welcome
Thoughout my life I have been lucky enough to devote my time to roles that have motivated me. I have always enjoyed my work. This is partly good luck, but also a result of a number of very difficult decisions at critical times.
I have written Worthwhile Wealth in the hope that it will help others. It is my first, and so far my only book. It is ultimately about motivation – what motivates individuals to set up businesses and organisations and hence to create wealth in its widest sense. The book is aimed primarily at those people, especially young people, who want to change their lives but may not think they share the financial values that appear to drive much of business activity. Of course all businesses need to be financially viable, but a focus on ideas, products, innovations, doing something for society – in brief being useful – is far more likely to be effective in the long term. Even if you do not want to set up a business the ideas in the book may help to guide you in a life of worthwhile work. Maybe I feel another book coming on!
the book
praise for Worthwhile Wealth
All the stuff, none of the fluff!
It might be the Yorkshireman in me, but I really enjoyed this read. Worthwhile Wealth by Bob Gomersall breaks down some deep but simple steps.
Just an opinion, but sometimes people have a habit of trying to overcomplicate things in life that could be made far simpler. Bob does keep it straight-talking and simple on the tricky subject of navigating life and business. Whether an established business or a start-up, there are some great golden nuggets, fantastic reminders, and simple steps to take to get going or improve your business and life.
Ben Wilson, Managing Director, MPM Group
‘An inspiring read for any business leader or would-be entrepreneur. Bob draws on his experience as a successful entrepreneur, business leader, scientist, academic and mountaineer to bring us a truly pragmatic approach to business which is both inspiring and entertaining. A definite call to action.’
Amazon Review Sept 2024
‘As a new entrepreneur starting my own book shop I found this guide helpful and full of great tips and advice to be successful at my new business venture. Highly recommend.’
5 out of 5 on NetGalley
‘Wow, this is a great book about having a purposeful and enjoyable career by starting your own enterprise. It’s largely about creating something of value to society, including the area of eco-entrepreneur. It recognises the limits of growth and supports a ‘doughnut economics’ model. Whether you have not yet considered starting your own business, have dreamed but never started one or already have an early stage (or larger) business, there is something for you in here.’
First Linkedin Review
‘A well-timed challenge to wrong thinking that the pursuit of wealth and health might be an zero sum game. Bob, with characteristic rigour and humanity, urges us to understand that we can achieve meaning in our working lives, do some good in this world and also make a few quid. A very readable and grounded philosophy, entertaining too, from a successful entrepreneur with a message about the things that really matter.’
Simon Hinchliffe, Headmaster, Bradford Grammar School
‘This is a wonderfully stimulating book, sharing Bob Gomersall’s experience in becoming an entrepreneur, challenging assumptions that profit and wealth should drive work above all, and bringing in social responsibility, ethical, environmental and personal priorities. And it offers many examples of successful entrepreneurship which included these priorities in Yorkshire and the north of England. It’s an ideal guide for those thinking about changing direction.’
William Wallace, Lord Wallace of Saltaire
‘Refreshing. Practical. Inspirational. Special. Bob Gomersall delivers insight, encouragement, and understanding from his own experience, and that of others, with intelligent musings from a ‘Mountain Top’. Described, analysed, assessed and presented with insight and encouragement. Best described as wisdom from the real world, with advice on how to achieve the satisfaction and reward from a job that is not work but is life, a life in balance with family, friends and community, and yourself. A life of ‘Worthwhile Wealth’.
Brian S Smith, Former CEO of HF Holidays, MD of Continental Tyres (UK) and Director of Leyland DAF Trucks
‘A highly entertaining mix of social insight, ethical exploration and practical tips about what constitutes “wealth” and how to achieve it under your own steam whilst benefitting wider Society. A great guide for anyone who wants to improve their life and the world but isn’t sure how to take the first step.’
Helen Boaden, Former Director BBC Radio, President HF Holidays
‘Dr Bob Gomersall has written an inspirational guide for entrepreneurs to build businesses that allow us to flourish and thrive, rather than just survive, and play a positive role in our planet’s future. Drawing on his experiences as a physics teacher and academic turned entrepreneur, Bob shares his successes and failures and uses his scientific background to analyse the risks in starting a business and explains how to mitigate these. As Bob shows, true wealth isn’t about cash or status: it’s about spending time doing the things you love, being free and having a work life with a sense of purpose at the heart of it.’
Dame Linda Pollard, Chair, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Worthwhile Wealth is for you if…
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You would like the encouragement to start your own business
You would like to change your job and fear loss of status or money
You seek to improve your work life balance to be able to spend time in a more personally worthwhile way
You are looking for inspiration from the experiences of others
the author: Dr Bob Gomersall
Bob Gomersall left a job teaching physics and became an accidental entrepreneur so he could spend more time doing the things he enjoys.
After an initial foray into computer-based tests for teachers, he set up a business building medical equipment. Then he developed computer-based examinations and created one of the world’s first educational multimedia CD-ROMs.
Since then, Bob has created multiple companies at the forefront of education and healthcare technology, investing in numerous disruptive technologies. One of his companies won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in international trade. All this while spending as much time as possible walking in the mountains.
Today, when you can’t find him on a mountain top, Bob is involved in his role as Chair of Surpass Assessment, a world-leading computer solutions company based in West Yorkshire. Over four decades on, work still feels like a hobby to Bob, because he discovered that ‘worthwhile wealth’ isn’t just about having money.
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