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 GBP130 million from a broom cupboard.'
The Real Deal' is the incredible story of James' remarkable life. From his childhood as a Pakistani immigrant to the phenomenal success of his first company, this book traces James Caan's journey to both financial and personal maturity. It deals with his fear at realising his goals too early, and offers a frank account of what success at 30 really means. 'The Real Deal' brings us bang up to the present, including the truth about his role on Dragons' Den, what his charity work in Kashmir means to him, and how he has come to completely re-evaluate what money is really worth.
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 GBP130 million from a broom cupboard.'
The Real Deal' is the incredible story of James' remarkable life. From his childhood as a Pakistani immigrant to the phenomenal success of his first company, this book traces James Caan's journey to both financial and personal maturity. It deals with his fear at realising his goals too early, and offers a frank account of what success at 30 really means. 'The Real Deal' brings us bang up to the present, including the truth about his role on Dragons' Den, what his charity work in Kashmir means to him, and how he has come to completely re-evaluate what money is really worth.
After dropping out of school at just sixteen, James Caan started his business life in a broom cupboard with no qualifications and two pieces of fatherly wisdom: 'observe the masses and do the opposite' and 'always look for opportunities where both parties benefit'. Armed with this advice, natural charm and the Yellow Pages, he built a market-leading business with a turnover of �130 million and swiftly became one of Britain's most successful entrepreneurs. From Caan's childhood as a Pakistani immigrant to the phenomenal success of his first company and beyond, The Real Deal traces both his financial and personal achievements. It offers a frank account of what success at thirty really signifies and brings us right up to the present, including his impact on Dragons' Den and what his charity work, from saving a hospital in London to building a school in Lahore, means to him. Ultimately, it is a story of learning what money is really worth, told by one the country's most insightful businessmen.
After dropping out of school at just sixteen, James Caan started his business life in a broom cupboard with no qualifications and two pieces of fatherly wisdom: 'observe the masses and do the opposite' and 'always look for opportunities where both parties benefit'. Armed with this advice, natural charm and the Yellow Pages, he built a market-leading business with a turnove After dropping out of school at just sixteen, James Caan started his business life in a broom cupboard with no qualifications and two pieces of fatherly wisdom: 'observe the masses and do the opposite' and 'always look for opportunities where both parties benefit'. Armed with this advice, natural charm and the Yellow Pages, he built a market-leading business with a turnover of £130 million and swiftly became one of Britain's most successful entrepreneurs. From Caan's childhood as a Pakistani immigrant to the phenomenal success of his first company and beyond, The Real Deal traces both his financial and personal achievements.
It offers a frank account of what success at thirty really signifies and brings us right up to the present, including his impact on Dragons' Den and what his charity work, from saving a hospital in London to building a school in Lahore, means to him. Ultimately, it is a story of learning what money is really worth, told by one the country's most insightful businessmen. Now I'm the type of person who avoids reality style with a passion and while not real reality TV I did class Dragons Den in a similar genre. But with spending some time away from home in hotels/travelling I did watch a couple of episodes just to kill time. So when I saw this book for sale on Audible I remembered the programme and James Caan. All I knew about him was that fact that he was on Dragons Den and no more, bout having a couple a credits on my audible account and nothing else that I fancie Now I'm the type of person who avoids reality style with a passion and while not real reality TV I did class Dragons Den in a similar genre.
But with spending some time away from home in hotels/travelling I did watch a couple of episodes just to kill time. So when I saw this book for sale on Audible I remembered the programme and James Caan. All I knew about him was that fact that he was on Dragons Den and no more, bout having a couple a credits on my audible account and nothing else that I fancied book wise I decided to take the plunge with this book. I am so glad I did as well, the book, also read by James Caan is from beginning to end a very interesting story. It is nice to see a person who to all intents and purposes starred out with just the shirt on his back make it so far in life. From his struggles to break free from the family business, to finding his future wife with a few untruths, the creation of the recruitment agency in a top floor office and then through the rest of his life with his charitable work.
The book is week written/read and give a good picture of the challenges that James faced throughout his career. I can now look at James in a different light, though I still don't think I will watch Dragons Den. So I'd recommend this book to anyone with a) an interest in James from his time on Dragons Den or b) an interest in how someone transforms their life from starting with very little to being responsible for a multi million pound organisation.
James Caan's autobiography is very interesting because James was an English entrepreneur who succeeded through operational excellence. His company was an executive recruitment firm and therefore had no specific technological advantage, so when James Caan saw an opportunity, he developed his skills and approach until he found the strategy that worked, then continued refining it to perfection. I found his approach interesting. He identified an opportunity then went away changing his pitch until he James Caan's autobiography is very interesting because James was an English entrepreneur who succeeded through operational excellence. His company was an executive recruitment firm and therefore had no specific technological advantage, so when James Caan saw an opportunity, he developed his skills and approach until he found the strategy that worked, then continued refining it to perfection. I found his approach interesting.
He identified an opportunity then went away changing his pitch until he found the right strategy over the course of weeks. Also, because he needed to be seen as a more established firm, he always named his endeavors with people's names that gave the impression he wanted rather than his own name. All in all, it was an interesting read about behind one of the popular entrepreneurs from Dragon's Den. I had to finish this book because I started it by mistake some years ago and it was just holding on me like a burden. That was a mistake and I should have dump it all the way down the toilet.
This book doesn't have any point, nothing useful or interesting has been shared, written as journal of a illiterate undergraduate. Ordinary and boring. 'I saved my father, because I helped this hospital, I made such a good decisions here and there, I went helping kids to get into school in Pakis Never again. I had to finish this book because I started it by mistake some years ago and it was just holding on me like a burden.
That was a mistake and I should have dump it all the way down the toilet. This book doesn't have any point, nothing useful or interesting has been shared, written as journal of a illiterate undergraduate. Bank gothic bold. Ordinary and boring.
'I saved my father, because I helped this hospital, I made such a good decisions here and there, I went helping kids to get into school in Pakistan, blah blah blah'. I don't mind this to be written for himself and for the family of his. I don't want to read all this. It was my fault to even start reading book by this 'Dragon' Den' investor genius. Some people's desire to write a book (especially autobiography one) should be prohibited on all levels. I read this book back a few years ago, and I decided to read it again now that I'm older, have more experience in the world of work (in recruitment in particular) and am more determined than ever that a life of entrepreneurship is for me.
Since working in recruitment, and knowing how tough it is on a daily basis, even with all the tools available for me (the internet, training, best practice, computers), I've come to respect James even more now that I can appreciate what he's accomplished with j I read this book back a few years ago, and I decided to read it again now that I'm older, have more experience in the world of work (in recruitment in particular) and am more determined than ever that a life of entrepreneurship is for me. Since working in recruitment, and knowing how tough it is on a daily basis, even with all the tools available for me (the internet, training, best practice, computers), I've come to respect James even more now that I can appreciate what he's accomplished with just a phone and the yellow pages. There's a lot for me to learn from this book, I'll be sure to remember them and put them into practice one day.
Brilliant book. It started off a little slow, but then tells you about how James created a recruitment firm out of nothing, how it went through recession and how he franchised a second recruitment company. It then tells about his second career as a venture capitalist and his experiences on Dragon's Den. It is full of tips and wisdom about entrepreneurship and business in general. Also what to look out for if you fancy pitching to the Dragons. He seems like a very nice, humble guy and hats off to Brilliant book. It started off a little slow, but then tells you about how James created a recruitment firm out of nothing, how it went through recession and how he franchised a second recruitment company.
It then tells about his second career as a venture capitalist and his experiences on Dragon's Den. It is full of tips and wisdom about entrepreneurship and business in general. Also what to look out for if you fancy pitching to the Dragons. He seems like a very nice, humble guy and hats off to what he is trying to achieve with his charity work in Pakistan and other places. Awesome book and a great read seeing a fellow asian muslim go from nothing to multi millionaire (I actually got it for free from the itunes library ) where James reads out his audio book himself.so was really good. Above all I admired at even clearly where he was VERY successful and is.he still puts in that blood, sweat and tears.amazing really and true marks of a real entrepreneur and showing what it takes to really get that success he has deserving accumulated Waseem Mirza Awesome book and a great read seeing a fellow asian muslim go from nothing to multi millionaire (I actually got it for free from the itunes library ) where James reads out his audio book himself.so was really good. Above all I admired at even clearly where he was VERY successful and is.he still puts in that blood, sweat and tears.amazing really and true marks of a real entrepreneur and showing what it takes to really get that success he has deserving accumulated Waseem Mirza.
This is a great book for anybody into business or autobiographies of successful people. Guy comes to Europe from Pakistan as a young child, with a father that cannot read or write, drops out of high school, deals with societal/social pressure to be something he's not, and goes on to become a great businessman and philanthropist. Not only do you get into the mind of James Caan, you also get some very specific business advice you can apply to your career, including tips on negotiation and hiring pe This is a great book for anybody into business or autobiographies of successful people. Guy comes to Europe from Pakistan as a young child, with a father that cannot read or write, drops out of high school, deals with societal/social pressure to be something he's not, and goes on to become a great businessman and philanthropist. Not only do you get into the mind of James Caan, you also get some very specific business advice you can apply to your career, including tips on negotiation and hiring people. This book is fascinating, it charts the back story of how James Caan became an entrepreneur. The quote that stays with me is 'Observe the masses and do the opposite'.
I could not stop listening/reading his story. There are some highs and lows along the way, so interesting and captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found James Caan to be very interesting and inspiring, he shows how you can become successful with sheer hard work and determination. He also found lots of ways to motivate people as This book is fascinating, it charts the back story of how James Caan became an entrepreneur.
The quote that stays with me is 'Observe the masses and do the opposite'. I could not stop listening/reading his story. There are some highs and lows along the way, so interesting and captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found James Caan to be very interesting and inspiring, he shows how you can become successful with sheer hard work and determination.
He also found lots of ways to motivate people as he tends to invest in people, highly recommended!
After dropping out of school at just sixteen, James Caan started his business life in a broom cupboard with no qualifications and two pieces of fatherly wisdom: 'observe the masses and do the opposite' and 'always look for opportunities where both parties benefit'. Armed with this advice, natural charm and the Yellow Pages, he built a market-leading business with a turnove After dropping out of school at just sixteen, James Caan started his business life in a broom cupboard with no qualifications and two pieces of fatherly wisdom: 'observe the masses and do the opposite' and 'always look for opportunities where both parties benefit'. Armed with this advice, natural charm and the Yellow Pages, he built a market-leading business with a turnover of £130 million and swiftly became one of Britain's most successful entrepreneurs. From Caan's childhood as a Pakistani immigrant to the phenomenal success of his first company and beyond, The Real Deal traces both his financial and personal achievements. It offers a frank account of what success at thirty really signifies and brings us right up to the present, including his impact on Dragons' Den and what his charity work, from saving a hospital in London to building a school in Lahore, means to him.
Ultimately, it is a story of learning what money is really worth, told by one the country's most insightful businessmen. Now I'm the type of person who avoids reality style with a passion and while not real reality TV I did class Dragons Den in a similar genre. But with spending some time away from home in hotels/travelling I did watch a couple of episodes just to kill time. So when I saw this book for sale on Audible I remembered the programme and James Caan. All I knew about him was that fact that he was on Dragons Den and no more, bout having a couple a credits on my audible account and nothing else that I fancie Now I'm the type of person who avoids reality style with a passion and while not real reality TV I did class Dragons Den in a similar genre.
But with spending some time away from home in hotels/travelling I did watch a couple of episodes just to kill time. So when I saw this book for sale on Audible I remembered the programme and James Caan. All I knew about him was that fact that he was on Dragons Den and no more, bout having a couple a credits on my audible account and nothing else that I fancied book wise I decided to take the plunge with this book. I am so glad I did as well, the book, also read by James Caan is from beginning to end a very interesting story. It is nice to see a person who to all intents and purposes starred out with just the shirt on his back make it so far in life. From his struggles to break free from the family business, to finding his future wife with a few untruths, the creation of the recruitment agency in a top floor office and then through the rest of his life with his charitable work. The book is week written/read and give a good picture of the challenges that James faced throughout his career.
I can now look at James in a different light, though I still don't think I will watch Dragons Den. So I'd recommend this book to anyone with a) an interest in James from his time on Dragons Den or b) an interest in how someone transforms their life from starting with very little to being responsible for a multi million pound organisation. James Caan's autobiography is very interesting because James was an English entrepreneur who succeeded through operational excellence.
Biography
His company was an executive recruitment firm and therefore had no specific technological advantage, so when James Caan saw an opportunity, he developed his skills and approach until he found the strategy that worked, then continued refining it to perfection. I found his approach interesting. He identified an opportunity then went away changing his pitch until he James Caan's autobiography is very interesting because James was an English entrepreneur who succeeded through operational excellence.
His company was an executive recruitment firm and therefore had no specific technological advantage, so when James Caan saw an opportunity, he developed his skills and approach until he found the strategy that worked, then continued refining it to perfection. I found his approach interesting.
He identified an opportunity then went away changing his pitch until he found the right strategy over the course of weeks. Also, because he needed to be seen as a more established firm, he always named his endeavors with people's names that gave the impression he wanted rather than his own name. All in all, it was an interesting read about behind one of the popular entrepreneurs from Dragon's Den.
I had to finish this book because I started it by mistake some years ago and it was just holding on me like a burden. That was a mistake and I should have dump it all the way down the toilet.
This book doesn't have any point, nothing useful or interesting has been shared, written as journal of a illiterate undergraduate. Ordinary and boring.
'I saved my father, because I helped this hospital, I made such a good decisions here and there, I went helping kids to get into school in Pakis Never again. I had to finish this book because I started it by mistake some years ago and it was just holding on me like a burden. That was a mistake and I should have dump it all the way down the toilet.
This book doesn't have any point, nothing useful or interesting has been shared, written as journal of a illiterate undergraduate. Ordinary and boring. 'I saved my father, because I helped this hospital, I made such a good decisions here and there, I went helping kids to get into school in Pakistan, blah blah blah'.
I don't mind this to be written for himself and for the family of his. I don't want to read all this.
It was my fault to even start reading book by this 'Dragon' Den' investor genius. Some people's desire to write a book (especially autobiography one) should be prohibited on all levels. I read this book back a few years ago, and I decided to read it again now that I'm older, have more experience in the world of work (in recruitment in particular) and am more determined than ever that a life of entrepreneurship is for me. Since working in recruitment, and knowing how tough it is on a daily basis, even with all the tools available for me (the internet, training, best practice, computers), I've come to respect James even more now that I can appreciate what he's accomplished with j I read this book back a few years ago, and I decided to read it again now that I'm older, have more experience in the world of work (in recruitment in particular) and am more determined than ever that a life of entrepreneurship is for me. Since working in recruitment, and knowing how tough it is on a daily basis, even with all the tools available for me (the internet, training, best practice, computers), I've come to respect James even more now that I can appreciate what he's accomplished with just a phone and the yellow pages. There's a lot for me to learn from this book, I'll be sure to remember them and put them into practice one day.
Brilliant book. It started off a little slow, but then tells you about how James created a recruitment firm out of nothing, how it went through recession and how he franchised a second recruitment company.
Linda Stokes
It then tells about his second career as a venture capitalist and his experiences on Dragon's Den. It is full of tips and wisdom about entrepreneurship and business in general. Also what to look out for if you fancy pitching to the Dragons. He seems like a very nice, humble guy and hats off to Brilliant book. It started off a little slow, but then tells you about how James created a recruitment firm out of nothing, how it went through recession and how he franchised a second recruitment company. It then tells about his second career as a venture capitalist and his experiences on Dragon's Den.
It is full of tips and wisdom about entrepreneurship and business in general. Also what to look out for if you fancy pitching to the Dragons. He seems like a very nice, humble guy and hats off to what he is trying to achieve with his charity work in Pakistan and other places. Awesome book and a great read seeing a fellow asian muslim go from nothing to multi millionaire (I actually got it for free from the itunes library ) where James reads out his audio book himself.so was really good. Above all I admired at even clearly where he was VERY successful and is.he still puts in that blood, sweat and tears.amazing really and true marks of a real entrepreneur and showing what it takes to really get that success he has deserving accumulated Waseem Mirza Awesome book and a great read seeing a fellow asian muslim go from nothing to multi millionaire (I actually got it for free from the itunes library ) where James reads out his audio book himself.so was really good.
Above all I admired at even clearly where he was VERY successful and is.he still puts in that blood, sweat and tears.amazing really and true marks of a real entrepreneur and showing what it takes to really get that success he has deserving accumulated Waseem Mirza. This is a great book for anybody into business or autobiographies of successful people. Guy comes to Europe from Pakistan as a young child, with a father that cannot read or write, drops out of high school, deals with societal/social pressure to be something he's not, and goes on to become a great businessman and philanthropist. Not only do you get into the mind of James Caan, you also get some very specific business advice you can apply to your career, including tips on negotiation and hiring pe This is a great book for anybody into business or autobiographies of successful people. Guy comes to Europe from Pakistan as a young child, with a father that cannot read or write, drops out of high school, deals with societal/social pressure to be something he's not, and goes on to become a great businessman and philanthropist.
Not only do you get into the mind of James Caan, you also get some very specific business advice you can apply to your career, including tips on negotiation and hiring people. This book is fascinating, it charts the back story of how James Caan became an entrepreneur. The quote that stays with me is 'Observe the masses and do the opposite'. I could not stop listening/reading his story. There are some highs and lows along the way, so interesting and captivating.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found James Caan to be very interesting and inspiring, he shows how you can become successful with sheer hard work and determination. He also found lots of ways to motivate people as This book is fascinating, it charts the back story of how James Caan became an entrepreneur. The quote that stays with me is 'Observe the masses and do the opposite'. I could not stop listening/reading his story. There are some highs and lows along the way, so interesting and captivating.
Kacy Byxbee
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found James Caan to be very interesting and inspiring, he shows how you can become successful with sheer hard work and determination. He also found lots of ways to motivate people as he tends to invest in people, highly recommended!