Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School

“The brave may not live for ever but the cautious may not live at all.” Richard Branson

When I think of success I think of Richard Branson. A highly successful entrepreneur who has both successfully and unsuccessfully created over 400 businesses often entering into industries that many would avoid.

He is a worldwide celebrity known for living life to the fullest with a tendency for adventure, an appreciation for having fun, and a passion for all that he does, sometimes controversially so.

This I like a business 101 course with Richard Branson as he shares his own business and life’s lessons, learning’s and principles, with over 40 years experience, there is certainly a lot to be taken from it.

If you’re a business leader, business owner or even an inspiring entrepreneur this book will make you think.

My three outtakes from this book are thinking outside the box and challenge what is, take care of the people, and do what you do with passion and fun with value as the end goal not money.

Richard thinks outside the box and is why he most likely struggled at school leaving at the age of 16. He couldn’t concentrate and probably couldn’t accept that everyone learns in the same way.

If you have read some of my other stuff you will know how I feel about education. While there are still many merits for education the cons are sometimes impeding on ones life expectations and endeavours.

We are taught as one in which we know no one learns the same but the idea is to have us all programed to listen and follow instructions so that once we finish school we will find it easier to get jobs and keep jobs. Those days have gone.

Schools should teach us to think and problem solve and whilst some subjects may allow us to do so many are so formatted that it still restricts absolute freedom of thought.

Richard lived by this and attributes much of his success in challenging the norm. Just because things are done a certain way doesn’t mean it is necessarily the best way. Richard mentions one example about why wearing a tie seems silly and wasteful.  It has no purpose.

We all have heaps of these wasteful things we do just because but should really questions why. Like those weekly office meetings, the additional paperwork, the way we promote ourselves, the reason we check emails, the need to work in an office, the need to even have a job.

Question it all; there is always another way.

One thing that is ever so clear even when you use any of Virgins business services are that the staff always seem happy and like they are having fun. They always smile and seem to want to help. Sure you may catch someone on a bad day occasionally, we all have these.

This certainly backs up his philosophy that his people come first. All of the businesses I have worked for forget this or certainly neglect this yet it is the key to any business success. Not the shareholders, not the results, not the senior managers and not even the customers. If the staffs are kept happy the rest will flow.

I think he talks about and commends his people throughout this book more than anything else. He provides examples of how it has helped create the Virgin Empire.

What I really appreciate is that staff needs are often over looked due to the rules and red tape that exist. Richard supplies many typical examples and ways in which we can do things differently so that both business and employee needs are kept happy.

Rules are more like guidelines and are there to be broken. This is one reason why I am unemployable! I struggle to understand and exist with businesses that do things that impede employee satisfaction or even the needs of the customer just because someone came up with a rule, system or procedure that is more results focused rather people focused.

For businesses going forward to stay competitive and certainly alive will need to have much more a Richard people focus to their business.

Finally it certainly helps relax me somewhat but Richard is known for his seemingly care free and fun nature. He seems to enjoy everything he does and certainly doesn’t make everything so “business”. Business to him must seem more like a hobby, as hobbies are things we all do with much more passion and most likely would do for free.

This book will open your eyes on the way we do things. If you are looking for change, like quitting you J.O.B, have a read of this and see what you can come up with. There are endless opportunities out there you just have to begin the search.

If this book sounds of interest you can purchase Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School here.

Please leave your thoughts, comments & questions below.

Peace, passion and purpose…

If you liked this one you may also enjoy these.