Book Review
I enjoyed reading this book by Richard
Branson and I will read it again. Because Branson is a simple guy, the book was
an easy read. Quick and easy to understand. So, I’m not re-reading it because I
didn’t understand it - I will re-read it because it is inspiring.
Richard Branson is founder and head of the multi-billion
dollar Virgin Group which includes over 300 companies. This book reads like an
intimate journal of Richard Branson’s musings and anecdotes. It feels like you
are chatting with Richard over a tea or beer. You’ll discover insights into his
visions, fears, values, failures, triumphs and advice. It’s a worthwhile read.
These excerpts offer the insights from the
book that resonated most with me:
On Entrepreneurship
You have to protect against the downside.
We all need to be aware that small, lean, entrepreneurial
businesses are now the future of business.
I had never been interested in business. I’ve
been interested in creating things.
Ethics aren’t just important in business.
They are the whole point of business. We’re in business to make things. And
when you decide what to make, that is an ethical decision.
We carefully research the Achilles heels of
different global industries and only when we feel we can potentially turn an
industry on its head, and fulfill our key roles as the consumers’ champion do
we move in on it.
Publicity is absolutely critical. You have
to get your brand out and about particularly if you’re a consumer-oriented
brand. You have to be willing to use yourself as well as your advertising
budget to get your brand on the map. A good PR story is infinitely more
effective than a full page advert and a damn sight cheaper.
For any business building a consumer brand,
speaking to journalists is part of the deal.
There was little purpose in becoming the
largest brand in the world. It was much more valuable to become the most
respected.
If you don’t define what the brand stands
for the competition will.
What you’re bad at actually doesn’t
interest people, and it certainly shouldn’t interest you. However accomplished
you become in life, the things you are bad at will always outnumber the things
you are good at. So don’t let your limits knock your self-confidence. Push them
to one side and push yourself to your strengths.
….
All of these selected excerpts offer
revealing insights into the mind of Richard Branson and powerful advice for
business success.
George Torok Host of Business in Motion Business Speaker Listen to Business in Motion audio PodCasts On iTunes Business in Motion on Facebook
