NEW START // ISSUE 6 // 65

THE REAL DEAL: MY STORY FROM BRICK LANE TO THE DRAGONS’ DEN - JAMES CAAN

5 OUT OF 5

FROM THE MOMENT HE LEFT SCHOOL, AND WALKED OUT OF HIS SHOCKED MUSLIM FAMILY’S HOME AT 16, JAMES’ STORY IS ONE OF INSPIRATION AND ENTHUSIASM.

James Caan is one of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs. Dropping out of school at just sixteen, he started his business life with no qualifications and two pieces of advice: ‘observe the masses and do the opposite’ and ‘always look for opportunities where both parties benefit’. Armed with just these two pieces of fatherly wisdom, extraordinary charm and the yellow pages, James Caan built a market-leading business with a turnover of more than £130 million from a broom cupboard.

As business biographies go, this has to be up there as one of the best. The book gives a real insight into how and why James made the decisions he has throughout his career.

Written in an open and honest way, James doesn't flinch from explaining his few mistakes and failures along the way.

From the moment he left school, and walked out of his shocked Muslim family's home at 16, James’ story is one of inspiration and enthusiasm.

And while he inside look at the making of BBC’s Dragons’ Den is fascinating, reading about how James deals with his fear of realising his goals too early, and offers a frank account of what success at 30 really means.

This is a great read for any business hopeful as well as a good booster for those already in business.