---

Staff post about: Alan Sugar Become an Author

Tweet

---

---

Entrepreneur is not a word to beused lightly, and it’s certainly not something you call yourself. It should bea term used by a person when describing another’s abilities.

I didn't leap out of bed one day and suddenly decide 'right I'm going to start my business,' I worked for several years first and gained expertise in a trade.

Pan Am takes good care of you. Marks & Spencer loves you. Securicor cares. I.B.M. says the customer is king. At Amstrad, we want your money!

If there was a market in mass-produced portable nuclear weapons, we'd market them, too.

My history of lending money from banks is that they want to know the ins and outs of the backside of a duck.

I don’t believe in God and all that. But I am Jewish, and very proud to be so, very proud of the culture.

I came from an environment where I needed to succeed. There was no wealth or anything like that in the family. Not that we were paupers, but we had to fend for ourselves. Kids today are not as hungry as I was. They don’t understand how tough my generation was.

If you take care of your character, your reputation will take care of itself.

Learn to read body language.

I was born in Hackney. When you're born in Hackney and you do well in life, you move to Chigwell.

The shareholders are looked after by me. And they should be very thankful. I run Amstrad as if it was my own. They get their accounts every year, their profits and dividends. And if they don't like it, they should sell their shares. But I'll run my company the way I want to. Not the way some twat in the City wants me to.

I can tell you where every screw, nut and bolt is in my company. I know everything [in my business]. Never, ever, underestimate me.

Football is about the only business in the world where it's embarrassing to make money. Sorry. What can I say, but I touch things and people say they turn to gold. Sorry. It's a natural instinct. Sorry. I had to apologize that the club actually started to make a profit. Sorry. We should have been doing our bollocks like everyone else. Sorry.

Once you decide to work for yourself, you never go back to work for somebody else.

There's only room for one bigmouth in my organization, and that's me.

I don't like liars, I don't like cheats. I don't like bullshitters. I don't like schmoozers. I don't like arse-lickers.

I don't think too many people would want my job. I'm a bit of a nutter.

To keep yourself motivated when things go wrong, you need to analyze where things went wrong. You have to be very realistic. Don't try to blame the rest of the world. The blame only lies with you. Recognize that immediately.

You can be sure that whatever obstacles you are facing, others have faced similar things and have come through them, and you will face much bigger obstacles in the future. Recognize what is in your control and do something about it. Recognize what is outside your control and work around it.

Love what you do and do what you love, otherwise you will become unhappy and self-defeating.

If you enjoy what you do, don't be afraid of expressing your enthusiasm. Enjoyment is infectious and you will bring others along with you.

Find your own innovative ideas and what works for you.

One problem with young people, they think business is cool. It's not cool, it's tough.

You've either got a good idea or you haven't.

Don't expect handouts.

Start small and with your own money.

Learn from your mistakes, only work with people who share your vision and culture and most importantly, focus on your customer.

Related Articles

  The Media Personality and British Entrepreneur, Alan Sugar Started From Meager Beginnings
  Sir Alan Sugar Begins to Build a Dynasty
  Lesson #1: Always be Selling
  Words of Inspiration
  Lesson #5: Gain Experience in Your Trade
  Touchy Feely Is Not My Style
  The Apprentice - The Fired Duo
  The Apprentice - Idiots, Stalkers and Automobiles
  Lesson #3: Never Expect Your Products to Remain the Market Leader
  Why Is The First Auto Insurance Quote Not Always The Best Quote?
  Lesson #2: Negotiate to Make More Sales
  The Apprentice - Shock Firing. Sir Allan Makes A Big Mistake!
  Addicted To The Apprentice Already And What A Mess!
  Michael Jackson Death - How to leave your own legacy behind
  The Power of Choice
  Reaching the Pinnacle of Success: How Sir Alan Sugar Succeeded in Business
  Winning Recognition
  Lesson #4: Price Points Make You Money
  The Genius At Work
  Great Salespeople Can See the Pixels - The Rest Watch the Movie

Related Forum Posts

Re: Quote of the Day - "If you enjoy what you do, don't be afrai
Re: Beyond Booked Solid by Michael Port
Executives summary - need your opinon
Re: Greetings from the Local SEO world!
Facebook application

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.

Share this post and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet