How They Started: How 30 Good Ideas Became Great Businesses

by David Lester

Lots of us have ideas we think would make great businesses. Most of us never do anything with those ideas. But for those that do, a world of opportunity awaits them. This book is about 30 people who acted on their idea, made the first steps to start their business and subsequently went on to turn it into a global brand. From Innocent to Cobra to Dreams to Dysone, we reveal how some of the UK's biggest businesses got of the ground, and those very first steps taken by their founders.

Genres: Business

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jude Ripin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring collection of successful businessmen stories which started from only an idea they each had, initially. Kudos to David Lester and his team for researching and compiling this unique book for readers to read and enjoy, and perhaps inspire them enough to start their own businesses eventually.

[Ramses M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a simple idea, which is why it's so great. I remember sitting in libraries in East London excitedly reading these books in the evenings, as I took a break from the company I was building. It provided some good inspiration.
Now the stories may be a little (repeat little) simplified at times, but nonetheless hav eto comend David for putting it together.
The title actually played a part in inspiring the title to me own book: "How It All Got Started: Lessons in Life, Art and Entrepreneurship from Hip Hop Icons" (although it's also based on a Nas song!)

[Wenslaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

All from humble beginnings.This book shows us that it's possible.

[Florin Dragusin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy book to go through. Finished more to get through 10 books / year challenge, but not very engaging to push you to want to read more.
Interesting ideas and topic, very focused on UK market and quite old - most of the businesses were done through the mail orders.
It gave a good inspiration about what might be the challenges and what were sources for people to collect initial capital.
The main purpose of the book was to inspire to read the full version - for me this scope was not achieved. But 3 out of 5 it is still not a bad lecture, is a 1 day book, easy book for the weekend in case of looking for inspiration for starting a business.