To The Edge

If you are not living on the edge, then you are taking up too much room

Think of the richest square mile in Britain and your thoughts turn to The City of London or Chelsea. In fact, a small village in Cheshire is home to more millionaires per square mile than anywhere else in Britain. It is a place where one-in-twenty houses sells for more than £1 million, 20% of the residents enjoy a seven-figure income and in an index of ‘poshness’ Alderley Edge scored 136 out of a maximum 137.

The media like to focus on the glitz and the glamour, an image of a shallow nouveau riche. But that is not the real story. The entrepreneurial spirit is concentrated in these streets like nowhere else in Britain. These are self-made people, entrepreneurs with amazing stories of triumphs,

tribulations, disasters and incredible recoveries. There is another side to Alderley Edge and the ‘Golden Triangle’, one that the outsider would not necessarily see…

PRAISE FOR TO THE EDGE

‘Malcolm McClean has an incredible knack for uncovering those small insights which can make a big difference. In this inspirational book he gets inside the minds of wealth creators as only he can. These are the people that drive our economy. Their quirky, unusual and sometimes extraordinary way of looking at the world is one which we should embrace.’ --Lord Mawson OBE, Founder the Water City Group & President of CAN

1. Don't push me ... I'm close to the edge.

2. The Alchemist.
'It's my favourite part of the day, and I just can't give it up. I love opening the orders. I just love it.'

3. The Soapstar.
"It's 3am and I'm in bed randomly calling out names for a new restaurant concept.'

4. The Rover.
'Money can tear a person apart and make them into a horrible creature. It can also bring out the best and make them an unbelievable person.'

5. The Hustler.
'These days I'm more interested in my animals than beautiful blondes.'

6. The Undertaker.
"I thought, "How am I going to make my mark? Time is not on my side" - I was nineteen years old.'

7. The Prince.
'Never ever, ever, ever, give up. Ever.'

8. The Hippies.
'A negative can become a positive. It reminds you what you are about.'

9. The Maverick.
"Life. It's the best thing that ever happened to me.'

10. The Magic Bean.
'There is some business we will not do because it makes us sad.'

11. The Carer.
'When I got my first Mercedes I used to hide it. I just felt guilty.'

12. The Bubbleboy.
'You can get the bog standard Cristal for 190 a bottle. We don't want to rip people off.'

13. The Thinker.
'Look. I just want to do great things with great people.'

Appendix One: To The Edge Quick Quiz.

Index.

"...this book is a unique concept that works on a number of levels." (New Business, December 2007) Malcolm McClean spent the first twenty-three years of his life living on a northern council estate until his entrepreneurial journey took him from the poorest square mile in Britain to the richest. As well as self-made entrepreneur, Malcolm is an international speaker, consultant, social entrepreneur and writer. He works with large and small organisations to help people realise their true potential and to become more creative, innovative and passionate.

His client list includes The Football Association, The Big Lottery Fund, The National Health Service, Local Authorities, Sport England, Invest Northern Ireland, Age Concern and a range of bodies involved in social transformation and enterprise development. His work has been recogised with a special award from The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and in 2007 he won the 20,000 Unltd Millenium Award for social entrepreneurs. His quirky, unusual ideas for dealing with the problems received media attention throughout the world, including a dedicated edition of radio Four's Changing Places. He is the author of Bear Hunt - Earn your living by doing what you love which has been translated into Chinese, Korean, Turkish and Romanian.

Enjoy a masterclass in entrepreneurship from this colourful cast of self-made millionaires. Read the real stories behind the success, get inside the minds of those that have made it and learn what makes them different.

The Hustler...took possession of his bus pass nearly a decade ago and has sold three businesses for more than 50 million, yet still works 7 days a week.

The Alchemist... has a knack of turning business base metal into gold by buying companies for a pound and transforming their fortunes.

The Undertaker... created his own insurance product where clients pay up front - but rarely want to make a claim.

The Rover... shows how making money and doing good need not to be mutually exclusive.

The Soapstar... cut his teeth acting in an Australian soap; today his group owns 34 restaurants and turns over more than 50 million a year.

The Magic Bean... is an ethical entrepreneur who gives her staff more than just luncheon vouchers - group psychotherapy, a life coach and their own personal development budget.

The Thinker... his products cannot be seen, measured or weighed. In the new economy, knowledge and insight are becoming the new currency.

These are just some of the characters who stories and insights may well change your life forever.

Think of the richest square mile in Britain and your thoughts turn to The City of London or Chelsea. In fact, a small village in Cheshire is home to more millionaires per square mile than anywhere else in Britain. It is a place where one-in-twenty houses sells for more than 1 million, 20% of the residents enjoy a seven-figure income and in an index of 'poshness' Alderfly Edge scored 136 out of a maximum 137.

Meet the residents of Alderley Edge and the Golden Triangle. The entrepreneurial spirit is concentrated in these streets like nowhere else in Britain. Whilst the media image is of a shallow nouveau riche, the real stories of grit, determination, tenacity and enterprise tell it how it really is.

"Malcolm McClean has an incredible knack for uncovering those small insights which can make a big difference. In this inspirational book he gets inside the minds of wealth creators as only he can. these are the people that drive our economy. Their quirky, unusual and sometimes extraordinary way of looking at the world is one which we should embrace". - Lord Mawson OBE, Founder the Water City Group & President of CAN

"This book puts Cheshire where it firmly deserves to be - bang in the centre of the business map. Life in business is often 'On The Edge' and this charts all that's best about the entrepreneurial journey around 'Br5itian's Golden Triangle. A must read for people who want to succeed and bet their business careers into shape." - Dawn Gibbins MBE, Founder & Chairman, Flo9wcrete Group plc