My Big Idea: 30 Successful Entrepreneurs Reveal How They Found Inspiration [Hardcover]

"every entrepreneur needs a big idea and rachel bridge's inspiring second book brilliantly captures the challenge, frustration and excitement of turning a big idea into a successful business. essential reading for every budding entrepreneur." sir richard branson "rather than dredging up the usual throng of software and banking kingpins, the individuals interviewed have taken rather more unusual routes to financial reward...the book advises, right from the start, that having a good idea can often be as simple and finding a solution to something you find annoying, then branding or reworking it." easyjet "throws light on the sort of person it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur." management today "reveals the inspiration and the story behind the start of the business." comms dealer "serves as a quiet reminder that with enough determination, a little imagination and a spot of good luck, anything is possible." quality world "an insight into innovative thought processes." one step "explains where to find the most promising business ideas and crucially, how to determine if they will sell." personal success "inspirational...a perfect read when you need a lift on a tough day." north west london chamber news "offers a feel good factor!" lighting & sound international "this volume presents revised and updated versions of 30 of her "how i made it" columns. these columns tell the personal success stories of such risk-takers as judy cramer." book news inc "every entrepreneur needs a big idea and rachel bridge's inspiring second book brilliantly captures the challenge, frustration and excitement of turning a big idea into a successful business. essential reading for every budding entrepreneur." sir richard branson "this volume presents revised and updated versions of 30 of her "how i made it" columns. these columns tell the personal success stories of such risk-takers as judy cramer." book news inc

"A quiet reminder that with enough determination, a little
imagination and a spot of good luck, anything is possible."

"Explains where to find the most promising business ideas and
crucially, how to determine if they will sell."

"Inspirational...A perfect read when you need a lift on a tough day."

This book will help anyone looking to find a good idea which will make them millions by explaining how 30 successful entrepreneurs found their big idea and made it work.

"Rather than dredging up the usual throng of software and banking kingpins, the individuals interviewed have taken rather more unusual routes to financial reward..."

"Throws light on the sort of person it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur."

"Reveals the inspiration and the story behind the start of the business."

"Serves as a quiet reminder that with enough determination, a little imagination and a spot of good luck, anything is possible."

"An insight into innovative thought processes."

In this fascinating new book, 30 successful entrepreneurs explain how they turned their dreams into reality. They tell how they decided what to do, how they got started, how they found the money they needed and how they went about it. But they also reveal how they had doubts, made mistakes and encountered frustrations along the way. Importantly, they also explain how they overcame these difficulties and turn a dream into a commercially viable reality.

Gutsy, inspiring and life affirming...if you have ever dreamt of starting up a business of your own, this book is for you.

One of the biggest problems that deters would-be entrepreneurs
from taking the plunge and setting up their own business is the lack of a
promising idea. So what constitutes a good idea? How do you go about
looking for one? And when you find one, how do you know if it will be good
enough to turn into a successful business?

As the Enterprise Editor at The Sunday Times, Rachel Bridge has spoken to
hundreds of successful entrepreneurs, and My Big Idea tells the stories of
thiry of them. Intriguing and encouraging, this insightful collection
shows you that inspiration for that winning business idea is all around
you. You just have to look carefully and spot it before someone else
does.

So what are you waiting for? Read this book and get ready for inspiration
to strike.

My Big Idea is a sequel to the best-selling How I Made It, also published
by Kogan Page, which is based on interviews drawn from the popular

My Big Idea tells the story of thirty successful entrepreneurs
and where and how they found the inspiration for their business. Those
telling their stories include:

Martyn Dawes; Judy Craymer; Stephen Waring; Will King; Deidre Bounds; David
Sanger; Anthony Ward Thomas; Lara Morgan; Paul Stanyer; Robert Hughes;
Hilary Andrews; David Salisbury; Karl Massey; Sally Preston; Will Ramsey;
Ian Wilson; Karen Darby; Guy Schabschieff; Lucy Barker; Richard Tang;
Carole Nash; Spenser Swaffer; Helen Colley; Don Lewin; Chey Garland; Andy
Thornton; Nick Austin; Cheryl Grant; Gordon Montgomery; Mark Leatham.

Rachel Bridge is the Enterprise Editor of The Sunday Times . She writes the 'How I Made It' column each week for the paper as well as regular features about entrepreneurs and small and growing businesses. An experienced journalist, she formerly worked for The Times and the Evening Standard. She is also a regular conference speaker on the subject of entrepreneurs. Rachel graduated from Cambridge University with an honours degree in Economics.

1. Martyn Dawes, founder of Coffee Nation

2. Judy Craymer, creator of Mamma Mia

3. Stephen Waring, founder of Green Thumb

4. Will King, founder of King of Shaves

5. Deirdre Bounds, founder of i to i

6. David Sanger, founder of Rollover Hotdogs

7. Anthony Ward Thomas, founder of Ward Thomas Removals

8. Lara Morgan, founder of Pacific Direct

9. Paul Stanyer, founder of Holidaytaxis.com

10. Robert Hughes, founder of Wesco

11. Hilary Andrews, founder of Mankind

12. David Salisbury, founder of David Salisbury Conservatories

13. Karl Massey, founder of Cottrills

14. Sally Preston, founder of Babylicious

15. Will Ramsay, founder of the Affordable Art Fair

16. Ian Wilson, founder of WEXAS

17. Karen Darby, founder of Simply Switch

18. Guy Schanschieff, founder of Bambino Mio

19. Lucy Barker, founder of Barker Brooks Media

20. Richard Tang, founder of Zen Internet

21. Carole Nash, founder of Carole Nash Insurance Consultants

22. Spencer Swaffer, founder of Spencer Swaffer Antiques

23. Helen Colley, founder of Farmhouse Fare

24. Don Lewin, founder of Clinton Cards

25. Chey Garland, founder of Garland Call Centres

26. Andy Thornton, founder of Andy Thornton Ltd

27. Nick Austin, founder of Vivid Imaginations

28. Cheryl Grant, founder of White Label Productions

29. Gordon Montgomery, founder of Fopp

30. Mark Leatham, founder of Leathams