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(Wake Up and Change Your Life) [By: Bannatyne, Duncan] [Aug, 2009]

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Duncan Bannatyne reveals how to set up a business and make it a great success. Having started out with ice cream van, he knows exactly how it can be done—and how to avoid the pitfalls along the way. In a series of clear and easy-to-follow chapters, Duncan removes the barriers to getting started as an entrepreneur, and helps to plan a way forward through those potentially difficult early days. He shows that there is no substitute for hard work, and insists that you must be completely honest with yourself about your own strengths and weaknesses if you are to succeed. He outlines the key attributes you will need and how you can develop them to achieve your dreams. Backed with fascinating examples from his own career and case studies from a wide range of other entrepreneurs, this book provides the perfect wake-up call for you to change your life for the better.

Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

21 people are currently reading
135 people want to read

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Duncan Bannatyne

20 books10 followers

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5 stars
42 (20%)
4 stars
79 (37%)
3 stars
64 (30%)
2 stars
19 (9%)
1 star
5 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Louise Armstrong.
Author 33 books15 followers
August 17, 2011
I have to give this book 5 stars because he said something that I know will have a big effect on me (which is why I read self-help books!

Duncan said that you have to know what your business is. I write romantic novels, but he says that's not a business, that's an activity. My business lies is what I do differently from every other writer. My unique selling point in other words, which I'd never quite understood before.

All his other advice seems sound as well. YOu wouldn't waste your time reading this book even if you didn't get a lightbulb moment out of it.
Profile Image for Marcin Boruchowski.
151 reviews3 followers
May 5, 2024
This book provides the inspiration for you to move from thinking and talking about starting your own business to actually making the commitment to literally change your life.
The main strength of this book is in the first five chapters which make it an ideal primer for anyone thinking about starting a business. While it's an interesting read, it is much less relevant for business owners who already have their businesses up and running and want to improve performance. The book is recommended for anybody who is thinking about starting a business.
Profile Image for Wilde Sky.
Author 16 books39 followers
June 19, 2019
A basic guide to starting a business.

There were some interesting points in this book, especially the comments from successful entrepreneurs, but overall it was a bit repetitive.

Reading time around three hours.
1 review
June 1, 2020
Good for those who don't know even ABCD's of business
I didn't find anything extraordinary in this book but some concepts like angel investors, VC , how to get loan from bank got cleared.
I recommend this book to the budding entrepreneurs
Profile Image for Seemy.
895 reviews10 followers
December 21, 2023
I'm not sure why people thought this book was good, I gave it a poor 2/5 stars, - nowhere near his original book anyone can do it - this was just a re-hask of good business sense and a few interviews...this book was surely ghost written with his brand just slapped on it...with a few insights

or maybe I found it basic because ive become a student of learning new things and studying entrepreneurship - this being one of the poorer books i've read from a very successful and smart guy


I think I loved his first book so much, maybe thats why I was let down..too high hopes perhaps?...but yeah good commen business sense...so maybe a good book for absolute newbies in going into business for themselves...

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Profile Image for Tony Tomlinson.
19 reviews1 follower
Read
August 25, 2016
This was the first business book I ever read, originally back in 2008 and to be fair I owe a lot to Mr Bannatyne as I always knew sales, I knew product and service but I was never sure how to even make a start running a business. How to write a business plan, put together financial forecasts, this book to me was more of an 'idiots guide to starting a company' and by that I dont mean any disrespect to the author or anyone reading it but it literally puts it all together in lehmans terms and shows that actually, business is very simple.

I later revisited this book in Feb 2016 and this time read it with a nodding head.

A great read for anyone looking to start out on their own for the first time.
Profile Image for Andy Parkes.
426 reviews9 followers
July 31, 2014
Picked this up as it was only a couple of pounds at a book shop I was browsing. I've been looking at books about how people run their businesses and was interested to see how Duncan does it. this book can be described as a beginners guide to starting a business which is fine if you have no experience at all about starting or running a company but if it's something you've already been involved with then it'll feel a little basic. one irritant was where a piece of advice would be offered but followed up with "but I didn't do it that way". it didn't inspire confidence! I did enjoy then case studies that detailed how others had got started.
Profile Image for Paul Gannon.
21 reviews
February 6, 2013
If you're looking to start a business or even interested in business then this book gives some great advice. It's not a get-rich-quick book though. Duncan goes through a lot and running a business, taking everything he mentions, is to me very daunting.
Profile Image for Simon Sweetman.
Author 13 books66 followers
April 7, 2013
A good book, some good practical advice and it's well-written/interesting. Can't ask for more with this sort of book. I got it from the library as something of a joke, really. Then decided to read it. Found it useful and interesting.
Profile Image for Andrew Anyetei.
22 reviews2 followers
August 2, 2018
I bought this book years ago and decided to finish it. I found this book to be helpful for people who wish to start their own business as it provides advice which can be useful as well as highlighting the pros and cons that comes along with it.
Profile Image for Andy Whyte.
5 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2010
Good book. Gets a bit tedious and repetitive at times. Would prefer more in depth commentary from other entrepreneurs.
Profile Image for Risto Kärkkäinen.
108 reviews7 followers
July 10, 2014
I vaguely recall that this guy made his fortune with his gym franchise business. This falls into inspiring and boosting self-help category. I didn't expect much.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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