Like a Virgin: Secrets They Wont Teach You at Business School by Richard Branson

Like a Virgin: Secrets They Wont Teach You at Business School Reviews

• 
  Ben Neynens

  This book is like reading a blog, but in book format.
  
  By that I mean it's a hotchpotch collection of Richard Branson's musings on a wide range of topics.
  
  If you're trying to better understand Branson the man, then perhaps this 'essay/blog post collection' can enable you to achieve that.
  
  But the subheading "Secrets They Won't Teach You at Business" implies a self-help element - and in picking up such a book, I'm not out to learn about Richard Branson, I'm out to learn specific expertise.
  
  With all Branson's exhortations on being a nice person, one could read this book and gain a stronger sense of the power of good virtue as something that can enable and strengthen a business. But that's pretty non-specific knowledge, and not the type of 'secrets' that I was looking for in a book. Keep this sort of stuff on the blog, Branson.
  
  I think the publishers kind of dropped the ball on this one, and unfortunately its put me off picking up any of Branson's other books.
• 
  Daniel Taylor

  Sir Richard Branson has been taking questions from journalists for years on how he runs the Virgin brand so successfully. He's always willing to answer because he believes that the more successful entrepreneurs there are in the world, the better it will be.
  
  This book has dozens of short chapters, as it's essentially a guide book for entrepreneurs in question-and-answer format. Branson approaches the topics with his idiosyncratic humour, and they cover everything from starting a business to making a difference in the world.
  
  A lot of the advice he gives can be picked up from reading Branson's other books, or other good business books. That, combined with my dislike of the question-and-answer format, is the reason I only gave this book three stars. I do love Branson and I'm a big fan of his companies, how he does business, and his lifestyle.
  
  If you can learn easily from the question-and-answer format then you'd get a lot more out of this book than I did. Entrepreneurs do have a lot to gain from it, especially if you don't read a lot of other business books.
• 
  Kelly Olexa

  This was a quick read for me-- I read it on the plane last night. Since I never thought I would be an "entrepreneur" I never thought about reading books about those that are. Now that I'm running my own company, I'm all about learning from those that have been there, done that. This was a fast, easy read but with really good insights, particularly about managing people, trusting your "gut" and learning from mistakes. I'm definitely going to read his others.
• 
  Sha Fawaz

  Business advice from the best in the business
  
  Richard Branson teaches some of the overlooked and often ignored by most companies
  
  Most books on business covers the framework and guidelines on how business should function
  
  But miss out on the writing on the 'culture' around which the business grows
  I really had fun reading this book, this is a book that any entrepreneur at any level and in any domain should be reading.
  
  What makes a good company great,
  
  This books clearly points out that the key success of any company is serving people, not just the customers but having a culture where the employees are looked as leaders and intrapreneurs and given their own sense of ownership and freedom in their work
  
  Richard Branson gives you clear answers to some of most easiest question that most business fail to incorporate in their culture
  
  After all business is build for people and with people
  
  Super Easy to read,
  
  If I had to underline all the important stuff the entire book will have series of lines...lol
  
  Branson teaches his way of looking at business, not hard shelled approach but a friendly and fun approach of doing business, approach of making the life of other people easy in the places they least look for, Which says most of his business since Virgin group diversified in hundreds of industries
  
  Bottom line, I will buy more of his other books A.K.A Business Study material
• 
  Sweta Gorania

  Book says about basic things one should know before starting one like..
  • Don't do it if you don't enjoy it
  • Be visible
  • Choose your brand's name wisely
  • Listen more - talk less
  • You can't run a business without taking risks
  • The first impression is everything - so is second
  • Perfection is unattainable
  • You can't do it all by yourself
  • The customer is always right - most of the time
  • Define your brand
  • Explore unexplored territory
  • You make your own luck
  • Beware the ' us vs. Them ' environment
  • Build a corporate comfort zone
  • Not everyone is suited to be CEO
  • Get a mentor
  • Seek a second opinion, and then a third
  • Cut ties without burning bridges
  • Pick up the phone
  • Always pick personality over experience
  • Change shouldn't be feared, but it should be managed
  • When it comes to making mistakes, bounce back, don't fall down
  • Be a leader, not a boss
  • Start business but keep your job until it starts running well
  And many more. Few of them you might be knowing already. Good refreshing read about business basics.
• 
  Thiago Mobilon

  Apenas uma coleção de conselhos empresariais de Richard Branson. Abandonei..
• 
  Kruizzer Alvarez

  This is a great book about the Virgin group of companies: how they were able to reach success and how we will be able to apply it to our own lives and businesses. I found a lot of very useful insights that I would be able to use for my start-up and business plans for the future. Just to give you a small preview, one of the lessons that stuck to me the most is "UNDER PROMISE THEN OVER DELIVER" which is pretty much self-explanatory. I would note that some of the tips and learnings aren't all that new for those who read quite a lot of business books already- but it really is different seeing how Richard Branson dealt with things and how he was able to grow Virgin from a mere record-store to a corporation with over 60 companies worldwide.
• 
  Louise Fry

  This book felt like it was going on forever and not in a good way it follows too much of his previous books so it feels like you know it all already very boring sadly
• 
  Sushant Pradhan

  I love his smooth writing style with stories. Overall a good relaxed read
• 
  Geri Shabarkova

  The important lines could be well summarized in no more than a 100 pages. The author stresses on the importance of satisfied personnel, which is quite important in the service industry, as customer service is, logically, the product really.
  Not impressive. Not providing the "Secrets they don't teach you at Business School" as it promises. Simply a self-advertising, short-term seller.
• 
  Ida Lindvig

  Missing a good storyline and flow. Some interesting stories, but not what I expected. The man is more interesting than this book.
• 
  Minh Mub

  Thể hiện những quan điểm của tác giả về khía cạnh nhân sự, định hướng, nghĩa vụ xã hội và bảo vệ môi trường của một tổ chức, cá nhân kinh doanh. Dẫn đến đối tượng của cuốn này nên là những người đã bắt đầu kinh doanh, làm quản lý khoảng vài ba năm đang gặp một số vướng mắc hoặc muốn mở rộng mô hình, ảnh hưởng.
  Bên cạnh đó cũng là một số kinh nghiệm về sự lạc quan, kỹ năng cạnh tranh với những đối thủ có quy mô lớn, nhiều ảnh hưởng.
  Nếu là một người chưa bắt đầu kinh doanh nhiều khả năng chỉ khai thác được sách trên khí cạnh ý tưởng tham khảo, động lực.
• 
  Ramzi

  RB is a unique individual who has redefined entrepreneurship in the modern era. This book provides an outline of his approach to doing business and for me it’s nudge to get out there and to launch a business of my own.
  
  The book is simple and very informative.
• 
  Sipho

  Sir Richard Branson is the billionaire founder of the Virgin group of companies and one of the world's foremost business icons. As such, I expected a lot from this book touted to be full of "secrets" that you won't learn at business school. I was disappointed.
  
  The book is made up of what feels like hundreds of short chapters, that read very much like blog posts. Although Branson does give a few actionable insights, most of the book is personal anecdotes from his own experience. Not bad necessarily, just not what I signed up for!
  
  Key takeaways
  
  If you are starting a business, make sure you are either doing something that has never been done or doing something better than the current providers are. Good customer service is a gap that can be filled in many industries.
  
  People are the biggest asset of any business. Treat them well by listening to them and giving them the tools to succeed.
  
  Intrapreneurs drive a company forward with ongoing innovations. Encourage people to pursue their visions, so they feel like they’re building their own company, rather than simply working for one.
  
  Keep a notebook with you to jot down ideas or questions.
  
  What I liked about the book
  
  Simple to read.
  
  The chapters were short enough to digest the main points easily.
  
  What I didn't like about the book
  
  The format is strange - the chapters are not connected to each other. One could be about raising capital and the next about climate change. Also the prose stops half way through the book and Branson starts answering questions that come out of the blue.
  
  The book doesn't really give you any "secrets" per se. Most of the advice is not unique to Branson.
  
  Repetitive.
  
  Conclusion
  
  It was unfortunate that this is the first book I have read by Richard Branson. It doesn't encourage me to read his others - which I have heard to be quite good.
  
  In short, this book is a hard pass. Unless you're a hardcore fan of Virgin and/or Richard Branson. There really is little that is new or groundbreaking here.
  
  
  
• 
  Adam Wiggins

  The author of this book is Richard Branson, business mogul and the founder and CEO of Virgin. The photo of him on the cover makes me think the book should have been titled, “I'm a Rich Asshole, Let Me Tell You All About It.” Which is a shame, because the content is excellent.
  
  Two major principles drive Branson's work:
  
  - Customer service as a core value. Empowering people on the front lines to solve problems (rather than reading from a script or following a set of regulations). Having everyone in the company take their turn at handling customer problems. Treating customer service as a critical part of the entire customer experience.
  
  - Brand. As he puts it, “Brands exist as a means of what to expect from a product or service.” In Virgin's case, he believes what you can expect is a great customer experience, fun, and a bit of irreverence.
  
  These things together help explain why Virgin is in so many seemingly unrelated businesses (music, airline, banking, fitness...). Branson sees opportunity to disrupt in any market dominated by established giants who don't offer a satisfying customer experience.
  
  His writing style is almost childlike which made it difficult to take seriously at first. But he knows his stuff. (And I also noticed his tips overlap quite a bit with what you'd find in, say, Jack Welch's work.) One slightly bothersome thing is that there's no particular flow to the book, it's just 300+ pages of short, blog-post-like chapters in seemingly random order.
  
• 
  Lori

  Catchy title. Nothing profound, yet I enjoyed it, simply because I agreed with most of his concepts. Like a Virgin targets entrepreneurs wanting to start their own business. Although concepts 'could' equally apply to the corporate world, I have seen no recognition or reward for proficient soft skills in leadership! Richard Branson regularly brought his focus back to "people". I wish more senior leaders could stop giving this lip-service and truly embrace the importance of respecting people as a worthy asset and investment!
  
  A few highlights:
  • CEO needs to be a Chief Enabling Officer
  • People are the heart and soul of the brand. Having fun attracts people!
  • Follow team decisions with conviction
  • Live & Learn. Try it! Listen to people and act on what they tell you.
  • It really irks me when someone calls me boss, so I need to remember and use this..... If someone says “you’re the boss”, ask them to speak as if “we’re in this together or tell me as if you were in my place?”
  • Give people the chance to make a difference and they will tackle the project with enthusiasm and true engagement!
  • An investment in your people is an investment in the company
  • Hire people you need, not people you like.
  • Follow up on problems uncovered and resolve them!
  
  
  
• 
  Khanh Cao

  Good book on motivating young generations of doing, or should I say, starting, something that they deeply love and passionate about. Doesn't have to be a billions, or millions-worth company, but just a wild, even a crazy dream that everyone once harnessed in their youth.
  
  Unlike unrealistic bullshit that movies have been feeding us the whole time, something like "follow your heart" or etc,. Richard Branson just literally points out all the harsh, rough aspects of doing something that you like but you aren't good at, or doing something that you both like and good at, but the market does not need it. But that's not all to it, he also taught what one must prepare, mentally , financially and, friendly (which here means preparing good, long-term friendship that could last with you for life!), in order to step into making his/her dream come true (of at least parts of it come true).
  
  Anyway, it is not too heavy to read up. A very light and enjoyable book actually, in my opinion.
  
• 
  Alek Cierniewski

  Lekka pozycja, zawierająca zbiór dość ogólnych prawd, którymi kierował i kieruje się Richard Branson. Na pierwszy rzut oka może nawet wydawać się banalnych. Jak jednak pokazuje praktyka managerska, utrzymanie dyscypliny w kierowaniu się tymi regułami wcale nie jest takie proste i banalne. Szczególnie zapamiętam jeden cytat: „Najlepsi menadżerowie starają się przyłapać swoich ludzi na tym co robią dobrze” - genialny! :)
• 
  Radoslava

  I liked the book and the concept behind it at the beginning, but after page 100 it all became a little bit boring to me. The book might be more valuable to entrepreneurs, I don't know :)
  
  Richard Branson is far more impressive as a person and businessman, than a writer.
• 
  Carol

  Fun book, Branson is an interesting character, some good tips for business/life! Good summer feel good book.
• 
  Yaqeen Sikander

  Good insights and lessons for start ups and budding entrepreneurs.
• 
  Omar Gamboa

  Es ilustrativo más que motivador. Me habría gustado tener un hilo conductor más que anécdotas sueltas y temas independientes.
• 
  James K Worswick

  Better than expected. The book is concise in providing business advice.
• 
  Mohammad Noroozi

  I think he might have oversold it by subtitling the book “Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School”. The book regurgitates a lot of principles and knowledge you would get from reading Peter F. Drucker or, actually, the memoirs of other business leaders such as Phil Knight or Ray Kroc. It seemed most valuable to me for giving examples he’s applied in his own businesses. For instance, he writes and explains his approach to addressing topics like workplace romances, how he keeps abreast of what consumers of his products want, what kind of behavior he incentivises in people who work for him, what the basics of his successful marketing strategies have been, and lots more.
  
  There’s some distinctions he makes that I thought were very helpful to read from someone who at least has proven their principles successful in some way. For instance, he highlights for persons in a chapter that a good entrepreneur doesn’t necessarily make a good manager and that most should prepare to hand off their work to a more successful administrator. He also asks honest questions from his readers about how much they really fit the entrepreneur “type” at least as well as he knows it.
  
  I was glad to see that he’s not someone who shuns the principle that successful businesses tend to be the ones that focus on a well defined mission. For readers who don’t know, the ‘Virgin’ brand is a conglomerate that has companies in telecommunications, aviation, music, and many others. It just turns out that the Virgin mission does lend itself to successfully being active in a variety of fields. Insight like that into his philosophy would be helpful to give more perspective to budding entrepreneurs.
  
  There’s at least one point in the book where I would bet dollars to cents that he is painting his business and work with a more idealistic brush than the reality. What I mean is, his suggested philosophy would be great in theory but not likely to be entirely in sync with the reality. Not surprisingly his companies always look like shining models of corporate behavior in his book. If you read this book imagining that a politician was writing it - i.e. it was being carefully drafted to avoid any unappetizing truths - then you can still get a lot out of it without being saddled with an unrealistic impression of what you have to achieve in your entrepreneurial endeavors.
  
  I think what I’ll remember most from this book is the role that Richard Branson seems to give himself to carefully observe the world around him (he repeatedly espouses keeping a notepad and pen everywhere) and come up with creative solutions. I take him at his word that a certain rebelliousness in his character allows him to not mind breaking from conventional wisdom to pioneer new solutions to the worlds problems. Probably the only secret here that you wouldn’t necessarily learn at business school is the character and mindset of the born entrepreneur.