My Fight to the Top

by Michelle Mone

The perfect blend of business and drama, My Fight to the Top is a unique, heart-rending autobiography that has mass appeal, whether the reader wants to learn how to get ahead in business, or simply learn how to keep it together through life's challenges. From the rough East End of Glasgow, Michelle Mone overcame the physical violence of school bullies, the emotional trauma of financial difficulties at home, and the tragic paralysis of her father, to become one of the UK's most respected entrepreneurial women. From the simple experience of wearing an uncomfortable bra, Michelle created the Ultimo brand, now worth £50m. However, the road has been far from smooth, and the pressure of trying to build a business and be a good mother brought her marriage—and her health—to the edge. But with steely determination she fought back, striving to make Ultimo a genuine success story.

Genres: Biography, Business, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2015

Reviews

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book met my expectations in divulging Mone's impressive drive for riches and just how she ensured her focus for business success was unwavering in the face of many challenges. An extremely easy read which aims to strike a balance between unashamedly 'outing' those who dared stand in Mone's way to business success and a form of 'self-help' book with motivational quips thrown in for good measure. Does everything it says on the tin. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

It read like a giant daily mail article, she has had an interesting journey though.

[Tegan McKernon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had hoped this book would be more of an insight into how her business flourished. Instead I felt that too much time was spent focusing on her personal life.

[Tam Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an inspiring story of a great woman entrepreneur!

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the book in almost one sitting, as I wanted to know where the story will go! It was a fascinating read. I am surprised by some of the things she was able to share (and not get sued?! Or maybe she did?), it was a 5 star read for me as about 80% in I checked some of the publicly available information about tax evation etc, which did put a bit of a question mark/doubt in my mind about what I was reading.
I had found this book from a list of most insoiring female memoirs, and up until reading it I had never heard of her brand. But in any case, this is a book about strong determination, never quitting, even when it looks like everything is falling apart.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. This was a quick and glazed over account of Michelle Mone's life. Anything you have seen in the press about her you will read in this book, there are no juicy secrets. If there was then they have been left out. The part where she is scammed literally read over 1 page. It's not the most well written autobiography, I found it filled with cheesy cliche quotes and saying's. There is also not much in-depth inside business information regarding the Ultimo brand, again the way Michelle wrote about her business was quick and glazed over. However I found myself wanting to know what happened next so I consumed this in 1 day. This was disappointing overall.

[Bissan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of books that you don’t drop until you finish it.... Brilliant... straight forward... utterly inspiring... of course i don’t agree her lifestyle.. but she is a successful woman according to her standards.

[A British Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible - didn't want to put it down.

[Karen Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book.
If I’m being completely honest, I didn’t know who Michelle mone was. I didn’t know what her business or brand was about. I didn’t know what her life or her husband or her business was like. I actually had to do a quick google dive a couple chapters into the book because I realized she must be really famous. But that’s not the point, the point was, i read through her struggles and her childhood without knowing who she was.. not knowing who she was to become so it was the shock of my life when I learnt what she’s build for herself.. an empire. I could not keep the book down and I finished it in a couple hours. She’s an inspiration to all the women out there. I would highly highly recommend reading this book.

After binging on female entrepreneur autiobiographies and feeling disappointed by books like any poehlrs or Tina Feys bossy pants, (that’s not to say they weren’t good) but nothing compared to this rag to riches story. It’s a motivation and an inspiration to all women. Sometimes I’d question wether I should look into her story more. I doubted wether she was just giving us her perspective on everything, but I realized this is far too elaborate and raw to be made up.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very easy book to read. I give her that. For the rest not much insight into how exactly she made the business a succes. Much about her personal life and how hard it has been quite negative if you ask me. Also lots of bitterness towards the ex. She says in her book the lifestyle of her youth in the gettho was one with a lot of drama. Seems like she hasnt left that behind. She is living the same way just with more money. She also says the kids are not affected by her and her husband toxic relationship I find that very hard to believe. I feel like Michelle only writes about the things she wants others to know or view her like the rest is all for show and just exterior. Would not recommend this as a book for/about female fashion entrepreneurs. More about how not to do it!

[Oanh Nguyễn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Một cuốn sách hiếm hoi khi nhìn thấy cái tên là biết sẽ thích và đọc đến cùng.

Phụ nữ - doanh nhân - tình yêu - và cuộc sống luôn thật thu hút.

Nếu bạn là phụ nữ, bạn muốn thay đổi số phận, thay đổi cuộc đời, bạn phải đứng lên và xông vào nó. Dù cuộc đời chà đạp thì phải đứng lên và đạp vào nó. Thái độ phải- làm- được, suy nghĩ what’s next và sự thông minh đến sắc sảo của người phụ nữ này khiến ta phát hờn!

Khó để hoàn hảo khi bạn thành công trong sự nghiệp, bạn phải đối mặt với đổ nát trên cuộc hôn nhân....

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed reading Michelle’s life story. It is a very easy read, ideal for a holiday. Definitely makes you think that you should push and do a bit more in your life. At the same time I felt that Michelle is very self centred but that comes with being an entrepreneur and she definitely deserves admiration for all her hard work.

[waad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some quotes
#"I guess it would be fair to say I was as ambitious in love as in my work"
#"I was no longer just another face in the crowd. NO, I STOOD OUT"
#"When you're happy you enjoy the music; when you're sad you understand the lyrics"
#"never wait for people to come to you; you've got to go out there and get the opportunity yourself"

[Pupak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very impressed with Michelle’s hard work, perseverance, and consistency. It’s really inspiring that she doesn’t take no for an answer. Her creativity and openness are valuable traits and I believe no matter what we do or what road we’re going through, us, women need to learn to love ourselves and accept and respect ourselves and our talents and capabilities.

[Nicole Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a woman

What an amazing story. Michelle has been through a lot. Her family must be so proud of the woman/mother she became.

[Darya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read and fascinating life. She is honest and pleasant. I was left with a positive feeling after I finished the book.

[Laura Comiskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like inspirational stories you will love this. It’s a fantastic story, one the best script writers couldn’t imagine. I loved every chapter and would have recommended it to lots.

[Mika Paris · Rating 1 out of 5]

What about mentioning why she is a total scam?

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty lightweight which is strange as the story isn’t. I found it interesting but it didn’t feel like a particularly intellectual exercise reading it

[Joyce Ellis · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was ok but Michelle Mone comes across as a thoroughly unlikeable person. The whole book is ‘woe is me’! She says she had a poverty stricken 70s childhood, yet they had a chinese carry out, or ate out in a restaurant every week...hardly poverty! I have just watched a documentary in which her daughter went to live in the area Michelle was brought up in. I was struck by the bad relationship between mother and daughter. Bethany, her daughter, said she would give up all the wealth, big houses, holidays etc for a mum who she saw more than twice a year. That says it all. I would really live to hear her ex-husband Michaels side of the story!

[Dora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in 24 hours as it is an easy read. I initially read it because I was amazed at her weight loss. She only very briefly touched on that though and mentioned she started a business with Jan de Vries, a homeopath. I then googled their slimming product and read very poor reviews so there must have been more to her weight loss than that.

As someone else said if they could afford chinese meals and afternoon teas out then they weren’t a poor family. I don’t think our family had a meal out anywhere until I was about 21 and working. neither could we have afforded to go abroad yet she said she went on honeymoon to America. I would have thought that would have been a mega event, flying abroad but she didn’t comment at all.
I never went abroad until I was 40 years old!!

It was interesting and moved along fast and I hope that she has finally found happiness. I hear she is about to marry a billionaire so fingers crossed!

[Dominic · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's great to read about an entrepreneur that you admire and hear about how they have gotten to where they are today. This is an inspirational book, in my opinion, which reflects a person with a burning desire to succeed in business, whilst also going through the ever present struggles of normal parenthood and life in general. There is a lot of moments where it ends up being '... And I fell down crying" which annoyed me initially but once you can get over that and the constant fighting with the husband, you really start to appreciate the person that Michelle is and see through her eyes. I am a massive fan of this women and also share the ambition to succeed in work the same as her with the "can do attitude" which is frequently referred to within this book! Keep fighting, you're in control.

[Isabell Melvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that I am partial to autobiographies as opposed to biographies in general. I thought Michelle Mone portrayed a very clear cut and honest outlook to her life thus far and I had so much to appreciate about someone who could be so raw with her fallings and her success. A good read that I went through in under a day because I just had to find out what she did next.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing journey from an amazing woman who has overcome many obstacles both personally & professionally. There's a touch of 'Jackie Collins' about this story but this is the real deal. Inspiring to say the least & I couldn't put it down.

[Tanya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't connect with the author or the story. Some very strange examples of "handling a challenging situation". It was tedious to finish the book. Not a book I think about when I imagine a string entrepreneurial woman.

[Miss Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting read. What an amazing women! feeling quite inspired.

[Francisca Ryani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is gem. You can tell that she's telling her story by heart. The passion and drive inside of her is amazing -she's such an inspiration.

[Doris Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't help but think Michelle glossed over her life in no specific details. It felt like I was reading facts about someone's life with only a tiny bit of emotion thrown in.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, so it's not the finest crafted book in the world, but I was able to ignore that fact because Michelle's story is so compelling and inspirational, and after all she does not claim to be a writer!

[MaryEllen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big "Atta girl!" for Michele Mone. She writes as she lives--fast paced. I was exhausted by the end of the book!

Inspiring read. Much luck to her in the future.