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Usually ships in 1 business days | | | | | | "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,
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| | Product Details | | Author: | Richard Branson | | Paperback: | 416 pages | | Publisher: | Crown Business | | Publication Date: | October 19, 1999 | | Language: | English | | ISBN: | 0812932293 | | Package Length: | 8.0 inches | | Package Width: | 5.2 inches | | Package Height: | 1.0 inches | | Package Weight: | 0.7 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 149 reviews |
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| | Features | ISBN13: 9780812932294Condition: NewNotes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
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 Awsome story! Branson Aug 27, 2010
Great book, telling the story from start. only wish there were an updated version! est. 2010 Truly an incredible man/biz. From record deals to building an Airline Empire. A must read.
Forget about the billionaire, read about the entrepreneur. Jul 31, 2010
Everyone knows Richard Branson and his brand Virgin. Sure, he's a billionaire and writing a book when you're one makes it easy to become a bestseller. What surprised me about this book was its depth about his thoughts and down-to-earth manner which is was written in.
Taking the first 43 years of the life of Richard Branson into one book creates a wonderful journey which makes much of us wonder what it would be like. Growing up in the 50's and being a teenager during the sexual revolution of the late 60's and early 70's Richard Branson is being very open about his private life at that stage. I think it is great for anyone to see that entrepreneurs grow not only their business, but more so themselves as well. Putting forward his experiences building up Student and later Virgin Music this has been a great example to see someone pushing his own boundaries each day again.
Further down the book, business will get the best of the read and not so much the person of Richard Branson himself. This may be due to the fact that he more or less became his business, where in the first part of his life this role was reversed. The writings are nevertheless as exciting and you can actually 'feel' the growth of business and figures while reading. Having not disbanded the little facts of thousand dollar loans in the beginning of the book give you a great sense about the scaling-up that has taken place. Virgin Music expands, business troubles and failures are mentioned, but always success remains. There can be no adventure without failure.
The last part of the book focusses on Virgin Atlantic, the airline. Where the book ends around 1993 much of the British Airways lawsuit and 'dirty tricks' campaign is being written about. Although these chapters were a great read and blows the mind of any James Bond loving viewer, I think the total chapters are out of proportion. Feelings are noted, but Richard Branson as a person and what it did to his private life are missing out. Sure, the lawsuit was a gruelling experience, as anyone can understand who once had one. It is the wonder of how he could remain doing business in his 'fun and positive' way while going through this process what interests me most.
This book has been a great read and could be a valuable experience when you're in business. Forget about the billionaire, read about the entrepreneur.
 Easy to read and personable Jul 28, 2010
This book was an enjoyable read. Richard's story has everything - a little gossip, a little entertainment and a little drama - in fact a lot of drama. I truly enjoyed reading this book. It helps you vicariously live the life of an entrepreneur. It has several learning lessons and several mistakes of Branson you can learn from.
Autobiography with business lessons along the way Jun 22, 2010
I am about halway through the book, but so far I have really enjoyed it. The book is definitely different than what I expected. It basically an autobiography by Richard Branson, but it offers very clear business lessons along the way. He has lived an VERY interesting life so it actually helps the book flow very well. Very enjoyable read so far.
Life as an entrepreneur Jun 13, 2010
A roller-coaster ride through the early history of the Virgin group. In some ways, for someone who values and depends on his public image so much, this book provides a very intimate view of Richard Branson's childhood, and his early business successes and failures - and there is plenty of both! In fact, it is the determination and willingness to take larger and larger risks that makes this book such an interesting read. If you're running a small business, with a tight budget, and are dreaming about the "good days", think again.. whether you're running an airline, or a local record shop, this book is the epitome of what it means to lead a life of an entrepreneur: you are always in pursuit of something bigger, and are always operating on the edge of your physical, mental, and fiscal limits. A classic, highly recommend it!
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