Australias Wealth Creators

Edited by J Jackson

John Wiley & Sons, 2005

$29.95

Informative and inspiring, this is a fascinating book, as much for what it teaches the reader about wealth creation as for the insight into the working lives of some of Australia’s most talented and successful entrepreneurs. They are all passionate, success driven individuals, goal setters and risk takers who overcame obstacles but they are also very humane and accessible. Other secrets to their success include being self-aware with a belief in self-improvement and working with the best – and only the best – people. The first part of Australia’s Wealth Creators identifies these and other qualities of good entrepreneurs. There’s more than one way to make money of course, the editor says, yet the ability to find a niche or create an idea and exploit it is the most common characteristic of any success story.

The second part has interviews with fourteen well-known, self-made Australians including Janine Allis, Ita Buttrose, Collette Dinnigan, Gerry Harvey, Alan Jones, Simon Reynolds and Graham Turner. The chatty question-and-answer format labours in parts but it’s good to see equal representation of men and women in the line up. Rags to riches, falls and rises, awards and accolades, flops and mistakes – they’re all here. The wisdom and wit of these leaders and mavericks makes this a book no one with an interest in achievement should miss.