| Lying next to Richard Branson is
| |
| | see someone buying my book, I can't
|
| terrific. There's a buzz. Everyone wants
| |
| | control myself: "Omigod - you're buying
|
| to touch you. ""Wow", people gasp, "you
| |
| | my book", I squealed to a nice man.
|
| and Richard Branson. Amazing. Who would
| |
| | "Well, since I am with the subject of
|
| have thought of the two of you together -
| |
| | screwing, I thought I'd buy Nearly
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| you from Cape Town and Mr B, the global
| |
| | Finished as well. Aren't they about the
|
| entrepreneur". Indeed. Before you get too
| |
| | same thing?", he answered. Hmm. Consider
|
| excited, let me explain. I am talking
| |
| | a review on Amazon for Screw it: "
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| about my little book, Nearly Finished - a
| |
| | …Screw It, Let's Do It reveals the
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| guide to home renovation (Double Storey,
| |
| | lessons that have helped him through his
|
| $16) which for a few weeks, lay on the
| |
| | business and personal life, like
|
| shelf (see, I told you not to get
| |
| | believing it can be done and that, if
|
| excited) next to Mr. Branson's
| |
| | others disagree with you, try and try
|
| bestselling little book, called, Screw
| |
| | again until you achieve your goal or that
|
| It, Let's Do It (Virgin Books, $5.80).
| |
| | you must love what you do." Exactly. In
|
| Our books nestled side-by-side at my
| |
| | Nearly Finished, we reveal the lessons
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| local book shop in a section where they
| |
| | that helped us through the renovating
|
| place the ten top selling titles of the
| |
| | process and our utter belief that it
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| week. The list is for that store only.
| |
| | could be accomplished, even when others
|
| Sure, it is not the national hit parade
| |
| | disagreed with us; when they said that it
|
| or The New York Times Best Selling list,
| |
| | couldn't be done; we persevered. When
|
| but it was a huge rush for yours truly.
| |
| | they said that we would fail if we
|
| To bask in the afterglow of Mr Branson's
| |
| | sub-contracted and worked without a
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| fame was lovely. Nearly Finished is based
| |
| | project manager or fancy designer, we
|
| on articles I was commissioned to write
| |
| | said, 'screw it - let's do it'. Our
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| for the Cape Times on the renovation of
| |
| | philosophy is that anyone can build or
|
| our house. South African publishers,
| |
| | renovate. Our mission: to demystify
|
| Double Storey approached me and invited
| |
| | building. Get a handful of three inch
|
| me to develop the newspaper series into a
| |
| | screws and pay someone else to get on
|
| book. When Nearly Finished was released,
| |
| | with your job. Love your home. Enjoy it.
|
| we were on holiday. On our return, we
| |
| | With property values rocketing globally
|
| found that the little bookie was at no 9
| |
| | and living spaces shrinking - we are
|
| at the bookshop. Thrilling. It soon moved
| |
| | after the same thing. As homeowners who
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| to number four. Mr B was at no 3. Major
| |
| | live in Cape Town, New York, London or
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| thrills. Armed with a skinny cappuccino,
| |
| | Shanghai, we want to make the most of our
|
| I sat in the coffee shop adjoining the
| |
| | homes, maybe buff them up a little bit or
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| book shop, monitoring the action and
| |
| | a lot. Ultimately, we all want to finish.
|
| smoozing potential buyers: "Hey, why are
| |
| | Although Nearly Finished is a story about
|
| you not buying my book?! I'll even sign
| |
| | one family's experience of building in
|
| it for you". A fascinating pattern
| |
| | Cape Town (that's us) and is not meant to
|
| emerged. People began picking up Mr
| |
| | be an A-Z of building, it does contain
|
| Branson's Screw it, Let's Do It and then
| |
| | universal reference points and tips about
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| reached for Nearly Finished. Or the other
| |
| | the building process; what can go wrong
|
| way round. I was chuffed. I am still a
| |
| | and what to look out for.
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| virgin with this literary gig, so when I
| |
| |
|
