Listen to John's podcast on how he beat the competition in the minicab industry...
John on what he did before starting a business...
"I was an accountant but my father had a small construction company that got into trouble, so I had to pack up my job and I started to see if I could repair some of the damages of his company.
"I had to work in the meantime as I wasn’t getting any money, so I became a minicab driver. It was only meant to be for a short time, but due to marriage and family commitments I decided to stick with it, because there was good money to be earned at the time.
"After seven years of being a minicab driver I decided I had to find another route forward, so I started Addison Lee in 1975."
On financing the start-up...
"I didn’t have any money and I struggled. After about 18 months I had to sell half the business to a partner.
I didn’t have any money and I struggled. After about 18 months I had to sell half the business to a partner
"It was tough because I didn’t really understand banking, and in order to borrow you had to prove you didn’t need the money, which is something I couldn’t do.
"I would work in the office during the day and in the night I’d do a couple of jobs. I muddled through, it was hard work but it took off quite well in the end."
On having a family-run business...
"I think it’s wonderful, being a father was a big experience for me and I realised there was more to life then being a selfish person.
"I think the turning point for busines is when my sons actually joined the company, because it put a new lease of life into me. The company was starting to do well but I didn’t have massive ambitions, however when my sons joined I began to consider the business as a legacy I would eventually leave to them.
They have been very influential in way the business has grown and that has really supercharged me - I had a lot more drive and determination."
