As featured on the hit BBC podcast The Missing CryptoqueenJen McAdam was a victim of the OneCoin global cryptocurrency fraud, which stole an estimated $27 billion from ordinary people around the world. The evil genius of the scam was its target, society’s ‘unbanked,’ not wealthy investors, and it robbed millions of their livelihood and futures. The poor became poorer. The brutal plundering led by self-styled Cryptoqueen Ruja Ignatova defied all legal and banking barriers bamboozling financial authorities — until Jen McAdam fought back. With a £15,000 inheritance from her father, saved from a careful life in a west of Scotland mining town, Jen wanted to invest wisely for her family’s future and was enraptured by the possibilities offered by OneCoin’s promotional material and convincing endorsements from celebrities and financial institutions. They, like all Dr Ruja’s flamboyant promises, were bogus. Jen McAdam was the first victim brave enough to fight back and despite death threats and an intimidating campaign to shut her down, and through a debilitating illness, strived tirelessly for justice – for herself, her family and friends, and the millions around the world who lost everything. She created and continues to lead victims ’support groups and in 2023, as the OneCoin bandits were being punished by international courts, spearheaded a move to get financial compensation for the many whose life hopes were cruelly crushed by the Cryptoqueen. This is a true David-and-Goliath story. It shows us the power we can have as individuals, even when things seem hopeless.Trade Review‘Swayed by the enigmatic business tycoon Dr Ruja Ignatova, McAdam didn’t realise she was giving her money to one of the world’s most sinister scams . . . A poignant dive into the rabbit hole of financial fraud and mysterious scammers.’ * Kirkus Reviews *‘A cautionary tale and a story of endurance in the pursuit of justice . . . McAdam relates how she worked with law enforcement to uncover the scandal, weathered death threats, and continued to tell her own story and push for awareness in the media.’ * Booklist *“In the 1990s, Erin Brockovich bravely stood up to PG&E and showed what kind of difference one smart, angry woman can make in a world that marginalized her. Jen McAdam has stepped forward here— in our time— to shut down a diabolical fraud that preys on those made most desperate by their financial straits. Their opponents are certainly different, but the bravery of both these women comes from the same heroic place.” * Scott Z Burns, film director *'Exhilarating mix of memoir and true crime. This riveting account of a victim fighting back is an inspired, and inspiring, page-turner.' * Publishers Weekly *'In IT consultant McAdam’s book, cryptocurrency meets network marketing, and it’s a marriage made in hell. This is the story of her quest to take down a criminal enterprise, despite death threats and the cult mentality of OneCoin’s loyalists.' * Library Journal Advance Reviews *

Read more less

Book Synopsis“Policing is a uniquely dangerous, harrowing and challenging profession where officers are expected to do far more than prevent and detect crime. To be a police officer is also to be a social worker, marriage guidance counsellor, mental health worker and medic.” Offering incredible true stories from the front line of policing, The Coppers' Lot is a compelling insight into what it takes to be a police officer in Britain in the 21st century. The extraordinary experiences recounted include: The heroic officer who continued to put his life in grave danger as he pursued marauding terrorists wearing suicide vests, while they indiscriminatingly stabbed members of the public. The undercover officer who targeted organised crime groups and drug dealers. The courageous officer who regularly tackled knife crime head on, saving several lives. The intense feeling of elation when an officer discovered key evidence to convict a murdering paedophile. The officer who, trapped alone and disarmed with a violent man, persevered despite being in fear of her life as her radio was thrown away leaving no means of summoning help. Taking readers on a ride along with the exceptional men and women who have sacrificed so much whilst protecting and serving their communities, these officers reveal, often in their own words, just how much policing has changed from the traditional notion of the bobby on the beat.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen the chips are down you have to step forward, speak up and take action – or sink. Matthew Ingle, Yorkshire born and bred, left school in 1971 with four O levels. He went to work at a timber yard in Huddersfield, before joining the management training programme at Magnet. When he was made redundant in 1994, he had an idea for a business, jotted down on a single sheet of paper but no name, no products, no buildings and no backers. Howdens was founded in 1995, and today is a FTSE 100 company with 10,000 staff, sales of over £2 billion and a royal warrant. This is the story of how he got there: the highs and lows, the disasters turned to triumphs, the unsung heroes and the grafters – and the no-nonsense business principles that guided him along the way. Kitchens, or Sink weaves memoir with business insight, telling us a great deal about the state of manufacturing in the UK, how Matthew learned to turn setbacks into opportunities and established the standards he set for himself and his workforce. This is an honest and uplifting story, which also offers sound and pragmatic advice to anyone starting their own business.Trade Review[The] story of the Yorkshireman who founded Howdens kitchens and triumphed against the odds is a true inspiration * Yorkshire Post *

Read more less

Book SynopsisBrian Cunningham’s popular first book, Under the Bonnet, was a colourful and humorous collection of memories of his time as a car mechanic in the 1970s and ‘80s. When he wrote it, he was sure he had put everything of interest down, but it turns out there were quite a few escapades he’d forgotten to mention. Time, then, for part two . . .When the Wheels Come Off is a joyous return, covering what he missed first time round: cars fixed and some broken, fads and crazes, crashes and scrapes and near misses, evolutionary dead-ends in technology, underhanded practices and downright skulduggery, run-ins with management, the tools used, the cars ‘stolen’ and scrapyards visited. A lively and engaging trip back to the workshop.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt was love at first sight. We drove up the long track, pulled into the yard, and wow! What a view. I did the drawings myself, the maximum we were told (in those days) about what one could get away with in terms of planning permission. A local architect did the formal drawings and submitted them for planning permission. I did not intend to do the work myself, it simply happened by circumstance. I put the groundwork out to tender to six contractors. Only one bothered to reply and the quotation was astronomic. The steelwork looked very complicated, but I went to the structural engineer’s office in Gloucester to chat about it. I asked: ‘It looks complicated, but could I do this myself?’ Peter Rowntree was very reassuring. ‘It looks complicated because you are looking at it in its entirety. Let me show you this corner here.’ And he then explained how the steels fitted together and how one wired them up. After a quarter of an hour, he summarised by saying ‘Yes, you could do it.’ And I did! Working only on Saturdays, and even then, not every Saturday, it took me seven years to complete it to a point where we could move into the extension. I was extremely sad to leave Hydefield and putting this book together has been cathartic. I was tremendously proud of what I managed to build and have wanted to produce this photo book to bring back the memories of every little achievement.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen Ground Shifts is an extraordinary first-hand account of the United Arab Emirates' successful bid to host the first World Exposition ever to be held in the Middle East, South Asia or Africa. As the minister responsible and mother to a young family, the author Reem Al-Hashimy describes the international and personal challenges she faced leading a team which went on to stage one of the most unifying and groundbreaking international events of this century, for the first time providing an equal platform for exhibitors of all nations. A story of success from the heart of Arabia, it challenges stereotypes and prejudices about the Middle East, offers an inspirational picture of what is possible for women and girls in the region and beyond, and sheds new light on a more hopeful vision for international relations at a time of global shifts and realignment. The book also offers the fascinating wider context of the Emirates and its role not only in large international events such as Expo and COP but also, in its rejection of the legacy of colonialism, as a broker between nations and a leading country in the Global South.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTo rise from humble beginnings in the Potteries to become a hugely successful barrister involved in many high profile cases would be enough to satisfy the ambitions of many. But Bob Alexander's life took him from the law to be chairman of the Takeover Panel and the NatWest Bank at a critical time when the impact of 'Big Bang' demanded huge changes from many staid financial institutions. Add to that his passion for cricket which led to him being elected chairman of the MCC, and his chairmanship of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and his elevation to the peerage, and you have the extraordinarily full life of a man who rose to the very top of the British establishment. What distinguishes these memoirs from many is the candour with which Lord Alexander describes his wealth of experiences. His accounts of his famous cases - GCHQ, Ken Livingstone, 'Spycatcher,' the Summerfields Fire, Jeffrey Archer - are masterpieces of clarity and concision. But he is never afraid to express his opinions of people and events - and this is particularly so when he describes his efforts to reform the NatWest Bank. His account will surely be of great value to financial historians for years to come. Behind this remarkable success there is a continuing modesty and an openness to argument and opinion, characteristics that made him such a revered and popular figure in so many different worlds. Lord Alexander, who died in 2005 before he was able to complete his memoir, has left us a vivid and revealing personal account of a brilliant career. His wisdom, kindness and mastery of the law touched the lives of so many.Table of ContentsForward by Jonathan Sumption Acknowledgements 1. Homes and Beginnings 2. Cambridge 3. Called to the Bar 4. Brick Court 5. Kerry Packer 6. GCHQ 7. Ken Livingstone 8. Singapore Slings 9. "Spycatcher" 10. The Summerland Fire 11. New Zealand Disaster 12. Jeffrey Archer: Triumph and Tragedy 13. The Takeover Panel 14. NatWest Culture Shock 15. Blue Arrow: In at the Deep End 16. A Deluge of Bad Debts 17. Rebuilding the Business 18. The Perils of Investment Banking 19. Farewell to Banking 20. Freedom 21. Cricket 22. The Royal Shakespeare Company 23. Crossing the Bar by Alfred, Lord Tennyson 25. Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisSir Nigel Rudd is one of the leading businessmen of his generation. Over the past four decades, he has headed a host of major British companies across a range of different industries, piling up experience that is second to none. From his modest upbringing in Derby to the commanding heights of UK plc, Rudd recounts his journey with all the unusual forthrightness and penetrating insight that are his hallmarks. He takes the reader inside the boardrooms as personal and corporate destinies are being settled, against the background of momentous events from the Thatcher Revolution of the 1980s to the financial and Covid crises of this century. Rudd has seen it all and done most of it. This is his story: riveting, panoramic and definitive.Trade Review'I was CEO of three large public companies, so I've had many chairmen over the years. Out of all those chairmen, Nigel Rudd was by far the best. He was incomparable. He's very courageous, ready to take tough and even risky decisions; he has phenomenal business nous; he's always there when you need him and never there when you don't' - Paolo Scaroni, chairman of AC Milan and formerly chief executive of Enel and Pilkington

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlexander Lebedev is best known as the Russian businessman and public figure who bought the Evening Standard and The Independent newspapers in the UK. A former KGB intelligence officer in the USSR’s London Embassy, his book covers the years from his birth in 1959 to 2016. Written in a wry and humorous manner, the book is mainly a memoir of Lebedev's own hair-raising experiences as someone who aspires to show that an 'honest banker' is not an oxymoron. There is the thread of a whodunit as his attempts at constructive and charitable business enterprises are systematically torpedoed by a person or persons unknown. He describes the dirty tricks used against him and the attempt to assassinate him and details how the Russian and international political and business elite live. Lebedev openly tells of his relations with leading politicians, businessmen and cultural figures in Russia and abroad, and investigates corruption scandals, dodgy multi-billion-dollar deals and contract killings. A comical episode on how he faced five years of imprisonment for a minor fracas during a television talk show, and how world show business stars (Elton John, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, John Malkovich, Ian McKellen, Stephen Fry) rallied to his defence. He describes in detail how and why he became involved with two prominent UK newspapers. Lebedev reveals his access to inside sources of information, with policemen and secret policemen slipping him memoirs and transcripts of episodes which would otherwise have remained unknown. It is ultimately a portrait of a political system which ensures that genuine attempts to improve the fortunes of his country and its citizens are built on sand. Trade Review[An] entertaining and wildly self-indulgent account of his life and career in Russia... a noble effort to save an industry in trouble. -- Luke Harding * The Guardian *Alexander Lebedev’s new book is a revelatory portrait of power players, from his days in the KGB to multi-million pound deals. [It] lays bare a world in which the grim violence and comic absurdism you might find in Gogol’s short stories coexist... If Hunt the Banker settles a lot of scores, it’s also a good-humoured account of his own foibles and business failings. -- Anne McElvoy and Jim Armitage * Evening Standard *Table of ContentsPreface: What is the Third Colonialism PART I ‘A Person Resembling the Prosecutor General’, and a Bunch of Gangsters 1 Allow Me to Introduce Myself … - We have all learned step by step - No cloak, no dagger - How to make a billion while retaining your integrity 2 The Xerox Paper Box - ‘Choose or Lose!’ - A pyramid for Yeltsin 3 Nothing Personal, Just Business - More banks: some good, some less good - Sleight of hand and just plain fraud 4 Operation Boar on the Run - Money, especially tainted money, prefers stillness - National Reserve Bank under bombardment - Enter the Tormentors - Pioneers of black PR 5 In the Crosshairs 6 Werewolves in White Uniforms - A leviathan against the Bank - Cui prodest? (Who benefits?) 7 Nothing Secret That Shall Not Be Made Manifest - The aberration of the default - 'Rest in peace, dear comrade. Our suspicions proved unfounded’ - Moskva the Golden PART II The New Hunting Season: Ten Years On 8 Learning from Mistakes - The Promised Land of Crimea - One’s personal wool and the state’s wool - The Blue Wings crash 9 Déjà Vu - Masked Performance: the favourite genre of the siloviki - Whatever happened to Russian Capital? - Redirecting the finger of suspicion - Innocent as charged - Banker gangsters: crime without punishment 10 A Financial Black Magic Performance, and How It Was Done - How Unified Energy System was taken to the cleaners - Aviaprom is bled dry - Setting the standard: the tale of Mezhprombank - How to launder a trillion dollars in the West 11 ‘In Compliance with the Instructions of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation …’ - The NTV Show: an unexpected brush with the turbulent Mr Polonsky - Evening TV stops being soporific - A hooligan ‘motivated by political and religious hatred’ - Advocates and acrobats 12 Faithful to the Legacy of Dr Goebbels - A present for the New Year - Neither in Heaven nor on Earth - The Ukrainian Front - 'Nazi’ and ‘national-traitor’ in the same breath - Below the belt - Inside the information war - ‘Get ’im Out!’ 13 A Courtroom Farce - The ‘Polonsky Case’: a U-turn - Disrespecting society - Bring down the curtain 14 From Popovka to Monaco – an Epilogue - Bye-bye, Forbes! - My Manifesto

Read more less

Book SynopsisProviding both personal and professional revelations about the mid- to late-20th century book trade in England, this is the autobiography of Christopher Hurst, director of C.Hurst & Co. Publishers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDr J.S.Nagra is a retired Inspector of schools. He played a leading role in in getting Asian Languages and Asian studies introduced in British schools. .He has written around fifty books that are used around the world

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis title brings together Jack Webster's two volumes of autobiography. The first part brings to life his homeland of Buchan in the north-east of Scotland. He describes in detail his childhood years in Aberdeenshire with stories of honest hard-working folk, people with often dour exteriors and a sharp, wry sense of humour twinkling beneath. From his childhood, the story moves on to the early years of his career on the "Turiff Advertiser" and his time at the "Scottish Daily Express", with tales of his travels and meeting with the famous all over the world. The second part continues his story, opening with the "roup" in Maud, the auctioning of his family farm, and going on to tell stories and anecdotes of the famous and not-so-famous inhabitants of his native Buchan - people like his great grandfather, Gavin Greig, a scholar of international repute, and the celebrated writer, Lesi Grassic Gibbon, who tragically died at the age of 33. Whether writing of his meetings with the rich and famous, of great events, bloody murder or simply his memories of his childhood, Jack Webster displays the qualities of writing that has made him one of Scotland's best-loved journalists.He is the author of "Famous Ships of the Clyde".

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisFleet Street Round the Clock is about newspaper life before laptops replaced typewriters and hot metal was relegated to the past. Those were the days when Fleet Street - the real Fleet Street - was the goal of every young journalist with an ounce of ambition. The sense of learning the craft of writing for a newspaper was paramount.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 1991, Gerald Ratner made a landmark speech to the Institute of Directors After over 25 years in the jewellery trade, Gerald Ratner was one of the most well-known and successful retailers of his generation. He had built up a highly profitable, multi-million pound international business, including household names like Ratners, H Samuel, Ernest Jones, Watches of Switzerland, as well as over one thousand stores in the US. Being asked to give the keynote address at the Institute of Directors' annual conference at The Royal Albert Hall was a great honour and should have been the crowning glory on two decades of empire building. Gerald's speech was seized upon by the media after he included jokes about the quality of some of the shops' products. But the far-reaching impact that these jokes would have no one could have predicted. "Even though I had once had my name above hundreds of shops up and down the country, it had become more famous as a byword for crap. It took several years to realise just what an impact the speech had had on every aspect of my life." Press coverage of hardback version: "... a rollicking good read" —Michael Skapinker, The FT "Most business autobiographies are so overlaid with ghost-writerly blandness that the character of the subject is lost. Mr Ratner had help with this one, but fortunately he is still there: obsessive, funny and a bit of a scoundrel - the last mitigated by how well he knows it." —The FT "self-effacing, revealing and human" —Luke Johnson, FT Business Life "A few ill-chosen words to a well-heeled audience 16 years ago reduced Britain's biggest jeweller to poverty. Now he reveals how he bounced back" —Jewish Chronicle "...contains lessons for us all" —Management Today "...worth its weight in gold" —The Independent Amazon reviews "Everyone knows the story of Gerald's rise and fall - what an amazing story and well worth reading.... I couldn't put it down, totally gripping and inspiring stuff, you really couldn't see this coming from such an energetic, passionate man" "I have read many bio's from business leaders and most are boring 'how to get rich' or 'let me tell you a long list of not very interesting stories with all the good bits missed out'. Gerald's book is very different it is a great read, I could not put it down" "Sobering and enlightening at the same time. A great read and a morality tale of our time."Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Act I – The Rise 5 Chapter 1 Family Life 7 Chapter 2 Growing Up 17 Chapter 3 Toughening Up 25 Chapter 4 The Family Business 37 Chapter 5 Growing the Business 47 Chapter 6 Going Public 57 Chapter 7 The Home Front 75 Chapter 8 Downturn 87 Chapter 9 Taking Over 105 Chapter 10 Turnaround 115 Chapter 11 The Big Time 125 Chapter 12 Trauma 133 Chapter 13 Thatcher’s Decade 149 Chapter 14 The Incredible Eighties 173 Chapter 15 Going Global 181 Chapter 16 Riding the Acquisitions Express 191 Act II – The Fall 203 Chapter 17 Welcome to the Nineties 205 Chapter 18 An Invitation 211 Chapter 19 That Speech 221 Chapter 20 As Bad as it Gets 243 Chapter 21 The End 257 Chapter 22 The Wilderness 263 Chapter 23 Out of the Frying Pan 273 Act III – The Rise Again 287 Chapter 24 Starting All Over Again 289 Chapter 25 The Launch 305 Chapter 26 Dotcom Millionaire 321 Chapter 27 Thinking Big 333 Chapter 28 What Goes Around 345 The Speech 351 Index 365

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book tells the story of how John Egan gradually overcame the odds and, piece by piece, rebuilt this great company, winning over the workforce, the overseas dealers and, most important of all, the customers. Working with Margaret Thatcher and her Government, Egan and his team of managers overcame every obstacle, every set-back, every challenge. Again and again, it looked impossible. Yet using innovative techniques, intelligence, eloquence, openness, motor racing and much more, they saved this most charismatic company which has created some of the finest and most loved motor cars of all time.It is an amazing story that will appeal equally to car enthusiasts, those in business and readers interested in social history.     

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTed Fort's is a life of full of coincidences and lucky pivotal moments, but this memoir is far more than a rags-to-riches" story. Ted writes with refreshing honesty about the ups and downs of establishing a very successful international engineering business, as well as his the peaks and troughs of his personal life.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom his early days in establishing United Scientific Holdings PLC as a multi-million pound listed company to his sudden transformation into a senior civil servant as Chief of Defence Procurement at the invitation of Michael Heseltine the then Minister of Defence, followed by a move into investment banking and unexpected appointments to act as Prime Minister John Major’s Efficiency Advisor and then run the Docklands Light Railway before becoming Chairman and Chief Executive of the troubled Canary Wharf development, Peter’s career has uniquely straddled both the public and private sectors at the highest levels, invariably in troubled times. In parallel, he worked his way up the City of London’s civic hierarchy, becoming a Common Councilman, Alderman, Sheriff and finally Lord Mayor of London which gave him the opportunity to promote the image and services of the City across the globe. On return to the commercial world, he resumed his post at Deutsche Bank and subsequently joined the boards of Sainsbury’s, Deutsche Borse, IFSL, Eurotunnel, China Construction Bank and Haymarket Media Group. Breaking with insurance industry tradition, he was appointed as `an outsider’ to the Chairmanship of Lloyd’s of London. Whilst there, he was invited by Liam Fox to chair the newly formed `Defence Reform Group’ which introduced a series of important changes in the structure and workings of the MOD which became known as the `Levene Reforms’. Currently he is Chairman of the Starr Insurance Group in London and continues with a number of other directorships as well as his involvement in several charitable and philanthropic activities.Table of ContentsPreface by Rt Hon the Lord Heseltine ch pc Introduction 1. Family, Childhood and Adolescence 2. United Scientific Holdings 3. Adviser to Michael Heseltine 4. Getting stuck in at the Ministry of Defence 5. Hard Graft at the Ministry of Defence 6. Adviser to the Prime Minister 7. Canary Wharf 8. Alderman and other appointments 9. Lord Mayor of London 10. Chairman of Lloyd’s 11. Director and Chairman 12. Reflections on a Busy Life Acknowledgements Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisDick Olver's initial response to being offered a job at BP was to turn it down. Luckily he didn't. Thirty years later, he had risen to be deputy CEO. His next appointment was Chairman of BAE Systems where a steady new hand was needed. Dick's great skill of getting the very best outof people is captured in hiscompelling autobiography.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMichelle Mone is one of the most successful businesswomen of her generation and inspiration for entrepreneurs the world over. In My Fight to the Top, Michelle tells the story of how she overcame near-poverty on the rough streets of north-west Scotland, before rising to the top of the business world. This is the tell-all account of the UK's most fearless fashion brand and the truth behind the woman that created it.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Power of Authenticity: Three Principles of Leadership Success is a fascinating and candid account of the obstacles and triumphs that Dr Raja Al Gurg faced on her path to becoming one of the most influential businesswomen in the Arab world. Dr Al Gurg is the Chairperson and Managing Director at the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, an eminent family business in the UAE. In The Power of Authenticity she gives invaluable insight into the lessons she learned first as a secondary school principal before climbing the ladder of a diversified conglomerate that represents businesses ranging from retail to real estate. As a respected business leader in the region, Dr Al Gurg has defied conventional understandings about women in the Middle East, acknowledging that it was her handling of these all-too-pervasive challenges that ultimately shaped her leadership style and fostered her drive for success. Turning setbacks into strategies, she shares with readers the tactics and tools that she has gleaned from her illustrious career that will inspire the next generation of business leaders. Perfect for fans of Sheryl Sandberg, Indra Nooyi and Kashmir Maryam, Dr Al Gurg's lessons, and how they relate to her background and broader business philosophy, are a unique and essential contribution to literature on an increasingly competitive and diverse corporate world. By harnessing the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual energy that resides within each person, Dr Al Gurg explains how a leadership style based on personal authenticity can lead to business success. Along the way she considers What does it take to steer a company? How can a failure be turned into an advantage? How can women business leaders break down barriers and make a difference in the corporate world? Confident and encouraging, The Power of Authenticity answers these questions, and many more.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a rags-to-riches story about a man who came from a Greek village, born to a father with three years’ schooling and an illiterate mother, whose down-to-earth Greek values formed the foundation of an entrepreneur who went on to build a multi-million-dollar fashion empire. Today, Panos Emporio is one of the most established luxury swimwear brands in the world, being the choice of celebrities and royal families amongst others. Panos Papadopoulos created this empire in his new country of Sweden in record time, introducing the winning combination of innovative design, skillful entrepreneurship and ground-breaking marketing, which elevated the brand to its world-leading position. Panos’ life as an entrepreneur is a tale of passion and total commitment. In telling his story, he also provides success lessons and valuable advice to other entrepreneurs, that can be applied to sectors beyond fashion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPer Wimmer is equally known as a global financier, philanthropist, adventurer and explorer. Today, Per owns and runs his own investment bank, Wimmer Financial, which he founded in 2007. He has also supported numerous charities financially with a particular view to inspiring children to live out their dreams. His penchant for exploration and adventure has taken him to 85 countries, a world landspeed record attempt, crossing the USA on a Harley-Davidson motorbike, living with the Indians of the Amazon Forest, skydiving over Mount Everest - and soon to be the first Dane private citizen to fly into space via Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic. This is the first volume in the autobiography of a person who a commentator described as "a true Indiana Jones meets 007 James Bond". Per Wimmer's life story is far from ordinary and very much driven by the desire to push boundaries. This first volume covers Per's formative years, his growing fascination for adventure, travel and space, and the growth of his career in international finance, culminating in the founding of Wimmer Financial.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDay-to-day struggles, triumphant success stories, and unique circumstances. A Quick Ting On: Black British Businesses takes you on an informative journey through the history (and future) of Black British entrepreneurship.With the powerful rise of Black British culture, Black British entrepreneurship has rapidly become a point of great conversation. This book looks back on significant moments in Black British entrepreneurship, exploring the struggles, success and unique circumstances that face Black British businesses.Featuring brilliant interviews and first-hand accounts from some of your favourite Black British entrepreneurs - from Sharmadean Reid MBE and Ozwald Boateng OBE, to the late great Jamal Edwards MBE, and so many more - Black British Businesses offers an important insight into how one of Britain's most influential communities continues to create space in the world of business.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less