Page 171 - James Caan - The Real Deal

Chapter 16

Life in the Office

(1989–1991)

‘ I almost certainly should have computerised, but I just

didn’t understand computers enough to know how important
they were. ’

t the end of the 1980s things were going very well for
A Alexander Mann. The recruitment fairs meant we had a
constant stream of candidates. We also ran advertising campaigns
on Capital Radio in London that helped to boost our profile and
our supply of quality candidates. The booming economy also
meant that picking up vacancies was relatively easy.
I was making good money and as the sole owner of the business
I could do what I liked with the profits. My accountant encour-
aged me to expand, but I made the decision to pay my mortgage
off instead. It didn’t make much sense to do that as the cash could
have been used to create value elsewhere in the business rather
than clear a debt that I wasn’t struggling to repay, but I just
wanted the security of knowing the house was paid for. I suppose
I’ve always been a bit cautious like that.

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