Ruth Badger

When did you realise that selling was your forte?

Ultimately, the time that I realised selling was one of my key strengths was after watching myself on The Apprentice.

From a young age I have always had very good communications skills, which as I grew older, together with experience I gained through different jobs, enabled me to be a good saleswoman.

The one thing that makes me sell better than most is the fact I am motivated by money and recognition.

Closing a deal not only pays the money, but the buzz and recognition I get drives me forward.

When did you get your first ‘break’ in business?

The first break I got was when I was 21 years old and I left the Civil Service to go and work for the Financial Services. This was my first ‘business’ role. The reason it was my first break was because I had no conventional sales experience, so I used every experience in every previous role and emphasised every single positive and sold myself.

What obstacles have you encountered since, and how did you overcome them?

I have faced many, the first being my age. I started in the working world at a very early age so people really underestimated me. I overcome this by working hard and out performing everyone that worked alongside me.

I have faced obstacles in every job due to lack of experience in the beginning, I learn from every mistake I have made and see the positive in every experience as that is what has made me the business person that I am.

My mentality will ensure that I succeed in everything that I do as I don’t believe there is anything above me that I can’t achieve and that there is nothing below me that I won’t do to succeed.

What advice would you give to aspiring young entrepreneurs?

Prepare for the unexpected. You get out of life what you put in so get ready for the hard work. Good ideas are great but implementing them is the most important as that is where the success and money will come.

Never be afraid to make decisions, even if you make the wrong one, you learn from it. The most important advice is that in business you get knock backs, but never give up!

If what you are working on is not going to plan, be flexible, react quickly and change the plan. If it does go wrong, move on, take it on the chin and learn from it.

What made you leave a secure job to feature on The Apprentice?

I am not a ‘what if’ person, I don’t want regrets in my life and I always want to stretch myself. I left my old job as I had really exhausted the opportunities in the company and was getting content in the role.

It was a highly paid position and a fantastic job, but I was 27 years old. I was confident in my own ability, so I knew that if The Apprentice didn’t go well for me I would always set up my own business or get another highly paid job.

What qualities do you need to be a budding entrepreneur?

A positive attitude, hardworking, a decision maker, forward thinking and driven by money!

Do you thing it’s important for young people to grow up in a culture that makes it easier for them to have ideas and be able to make them happen?

I think to encourage business development and thinking in young people is very important. The idea has to come before the strategy so it is crucial that the youth of today put forward their ideas.

Business development and enterprise didn’t happen when I was in school but if it did I can guarantee it would have helped me to get where I am quicker. Young people are tomorrow’s business people and potential millionaires so it is important for us to acknowledge their talents now.

What’s the best advice you could give someone who’s in their teens or twenties who is keen to ‘make their mark’?

The key is ATTITUDE! Attitude can make up for lack of experience until you have it. A good attitude will ensure you excel in everything you do and stand above the crowd. Treating people well will ensure that in life generally you are treated better a have a good quality of life.

Work very very hard, not only will this ensure you are valued in every company you work in but will demonstrate to your management that you aspire to be more. Good attitude, good attendance and ability can get you any job in any company!

What’s your next step?

The next step for me is to grow my business, and start a new business next year. I am currently working on two new TV shows which are business related and a book which should be coming out this year. My main aim is still to have fun and become very rich.

What do you hope to have achieved by the time you are 40?

I want to be successful and that means to be financially stable, have fantastic home life and own a consortium of businesses and a portfolio of properties.