“Ridiculous yachts and private planes and big limousines won’t make people enjoy life more, and it sends out terrible messages to the people who work for them. It would be so much better if that money was spent in Africa… and it’s about getting a balance.”
A tremendous and entirely inspirational story of one of the richest people in the world. Richard Branson’s story, an autobiography, starts when he was a child and it’s a fast-paced book that covers his whole life.
The flamboyant Virgin entrepreneur from the United Kingdom shares some of his business successes, world adventures, and personal background in his bubbly autobiography. “Losing My Virginity: How I’ve Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way” is a very appropriate title as it is exactly what the book is about.
“Three months of running a business or trying to set up a business and you will learn, I suspect, as much as you can learn in three years at a business school.”
Starting in 1968 when he was a dyslexic 16-year-old who dropped out of school to start the British magazine Student, to creating a music mail order business, through to his ballooning adventures and sprawling global empire and charity work in Africa and around the world.
Branson is humble enough to poke fun at himself and talk about his failures while being confident enough to take on some of the most challenging industries in business.
While many business and finance biographies can be dry and uninteresting, Branson keeps the reader turning the pages like a novel. It’s littered with celebrities, near death adventures, and multi-million dollar deals.
Branson’s school 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.
From the book We understand the contribution of his parents. How he was groomed to be independent and be accountable for his own decisions.
The book reiterates some great lessons to us:
- Never give up
- Push your self beyond limits
- Look for possibilities and alternatives
“A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.”
Hey Matthew, Nice book review, that’s why I always love checking out your blog.