From a job in the mail room at EMI Music Publishing Cowell rose through the ranks swiftly and after becoming a record producer at the firm, left to set up his own company. Following the collapse of his first business and a time at BMG, Cowell went on to pioneer thePopstars TV talent show, and subsequently co-producePop Idol and more recentlyThe X Factor. As a music producer he has achieved sales of over 25 million albums, over 70 top 30 records, and 17 Number 1 singles. His band 'Westlife' has achieved an impressive 10 Number 1 hits alone.

The Sunday Times Rich List recently estimated that he earned £33.5m in one year alone, thanks to the global success of the 'Pop Idol' brand.

 The 10 Secrets of the International Music Mogul are:

Work Your Way Up get to know your industryDont Be Defeated how to overcome set backs in businessGrab Opportunities respond to the marketKnow Your Market and consistently produce the product they wantThink Differently take your product and spin it in different formatsGet Your Name on the Credits and reap the rewardsDont Look Back learn from missed opportunities but keep moving forwardsSay it How It Is straight talking saves time in businessBuild a Personal Brand and be respected for what you do well if nothing elseUse Your Contacts there is no shame to pulling strings in business

Trevor Clawson is a freelance business journalist specialising in fast growth companies, management, new media, technology and marketing. His work has appeared in theGuardian, theIndependent, theSunday Times, theMail on Sunday,Director magazine,Growing Business magazine andRevolution. Prior to going freelance he edited a business teletext news service for BBC World television and two magazinese.Business andPLC Director. He is the author of two books:How to Grow Your Own Business (Crimson) andBusiness the Jamie Oliver Way (Capstone).

The Life and times of Simon Cowell.

One: Know Your Industry.
Simon Cowell's status as one of the most powerful men in the record industry has been achieved on the back of a recent run of TV shows, but he spent many years learning the music business from the bottom up.

Two: Know Your Audience.
Successful marketing depends on a close and intimate knowledge of your target consumers and what they want. Over the years, Cowell has honed his market research methods.

Three: Harness the Power of the Crowd.
With X Factor, American Idol and Got Talent, Cowell has harnessed the power of the crowd to find and develop bankable artists.

Four: Think Big, Think Lateral.
Cowell's latter-day business model is elegantly simple but the execution of his plans has required ambitious thinking and a strategy that spans music, television and new media.

Five: Develop International Formats.
Successful television formats can be sold around the world and Cowell has been quick to exploit the potential of his own creations.

Six: Work with Partners.
Despite his public image as a freewheeling maverick, Cowell's business success has been based on long-term collaboration with partners.

Seven: Tell it Like it Is.
Cowell's talent for plain speaking has served him well as a television personality and it is not an act. The Simon Cowell brand reflects his approach to life and business.

Eight: Manage the Talent.
The acts signed to Cowell's record label represent some of his most valuable assets. He takes care to steer their careers in a successful direction.

Nine: Learn to Roll with the Punches.
Cowell has seen his fair share of setbacks but he has always bounced back and moved his career forward.

Ten: Get Your Name on the Title.
By assuming a leadership role and owning assets Cowell has been able to do things his own way while earning a lot of money.

How to do Business the Simon Cowell Way.

The Last Word.

Notes.

Index.

About the Author.