If you have ever watched Dragons’ Den on BBC TV then the chances are that you have heard of, and seen, Duncan Bannatyne… quite possibly uttering the dreaded “I’m Out.”
I bought Duncan Bannatyne’s “Anyone Can Do It” autobiography on a whim, but I’m very glad that I did. It’s one of those rare books that, having once started reading, I really didn’t want to put it down again.
It begins by describing Duncan Bannatyne’s under-privileged start to life in a Glasgow tenement with a proudly working class father who didn’t believe it was right that “people such as us” should get ideas above their station in life, for example by dreaming of making money! Duncan continues by describing how he earned the money to buy his first bicycle (starting in a manner that few other children would have), before going on to describe his time in the Royal Navy (from which he was dishonourably discharged following a courts martial and imprisonment).
Duncan then talks about drifting through life before finally settling down and getting married. He spotted a business opportunity with a run-down ice-cream van in an auction, bought and repaired it, and eventually owned his own fleet of “Duncan’s Ices” ice-cream vans. This in turn led him into property investment, and he spent his evenings and weekends in hands-on refurbishment projects. From here he moved on through one business to another, always adding value as he went, until reaching the hugely successful position he is in today. The book explains his substantial charity work in Romania too, a side of him that is perhaps not so well known.
It’s fair to say that Duncan Bannatyne was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth and has used his natural intellect and self-taught business skills, combined with hard work and the occasional risk, to get where he is today. If, like me, you believe that you can learn from studying successful people then you cannot fail to do so from this man.
Duncan’s openness and honesty throughout the entire book - covering every aspect of his life, both private and professional, from why he never buys paper-clips right through to walking out of an IPO discussion with City Brokers on a point of principle - is as refreshing as it is fascinating. This is no stuffy business book, yet if you look for them it is packed with insights into how this hugely successful entrepreneur’s mind works; plus hints, tips and advice that you can carry across to your own business. My own copy of the book is now a mass of highlighter pen!
It’s a blindingly good read and I cannot recommend it enough. Best of all though is that you can buy Duncan Bannatyne’s “Anyone Can Do It” autobiography from Amazon in paperback form for just £5! Here’s the links to Amazon:
==> Duncan Bannatyne – Anyone Can Do It – Paperback
==> Duncan Bannatyne – Anyone Can Do It – Hardcover
==> Duncan Bannatyne – Anyone Can Do It – Audiobook on CD
Personally I think you’d be mad not to get a copy!
If you already have a copy and wish to share your thoughts with other readers of this blog, please leave a comment below…
