Gerald Ratner: Losing £500MILLION During One Failed Speech | Disruptors podcast

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Episode description

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Episode description

In this episode, Rob speaks to former CEO of Ratner’s Jewellery, previously the UK’s largest jewellery chain, speaker, entrepreneur and author Gerald Ratner. They talk about his infamous speech and discuss and debate Money; what it is, how it’s changing and why it’s important.

To hear Rob’s very first interview with Gerald, go to episode 16 on the Disruptors Podcast, he was one of the first people Rob interviewed when he first began podcasting!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

After the infamous speech, Gerald Ratner lost half a billion. He says that people can learn from him and what he lost. When it happened it was devastating but he is now the happiest he has ever been. Some things really do happen for a reason.

What hurt Gerald the most after the downfall, is thinking about all the work he had put into the business over the years and that it had all been taken away because of one foolish joke he made. He also feels sad that people thought he had contempt for his customers, which couldn’t be any further from the truth.

When Gerald was making millions, money didn’t matter to him. He had enough for anything he desired and his real passion and excitement at the time was reserved for the business. This changed when he lost half a billion. He admits that you don’t know how to appreciate money until you no longer have it.

There is nothing worse than being a failure and there is nothing better than being successful. We are put on this earth to work, challenge things and to compete against others. In business, you get the best brains. Successful business people do not spend their time trying to convince people they are brilliant, they just get on with things.

Gerald does not believe money is evil. It’s important, making money takes skill and intelligence, you can do incredible things with money and make such a positive impact. No one should feel guilt for having money.

You need entrepreneurs to generate profit to pay for services. The private sector supports the public sector. The government could learn a lot from entrepreneurs and businesses.

Life is about balance, with work, money, tech and everything else. Spending 14 hour days at work for example, isn’t good for anyone.

School is about training your brain. Teaching you to use it and to learn. this is how it aids you for the real world.

You can’t be a wallflower is business. You need to be out there in the world, people need to know who you are and this translates onto social media too.

Money doesn’t make Gerald happy. He of course would rather have money than not but you have to know how to use it and how to live the rest of live. On its own it’s not enough.

BEST MOMENTS

“To make money, you have to use your brain”

“If you call one of your products crap then people think all your products are crap”

“I believe the finest brains are in commerce”

[Business, mindset, entrepreneur, disruptors]

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

Rob Moore is an author of 9 business books, 5 UK bestsellers, holds 3 world records for public speaking, entrepreneur, property investor, and property educator. Author of the global bestseller “Life Leverage” Host of UK’s No.1 business podcast “Disruptors”

“If you don't risk anything, you risk everything”

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