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Start Your Business in 7 Days: Turn Your Idea Into a Life-Changing Success Paperback – 1 Mar 2012

by
James Caan (Author)
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James Caan (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 45 customer reviews
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Product details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Portfolio Penguin (1 Mar. 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0670920649
  • ISBN-13: 978-0670920648
  • Product Dimensions: 15.3 x 1.7 x 23.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 492,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

One of the UK's most successful entrepreneurs (Jeremy Skidmore The Times)

Caan shows a real desire to help the reader, and his insights have substance. I like the balance between theory, deep practicality and psychology. Many people could have a different and more positive future if they read this book (John Vincent, co-founder of Leon Management Today)

About the Author

James Caan is one of the UK's most successful and dynamic entrepreneurs, having built and sold businesses since 1985. After dropping out of school at sixteen and starting his first business in a Pall Mall broom cupboard - armed with little more than charm and his father's advice - Caan went on to make his fortune in the recruitment industry, founding the Alexander Mann Group, a company with a turnover of £130m. A 2003 graduate of Harvard Business School, Caan's most recent endeavour has been to set up private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw. Caan hit our screens when he joined the panel of the BBC's Dragons' Den in 2007. He is a regular in the national and business press, advises on various Government programmes, and initiates numerous philanthropic projects via the James Caan Foundation.

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsCompelling
By kirshaw on 15 May 2012
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
James has written an intelligent and fascinating guide to starting your own business based on his experience and knowledge. He asks questions which may put some people off e.g. is your idea a business or a hobby ? But that's the whole point, he clearly wants the reader to avoid wasting loads of money attempting to start a business that won't work. One of his key points is to avoid rushing out to patent an invention. This is contrary to accepted wisdom, but he backs this up with sensible reasoning.
The book is very readable with many examples from James life in business. It is packed with good advice. His last chapter "A Final Thought" neatly summarises the key points of the book. This is followed with an appendix which gives references to useful web sites.
Two criticisms. Firstly, the book seems to have been unnaturally forced into the 7 day concept with each chapter being one day. Personally, I think a business is far too important and needs to be carefully considered over a longer period of time (though not necessarily months). Secondly, James occasionally reveals his bias as an investor. For example he claims that entrepreneurs should not worry too much about the amount of equity they give away. Any watcher of 'Dragon's Den' will note how much emphasis the investors give to the amount of equity they get!
But keeping these in mind, this book is an excellent read for any budding entrepreneur or inventor.
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1.0 out of 5 starsJust a Self Promotion Book
By Amazon Customer on 4 July 2013
Format: Paperback
Why so many 5 stars?

A very poor book that is a personal advertisement for James Caan - whoever he is. I do not live in the UK but after reading this book I think this guy must walk on water. The guy has obviously been successful with his business ventures and he really wants you to know this throughout this book.

This book is far too simplistic and basic to be of much help to anyone with half a brain. It is really aimed at the complete idiot who does not know anything about business. It may be useful if you are starting a recruitment business or wish to ask Mr Caan for finance, but overall there is nothing in this book that you cannot find on the internet for free in many forums and startup-help websites.

The "7 days" bit is a joke too. No one can start up a serious business in 7 days. Essentially Mr Caan simply refers to 7 key areas that a proposed startup venture should think about, such as writing a business plan, conducting market research and customer validation, making appropriate financial calculations to verify if you have a real scaleable business idea. However, the book just skims over these 7 areas - there is not one chart, diagram or even template to help - for example a profit and loss template or cashflow forecast template or other template that could help a budding entrepreneur to help evaluate their business idea.

If you want to help Mr Caan then buy this book, if you want to help yourself, don't waste your money. There are far many more books available on Amazon that will be much more useful than this self promotion book.

For recommendations on other books that I think will be so much more useful for the budding entrepreneur, see my reply post to a comment below.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA great book for all types of entrepreneurs from those starting on their first business to those with a little more experience.
By Mr. Ciaran Connolly on 21 Mar. 2012
Format: Paperback
A well written step by step by approach to help you consider and really evaluate your business ideas. Through personal experiences, practical advice and tips James Caan outlines the considerations you need to make before embarking in a new business venture.

The book is set out over a 7 day period - with a new consideration related to your new business every day.
Brutally honest James Caan really helps you consider if your idea is really a viable business idea or in fact just a hobby or useless invention! He really encourages you to evaluate yourself and personality, making you consider if you really are cut out for entrepreneurship - through his own experiences he highlights the qualities, drive and determination that you need to succeed in the cut throat business world - I have to say that I really admire Alia and her drive! It is interesting to read the thoughts from an investor point of view on first impressions! Excellent advice on feedback and research ideas as well.

The 7 day thought process is extremely practical and really helps evaluate your business idea in terms of viability, profit potential, research, staffing, ordering, and approaching investors and business development.

Great advice and a really practical way of outlining the thought process involved before embarking on a new business, really appreciated the personal example to close!!!

The book is targeted for all types of entrepreneurs from those starting on their first business to those with a little more experience.
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4.0 out of 5 starsAnother good book
By Emily Bronte on 17 April 2012
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I heard about this book during an interview with James Caan and Simon Mayo and I was impressed by so much of what was said. James Caan seemed such a lovely person and not as harsh as one might assume from his time on Dragon's Den. His book is filled with the same enthusiasm as his interview and is worth a read.
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3.0 out of 5 starsWrite a review in seconds
By K. E. Butcher on 24 Aug. 2013
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
This book is fascinating, and fairly interesting...but....misleading to the novice entrepreneur....only if you are a serial entrepreneur would you understand that the title is aimed to sell books and entice the inexperienced in business, it takes months of hard work to get more than 7 things done.
I gave the book to a friend.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

Thank you so much.

Published 2 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Its a book, so it is as described. Good

Published 3 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsStart Your Business in 7 Days by Dragon, James Caan

Best business book I have ever read. It's absolutely brilliant, and a real eye opener. I've read plenty of business books, but none have taught me as much as this one. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Best book I bought for starting up a business. Lots of useful tips.

Published 6 months ago by khathiravan raj maadhaven
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Excellent advice and easy to read. Ideal for a budding entrepreneur.

Published 6 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsa good read for motivation.

Great Read. very good and keeping your focus and pushing you further.

Published 7 months ago by MR KAMRAN A RAFIQ
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Good

Published 10 months ago by UpuliWi
4.0 out of 5 starsCreating Scale towards profitability gives this Penguin Publication...

James Caan puts across his thought processes in a measured manner. This good Penguin read is littered with successful outcomes.

Published 10 months ago by David Milburn
5.0 out of 5 starsJames Caan has always given great advice in his books so far

James Caan has always given great advice in his books so far. This one is no exception. I would definitely recommend it.

Published 10 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great book it makes you think laterally. Certainly a worthwhile investment

Published 12 months ago by Harold

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