He may have started in Cathal Flood’s hardware shop for just £6 per day but well-known financial adviser and businessman Paul Gallagher has become of one the town’s most successful businessmen.
He lets us in on a few of his secrets and tells us why we should invest our few euro wisely until the recession passes!
What is your career and what do you do?
As an independent financial advisor I give advice on all aspects of Life Assurance, Investments, Pensions and Mortgages
Tell us about your first job and how much were you paid?
As a school boy I worked Saturdays and holidays in Cathal Flood’s hardware shop Lower Main Street Letterkenny as a general shop assistant. I was paid the princely of £6 pound per day.
What was your first success in business?
To achieve the position of Broker consultant with Zurich Insurance in the city of London at age 23.
Name the one local or international business person you look up to?
Bill Cullen – well known Business man, writer and T.V personality. What he has achieved in business is phenomenal considering his humble background.
What has been your biggest mistake in business?
Nothing that springs to mind except perhaps one or two business opportunities during the boom that I reneged on.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever been given?
The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is a little extra – always go that extra mile.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in business today?
The old saying ‘Customer is King’ always look after your clients, make sure they are getting value for money while insuring that the service they receive is of the highest quality.
What one item would you take with you to a desert island and why?
Probably a speed boat as I would probably get bored after a few months.
What item can you not do without?
Unfortunately I would have to say the mobile phone.
What item would you prefer to do without?
I would have to say the lawnmower. I seem to end up cutting the lawn earlier every year.
What do you do in your spare time (if you have any)?
I attend the gym, I coach Glenswilly under 10 Gaelic team and Letterkenny Rovers underage teams. Having two young children, Sarah and Sean and my wife Helen’s many demands I don’t have much spare time.
When will you retire?
If the current economic climate continues probably never.
What’s your tip to surviving the recession?
One of the best ways to stay stable in times of economic recession is to save your money and spend wisely. Look for value for money at all times and prepare for a rainy day. The household bills are most people’s main concern but it has become very competitive out there thus are deals to be had so shop around.
What one thing would you do if you were Finance Minister to help business?
As we are in the North West we have to compete with our neighbours across the border and one way of doing this is to lower the minimum wage thus enabling to keep staff in jobs and also allow new business.
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