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2 interviews · 9 quotes
In conversation
In this exclusive interview series, we speak to some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs: Sir Richard Branson (Founder of Virgin Group), Robin Li (Founder of Baidu), Sir James Dyson (Founder of Dyson), Professor…
By the time John Caudwell sold his company in 2006, the business was selling 26 phones a minute. It employed 10,000 people in the UK and abroad. It was turning over £2.25…
From the archive
By founding my own charities, I solved that problem. Charity occupies around a third of my life, it's a big challenge and a big responsibility. Around eight years ago, I decided to donate at least half my wealth to charitable causes during my lifetime or upon my death.
— John CaudwellBillionaire British entrepreneur and founder of Phones 4u mobile retailer
I'd had 20 years of the most indescribable intensity and focus; and not many people can appreciate what that means, because there are very few people that have grown a business organically from one person to over 10,000. After 20 years of that, I had sort-of 'had enough.'
— John CaudwellBillionaire British entrepreneur and founder of Phones 4u mobile retailer
I scaled the business from just me, to 10,000 people some 20 years later. Scaling and keeping control of that business was practically impossible- I failed many times, but managed to succeed overall through sheer determination, hard-work and having very, very good people.
— John CaudwellBillionaire British entrepreneur and founder of Phones 4u mobile retailer
Without truthfulness I would never have been able to grow anything of any significance, I would have been 'found out.' Having truthfulness and ethics within a business creates trust among employees at all levels and is critical. I led the company with an approach of complete honesty.
— John CaudwellBillionaire British entrepreneur and founder of Phones 4u mobile retailer
In line with most highly-tuned talents, I absolutely believe that entrepreneurship is a genetic gift that you're born with. What you do with that gift depends on your upbringing, opportunities and inspirations; you either make them massively better or neglect them. That combination of genetics and sheer hard work is the 'secret' of getting to the top.
— John CaudwellBillionaire British entrepreneur and founder of Phones 4u mobile retailer
I used to say to all my people that yes- we can celebrate our successes, and we have to succeed, but the failures are what will sink the business or hold it back.
— John CaudwellBillionaire British entrepreneur and founder of Phones 4u mobile retailer
Without truthfulness I would never have been able to grow anything of any significance, I would have been 'found out.' Having truthfulness and ethics within a business creates trust among employees at all levels and is critical.
— John CaudwellBillionaire British entrepreneur and founder of Phones 4u mobile retailer
You cannot run a business without great people, who are incentivised to be great; and so, you must protect them, and pay them appropriately.
— John CaudwellBillionaire British entrepreneur and founder of Phones 4u mobile retailer
In line with most highly-tuned talents, I absolutely believe that entrepreneurship is a genetic gift that you're born with. What you do with that gift depends on your upbringing, opportunities and inspirations; you either make them massively better or neglect them.
— John CaudwellBillionaire British entrepreneur and founder of Phones 4u mobile retailer
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