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.