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Biographies & Primers |
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Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way
written by Richard Branson
Studio : Three Rivers Press
by Three Rivers Press
Release Date : 1999-10-19
Publisher : Three Rivers Press
Released : 1999-10-19
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780812932294
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 128 reviews)
List Price : $16.00
Our Price : $8.24
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Product Description |
"Oh, screw it, let's do it."
That's the philosophy that has allowed Richard Branson, in slightly more than twenty-five years, to spawn so many successful ventures. From the airline business (Virgin Atlantic Airways), to music (Virgin Records and V2), to cola (Virgin Cola), to retail (Virgin Megastores), and nearly a hundred others, ranging from financial services to bridal wear, Branson has a track record second to none.
Losing My Virginity is the unusual, frequently outrageous autobiography of one of the great business geniuses of our time. When Richard Branson started his first business, he and his friends decided that "since we're complete virgins at business, let's call it just that: Virgin." Since then, Branson has written his own "rules" for success, creating a group of companies with a global presence, but no central headquarters, no management hierarchy, and minimal bureaucracy.
Many of Richard Branson's companies--airlines, retailing, and cola are good examples--were started in the face of entrenched competition. The experts said, "Don't do it." But Branson found golden opportunities in markets in which customers have been ripped off or underserved, where confusion reigns, and the competition is complacent.
And in this stressed-out, overworked age, Richard Branson gives us a new model: a dynamic, hardworking, successful entrepreneur who lives life to the fullest. Family, friends, fun, and adventure are equally important as business in Branson's life. Losing My Virginity is a portrait of a productive, sane, balanced life, filled with rich and colorful stories:
Crash-landing his hot-air balloon in the Algerian desert, yet remaining determined to have another go at being the first to circle the globe
Signing the Sex Pistols, Janet Jackson, the Rolling Stones, Boy George, and Phil Collins
Fighting back when British Airways took on Virgin Atlantic and successfully suing this pillar of the British business establishment
Swimming two miles to safety during a violent storm off the coast of Mexico
Selling Virgin Records to save Virgin Atlantic
Staging a rescue flight into Baghdad before the start of the Gulf War . . .
And much more. Losing My Virginity is the ultimate tale of personal and business survival from a man who combines the business prowess of Bill Gates and the promotional instincts of P. T. Barnum.
Also available in the UK from Virgin Publishing, and in Canada from General Publishing,
From the Hardcover edition. |
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Americancivilwar.com Review |
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In this autobiography, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson says one of his prime business criteria is "fun." Fun made Branson a billionaire, and few business memoirs are one-billionth as fun as Branson's, nor as niftily written. Not only does it relate his side of near-death corporate experiences, it tells how the chairman literally cheated death by gun, shipwreck, and balloon crash. Branson's empire--now encompassing interests in an airline, pop music, soda pop, e-commerce, and financial services--began when the dyslexic 16-year-old dropped out of school in 1968 to found the British magazine Student. His headmaster said, "I predict that you will either go to prison or become a millionaire." Briefly imprisoned for dodging customs selling records, Branson got his first million by releasing Tubular Bells, a maverick recording all the stuffy executives rejected. (1998's Tubular Bells III puts the series' sales over 20 million.) Despite wild tales of Branson's wife-swapping and Keith Richards fleeing naked from Branson's studio at gunpoint with another man's woman, the most shocking parts of the memoir concern British Airways' James Bond-like "dirty tricks" campaign against Virgin Atlantic, resulting in the biggest award for damages in English history. Though it's filled with famous names, witty quotes, and pulse-pounding accounts of lunatic balloon adventures, it is as a business thriller that the book really scores. His instinctive bet-the-ranch tactics could cost him all, or earn another billion. Either way, Branson will likely remain the most entertaining entrepreneur in Europe. --Tim Appelo |
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Outstanding life, outstanding book |
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Nicely written entertaining book giving an inside perspective about Richard Barnsons life. The descriptions of his early twenties are dominated by explanations about various sexual escapades. Further one, he provides other details about his life which are truly inspiring. |
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Very Interesting. Must For Entrepreneurs! |
The book is really captivating. It was interesting to observe that Mr. Branson always looked at the business side of things from an early age.He never relied on elaborate numbers that consulting firms project in feasibility studies nowadays. Business calculations were surely done but there weren't any obscure or abstract business theories that consulting companies dress normal business decision-making with.
The role of banking relationship came to light in this book. One would observe that Mr.Branson had close relationship with banks and they played a major role in all of the business expansion, no matter how risky. Any enrepreneur should take note that close connections with the lending agency (whether it is a bank or venture capital or PE firm) is most important. It is the lifeline for the business, as the book would show.
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Exciting, unpredictable, and revealing |
Few autobiographies have the luxury of encompassing such a fascinating topic as Richard Branson who has led a life filled with unremitting vivacious action. Filled with modesty and a nerve that has him taking near unheard of risks (both personal and in business), Losing My Virginity reads like a roller coaster through all the ups and downs of Branson's life.
Richard Branson has created an empire, but few would be aware of just how close he teetered on the edge of bankruptcy for much of his career due to his unwillingness to accept the status quo. His battles with British Airways are epic, but Branson also fills the book with countless highlights of his illustrious life, most notably his near death experiences attempting hot air balloon records.
Where this book really won me over was regarding Branson's interaction with the Jordan royalty and his insight into the first gulf war. As a result of Branson's charitable efforts, he was privy to a point of view that most would not expect. I will leave it to any reader to discover this on their own, but this typifies the interest one should expect to obtain reading this book.
I highly recommend Branson's book to any enthusiast of adventure or business.
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The most inspirational autobiography I have ever read! |
I have a tremendous amount of respect for Sir Richard Branson. He is extremely talented, hard working and incredibly successful. I defy anyone reading this book not to be inspired by it. He is living proof that if you really want to be successful at something and you are prepared to put in the work to overcome your obstacles and improve your skills you can do it. He also appears to be very down to earth despite his success which is a very attractive and rare trait these days amongst well known successful entrepreneurs.
Angela Coldwell - author of 100 Essential Steps to Career Success |
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Awesome Read. |
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It was quite the page turner. Wanting to find out what happens next! To think that one can lead a life like this is good to know. I recommend this book to anyone who is a little frustrated with life and its upsetting turns sometimes. |
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