It always amazes me when people pitch on the Dragon's Den and then have no knowledge of their current numbers. Anyone who has ever watched the programme knows that they don't suffer fools gladly and it's asking for trouble to ask for their help when you don't even know what page your business is on.
After making their case the pitchees face a grilling from the panel who decide whether or not to take a stake in the company being pitched. Generally, they do not bother as the prudent questioning usually picks holes in the proposal being examined. However, some people do a good enough job to convince one or more Dragons to invest.
The Dragons have vast experience across a wide spectrum of business sectors and anyone who ends up working with one or more of them benefits greatly from their experience and knowledge. They all invest from time to time and continue to look for opportunities. They are not the type of people to stand still.
It follows that if these people are worth listening to the books they write are probably worth reading too. That's assuming that the book in question concerns their speciality; making profits with successfully run businesses.
It is often said that success breeds success, so if you are a business person and would like to be successful hanging out with successful people like the Dragons would be a good idea. Failing that reading their books would be a viable second option. The question then is which book to choose, or which Dragon's book to choose.
The obvious choice would be to choose a book written by your favourite Dragon, although a wiser option would be too choose the one with the greater experience in a field closer to your own. Each Dragon has a wide portfolio of business experience but still have specialities; Duncan Bannatyne - Care Homes, Health Clubs/Spa's; Deborah Meadon - holiday company; Hilary Devey - Transportation and distribution; Peter Jones - technology; Theo Paphitis - retail, property, finance and consumer goods.
On the other hand, each probably has sufficient skills to make a business with potential in any sector do very well, so a particular Dragon's speciality may not be critical. For most businesses appearing on the Dragons' Den program, pitching to the panel and eventually getting the required investment is not an option. But spending the time reading one of the Dragons' books is more realistic and could potentially provide the no-nonsense advice required to give your company the boost it requires for growth in the present economic climate.
The books of the present and past Dragons are readily available, from Amazon and elsewhere, good value and packed with the kind of advice that only years of experience can offer. There's very little to lose and possibly a huge amount to gain. So what's stopping you?
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The latest business book from Duncan Bannatyne is called 43 Mistakes Businesses Make...and How to Avoid Them. Read this excellent review of Dragons’ Den expertise in book form http://lollipoplocal.co.uk/social-media-blog/dragons-dens-duncan-bannatyne-–-43-mistakes-businesses-make at the excellent lollipop local blog - http://lollipoplocal.co.uk/social-media-blog
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