Daniel Cann

Published by Orion Books 2008

This autobiography is the story of one of the UK’s most successful retailers and businessmen as well as a star of BBC televisions popular ‘Dragon’s Den’ show. When I picked up this book I was unsure what to expect, would it be a gruelling trawl? Would it be an egotistical back-slapping account? Or would it be like reading one of those awful self-help business guide books? Luckily it is none of the above and after the first few thrilling pages I was hooked.

Paphitis admits he was a mischievous and curious child, always striving for adventure and often setting off on his own on one escapade or another. His early accounts of living in Cyprus before emigrating with his parents and brother are full of warmth, wit and humour. He is honest in describing what it was like growing up as an immigrant in class conscious Britain in the sixties and seventies.

His early experiences of working life are blisteringly honest. He is not afraid to tell it as it is as he describes the people he worked for and the conditions he experienced. Suffering with dyslexia as a child he was nonetheless a strong-minded and determined young man hungry for success. The book charts those early struggles and nothing appears to have been glossed over. He admits life was a struggle and he lets it known what he thought of the various companies he worked for before setting up his own at the age of 23. He certainly did not hang about!

I did not expect a book about a businessman to be so compulsive and readable. Negotiations, bidding, boardroom meetings, acquisitions, mergers and profit margins are things that usually send me to sleep but Paphitis presents his life and experiences in such a way that I found myself eagerly reading on, hooked by the twists and turns his life took.

There is plenty of humour and original descriptions from the author. This book is not short of colour, something that is to be commended as it so easily could have been drab and grey if penned by someone else. Paphitis’ personality is everywhere and reading about how he took over at Ryman the stationer, Contessa and La Senza had me intrigued. Here is a typical line from the book: ‘I had gone from dealing in pencils and paper, moved on to socks and now here I was, surrounded by half naked women.’

He openly discusses his successes, failures, gaffes and learning experiences as he reached the top; getting a reputation as a ‘turnaround specialist’ such was his prowess for reviving failing businesses. But this is no ‘love-in’ he openly admits his shortcomings and describes a time in the late 1980s when he lost everything and suffered with depression. He admits to the fickle nature of the city and he has certainly learned from early mistakes and set-backs, talking about them with honesty here.

There is plenty also on his time as Chairman of Millwall football club where he made a conscious effort not only to turn the clubs struggling fortunes around but also to help its image. This whole episode is again covered with candour and wit. His observations on how the ‘beautiful game’ is ran and regulated by the hierarchy are interesting and he does not pull any punches regarding the pressures of running a successful outfit and his opinions of agents!

Of course he also gives a detailed account of his time on ‘Dragon’s Den’ and a few behind the scenes incidents. He admits to tensions, personality clashes and pranks that were part and parcel of filming the show. There is much for the reader to enjoy here. The book closes with a summary of the business rules that he lives by; again Paphitis does not come across as egotistical as he imparts some valuable pointers and opinions.

I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Enter the Dragon’ and would recommend it as essential reading for anyone with an interest in the world of business.