A biography for Deborah Meadenhasn’t been written yet.
“People can be very serious with me, and expect me to be very businesslike all the time. So I have to help them get over that by showing them that I enjoy life.”
“My parents felt I should earn my money because I would then value it. So they would pay me a shilling or two to do jobs such as washing the car, cleaning and washing up.”
“As a young woman, before I had any money, I went backpacking across India, and I was aware of how gritty it could be.”
“You give power to issues if you pay a lot of attention to them. The more attention you give them the more power they have. So the most powerful thing you can do is just get on and ignore it.”
“People have to understand that they're not good at everything.”
“If you're looking for investment you've got to think about what the investor gets from being involved with your business. A lot of people think about what they're getting from their point of view but not about what the investor gets out of a deal.”
“I'm not scared of many sectors, so if you look at my investment portfolio, it is pretty wide. I've invested in anything from market research firms to fashion houses and textile companies.”
“My parents are not nurturers. They're a bit like me: do a good job and move on.”
“My first paid job was leading pony rides along Minehead seafront when I was eight. I probably got paid sixpence - not much but I loved horses and it gave me a great chance to be near them.”
“I use my clothes to make my day better - for example, if it's a dull day, I'll wear something bright to cheer myself up.”
“I'm not particularly tactile.”
“I don't actually like dogs smelling of anything other than natural dogs.”
“It can be difficult to find investment for a new business, particularly one which is highly innovative or breaks new ground.”
“I suffer from reverse body dysmorphia. When I look in the mirror I see somebody slimmer. It's quite a shock to see myself on TV, especially on widescreen.”
“I am proud of the fact I would never tamper with my looks. I love the fact I have earned every line and wrinkle.”
“I don't exactly know the moment that I was a millionaire but it was in my twenties.”
“I would have liked children, but I am not all disappointed. I've had a lot of stuff thrown at me in life so I don't dwell on it.”
“Dragons' Den' is about as close to real business as you can get on television.”
“I think I've got more humour than comes across.”
“I had my first flower stall when I was seven, at the end of the drive in Minehead, Somerset. Nobody was stopping so I moved it to my neighbour's drive, because I thought: 'Location, location, location.' It worked.”