I DID IT IN MY PYJAMAS author reading in pyjamas!
Chapter 1: I Did it with Zero Capital
I Did it in My Pyjamas
£14.99
There is no recipe for business success.
Angela De Souza says there are few rules when it comes to setting up and growing a successful business, and even some of those can be broken if they stifle your creativity or approach to working. In this book she shares her journey of how she built the Women’s Business Club from nothing to the huge national success it is today, nuts, bolts and all. Angela has written a book that is quite unlike other books about starting and growing a business – though packed with tips and advice it is not so much of a ‘how to do it’ book but rather a ‘how I did it’. In a style that is both accessible and refreshing, she covers topics such as facing opposition, raising children, tackling fear and managing depression while building a business. The book is candid, honest and packed with tips on how she did it in her pyjamas!
Kindle version available here.
Carol Aplin –
A very refreshing read. Angela offers a very open and honest account of being a small business owner, with valuable insights for others to draw on. Very authentic and inspiring.
Amazon Customer –
Fantastic read especially as an entrepreneur myself. Loved the honestly and openness with which Angela writes and shared her journey. Must read for anyone building a business and need inspiration.
Amazon Customer –
I loved this book, I work for myself part time and I work full time as an employee. The book has really helped me to think about business and to build my confidence. I love the chapter titles and the little quotes throughout the book. Angela has a lovely way of portraying her thoughts and sharing her experiences, it makes you realise you are not alone with you thoughts and feelings and that a lot of other people go through the same emotions. I would recommend it to anyone!
Madeleine Corley –
In the spirit of this book I read it either in my pyjamas or in the bath. I enjoyed it and it’s a quick and easy read I’d recommend. Angela has lots of advice from her own experiences that is helpful to anyone whether they’re running their own business or not.
Jennifer Hall –
This book is essential for any entrepreneur! Angela De Souza gives an amazing account of how she turned her weaknesses into strengths to build a successful business from scratch and stresses that there are no rules or ‘right’ ways of doing things in business. A lady full of inspiration and ‘out of the box’ ideas. You can’t help but be inspired and motivated. If you’re looking for a book on how it’s possible to start your business from nothing… then this is the one for you!
Specialising in helping start up businesses and business ‘turn arounds’ she knows her stuff.
Highly recommend!
Anna –
The book is absolutely brilliant, it’s inspiring, invigorating and offers exceptional advice to any businesswomen out there who feels like they are struggling. I’ve taken the time to highlight bits and mark pages which speak out to me, especially pages which mention confidence and finding your feet. Highly recommended!
Cheryn Bloom –
I really enjoyed reading this book! If you’re trying to get a business or project going and feel you have a lot of obstacles getting in your way and stopping/ delaying you from achieving your dreams, Angela covers most of these obstacles in this book, sharing with us the obstacles she faced and how she either overcame them or turned them around to use them to her advantage and as a result built her own successful business. Lots of excellent nuggets of information which you can use in your professional and personal life. Very inspiring read, which I highly recommend.
Sofia Pacifico Reis –
Angela De Souza has opened her “doors” in this heartfelt biography of her life and her business journey. I particularly like how Angela DID it (notice that I have emphasised the verb to DO!) against all odds and adversities. I believe that the message in this book is no matter where you are, how you feel and what you are wearing, the most important thing is to deal with it in your mind and get on with your life and business in a fun and ethical way. Use your weaknesses to your advantage, seek opportunities and take calculated risks.
If you believe hard enough that, you can achieve your dreams…then who can tell you the opposite? What can stop you from reaching your goals?
As a newly start-up business woman, I can relate to what Angela says, her emotions, her solutions, her journey, her fears, her down times and her laughter with her children…we’ve all been there right? One-Way or another, especially with feelings of “self-doubt”…”what if’s”…procrastination. After 23 years of working in the corporate world, I have finally had the courage to hand in my resignation letter to my line manager and start my own business. I have chosen Friday 13th 2015 to be my last day and adventure into the entrepreneurial world, head held high, change of mind-set and the support and opposition of many around me.
Reading through “I did it in my pyjamas” has brought back memories of the feelings that I experienced at the time of starting my business. I can only say that it has given me the strength to persevere and make my own dreams a reality and has reinforced my belief that “perfection is overrated” and I can DO whatever I am set out to do and that I am not alone in this journey. It is time for me and to show my personality through what I deliver.
I do like the structure of the chapters in this book. All sections are thoroughly described and visually interesting to read, the metaphors used and the comparisons with family life make it more real and human. In addition, the quotes at the beginning of chapters build up the emotions and set the scene.
“Now is a good a time as any to start your business”
The small tweetable comments that you can find everywhere in the book, makes you think and motivates you to move forwards with your business and your life. I can easily see those nuggets in an appealing graphic for those visual readers.
I strongly believe that “it is not what you know” but “who you know” that will make it possible to reach a successful business life and be connected to your ideal audience, build meaningful relationships and providing value will give your business “true” advocates that would be very happy to promote your business without expecting anything in return.
Just want to finish this review by “Thanking” Angela for giving me her knowledge, experiences, failures, fears and fun moments and truly say that I have enjoyed knowing you Angela, your family and your business journey.
Sofia Pacifico Reis
Social Media Strategist
http://increaseyoursocialreach.com
Karen Williams –
I did it in my Pyjamas is a practical and realistic guide to running a small business. What I love about Angela’s book is that it is open and honest, with no hype!
The book is packed with real life examples of what’s worked and what hasn’t worked for Angela. She has also shared snippets from her personal story where she has detailed the highs and lows of being in business, and simple strategies that you can follow.
I had some real aha moments from her approach to running a business and being a success – without adhering to any rules. Being successful is about being authentically you, which Angela clearly demonstrates how to do in her book. A really easy and inspiring read.
Karen Williams, The Book Mentor
Walksinlight –
This amazing book is beautiful in it’s raw, honest telling. It has the page turning qualities of a novel but is an inspirational account of the author’s style and success in business and life. If you ever thought for a moment that you can’t make it in business, that you are too busy raising a family or just don’t have what it takes to get where you really want to be in life – if you ever had a hint of realizing that you don’t even know where you want to be, what you want to be or how you can achieve your dreams – this book is for you.
Angela opens up her heart, mind soul, family and friends to her readers with sound suggestions for coping with situations and how to get out there and make a success of yourself.
Even if you are not interested in starting up a business, have no thoughts of investigating entrepreneurship, this is still worth the read – you may well come to the end of this book realizing that life really is fun, that it is different for each of us and that rules don’t always need to encapsulate us. I am awed by the truth that we miss or take for granted, comes to life in an exciting way in this book.
Well done Angela, this is my second reading of this book and I learned as much this time round as I did the first, prompting me to write this review and share it with the world.