A Sprat to Catch a Mackerel: Key Principles to Build your Business

by Ackerman R., Pippa de Bruyn, Suzanne Ackerman

When Raymond Ackerman was fired from his job in 1966, he persuaded a group of friends to loan him the money to buy three small Pick 'n Pay stores, which at the time employed a total of 175 people. On his retirement, 44 years later, he had changed the face of southern African retailing, growing his company to encompass 792 stores in eight countries, employing more than 60 000 people, and generating an annual turnover of around R60 billion. In A Sprat to Catch a Mackerel: Key principles to build your business, Raymond Ackerman shares the basic tenets behind his business philosophy - timeless principles that have guided him through some of South Africa's most turbulent times. Whatever your business background or interest, the practical, accessible advice in this book will help you define and build your vision, and help you reach success and self-actualised growth - not by chasing profit, but by giving expression to a driving passion.

Genres: Business, Leadership

216 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

Reviews

[Nicholas Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good, short and concise book on the basics to starting a business.

I actually expected a business biography on Pick n Pay through the years and really hoped to get a look inside the retail giant. That is not what this book is - slight more of a startups for dummies/spot test on starting a business.

That being said if you know what to expect it does offer some incredible nuggets of advice.

In particular, Ackerman’s business and problem solving philosophies are very interesting, and I particularly found value in his chapter on employees (hiring, promoting, motivating, firing etc.)

I’m used to the Hollywood style Silicon Valley inspired startup books of today and so on first pass of the book I felt it lacked spark, but when reviewing my notes I realized that although not quite as sexy as a Ryan Holiday title, it does offer some hard earned, very valuable advice for the budding entrepreneur.

[Thabiso Kgabung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides for some basic business fundamentals

[Sterren Botha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A revolutionary businessman out of South Africa. Mentor to the Walton’s (Walmart) who used his blueprint to the modern day supermarket.

[Lebogang Madise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Raymond Ackerman. I strongly recommend this to entrepreneurs, especially Founders who are starting up or pivoting a new product.