Paul Hargreaves is the founder and CEO of Cotswold Fayre, a speciality food and drink wholesaler in the UK. As an ambassador for the rapidly growing B Corp movement in the UK, he is is one of the leading voices in the UK encouraging and inspiring businesses to make the world a better place. Since the publication of his book, Forces for Good, in 2019, he is increasingly being asked to speak to other business leaders about business and personal change to this end.
Entrepreneurial Role Models:
People who put other people first in business
When business started difficulties overcame:
“mainly people telling me I couldn’t do it. Obviously this business started from scratch and I ran the idea past a few people who I knew at the time and most of them said what the hell do you want to do that for go and get a proper job. Actually I don’t want a proper job, I don’t like being tied down. So probably the kind of naysayers and the people who would never do it themselves. I think there are risk takers and entrepreneur types and probably more of the population are non-risk takers”…[Listen for More]
Favourite Books:
- Long Walk To Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela Book by Nelson Mandela
Also mentioned
- The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr Book by Martin Luther King Jr
- An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth Book by M.K. Gandhi, Sunil Khilnani, Mahadev Desai, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi
Favourite Quote:
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” Nelson Mandela
Recommended Online Resources:
None specific
Best Advice to Other Entrepreneurs:
“Rather than surrounding yourself with people who will agree with what you are doing try and put some people in your life who will always challenge what you are doing… Knowing what you are weak at, getting people who are the opposite of you in your life and in your business is always going to help you be a better business person”…[Listen for More]
More About Paul Hargreaves:
Neil’s Quote at the Beginning:
“Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.” John Wooden
Other Quotes From the Chat with Paul Hargreaves:
- “I think entrepreneurs isolate themselves too much”
- “a lot of people bounce things off their friends and family. Don’t do that get someone who knows nothing about you and get them to come in and challenge you as you go”
- “get the right people and go with your gut”
- “when you are younger you think you know everything and you don’t think you need any help. I think the older I get the more I realise I don’t know. So, I need other people to help me.”
- “If everybody is heading in a certain direction why not go in the other direction and see what happens”
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