4.6 • 13.2K Ratings
🗓️ 10 March 2022
⏱️ 82 minutes
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John Caudwell is one of the richest people in the UK, for many years he has been the UK’s highest-paying taxpayer. Making his money on the back of the mobile phone revolution, he is worth £3 billion.
And he has built his fortune from nothing. Growing up in a sometimes unstable household, John ran his first business while working full time as an apprentice mechanic. His energy and drive sustained him throughout his money-making journey.
But this single-minded determination came at a cost. He sacrified friends and a social life, and has called his experience founding Phones 4u “twenty years of grief”. Perhaps no one has been more open with me about what it took to build their empire, and what it ultimately took from them.
Topics:
John:
https://www.instagram.com/johncaudwell/
https://twitter.com/JohnDCaudwell
Caudwell Children:
https://www.caudwellchildren.com/
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0:00.0 | Could you do me a quick favour if you're listening to this? Please hit the follow or subscribe button. |
0:03.5 | It helps more than you know. |
0:04.8 | And we invite subscribers in every month to watch the show in person. |
0:07.5 | I grew for nothing to 12,000 employees, 2.4 billion turnover. |
0:12.2 | John Cordewell, the billionaire founder of Phones For You. |
0:16.0 | As it relates to his wealth, he has it all. |
0:19.0 | But it's come at a real cost. |
0:21.8 | I was sitting on the edge of my seat nearly every day for 20 years. |
0:25.4 | Facing threat after threat after threat after threat. It didn't nearly finish me. |
0:29.8 | I think anybody's would, you know, because you can't work 22 hours a day. |
0:33.7 | One remains pressure. |
0:35.3 | It was a monster deal. The biggest thing I ever been done in the marketplace by anybody. |
0:39.5 | You know, I don't mind fair competition, but it was very unethical. |
0:43.1 | If I didn't find a solution, it was instantly terminal. |
0:46.0 | You know, my turnover was going to drop immediately at the stores where I'm at. |
0:50.1 | Nothing. I'd have been bankrupt. |
0:52.4 | And I wouldn't be here talking to you today. |
0:54.8 | Without further ado, I'm Stephen Bartlett. |
0:56.6 | And this is the Diro of a CEO. |
0:58.5 | I hope nobody's listening. |
1:00.0 | But if you are, then please keep this to yourself. |
1:10.0 | I suppose if I had had a little bit more love, I would have been happier. |
... |
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