Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons in Life and Business (Expanded) by Richard Branson

Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons in Life and Business (Expanded) Reviews

• 
  Karen ⊰✿

  I didn't know that much about Branson (other than his many media appearances) and I found this really interesting to learn more about him, his early years and philosophy.
  He really seems to be a person that genuinely cares about others and the planet and that is very admirable.
  I'm not sure I really learnt anything from the book, other than just cool things he has done and I learnt a whole lot more about the Virgin group of Companies.
  So interesting, but ultimately I didn't have any real takeaways.
• 
  Rosaria Cirillo

  Once I gave it a start I could not put it down. Devoured it over one weekend, totally absorbed into #RichardBranson autobiography. What an amazing example of using business and money for doing good! 🤩
  I had no idea how little did I know about Branson and Virgin, and how filtered through others’lenses that was.
  In the CX world, Branson is usually portrayed as the leader who puts employees first rather than customers. Reading directly from his words, i got a different picture, one that fully embodies my vision of Happiness Driven Growth! 💛
  First of all, he is not at all succube of the common business tyranny of OR, profit or customers, customers or employees.
  He sees profits as needed for the company to survive not as the reason to be in business; the reason for him to start a new business IS delivering the best experience possible while having fun and making the world a better place, and he understands that key to success IS employing thinkers, independent and intelligent people and empowering them to do their work. I actually never realized how many examples of #YellowGoldfish he has in his companies, how all his businesses pursue at least few #yellowfactor (fun and play being the main common traits) using the #driven competencies and all the stages of #growth described in Yellow Factor (including a lot of #givingback and consideration for the environment), ultimately being a living example that we can have successful and profitable #happinessdrivengrowth 🌻💛🤩
  Definitely a book worth reading and an example many business leaders can and should follow!🙌👏
• 
  Annie Kostyk

  A great read! This book will inspire you to make a list of your dreams and go get them while saving the world in the process. A great man. A fantastic book. My list is made! This is going to be an annual read. I'm buying it.
• 
  Hayley

  Some inspirational stories and a lot of Branson spouting about how daring, hardworking and successful he is. In my opinion, he often comes across as patronising which I thought that was a strange tone for a 'self-improvement' book but maybe that's just me.
• 
  Louise Fry

  Didn’t really enjoy this book found he repeated himself a lot and the chapters didn’t really relate to the title of them and it seemed extremely mix matched - was a quick read however but didn’t feel anything gained like the title would suggest
• 
  Nassimoka

  3.5 stars
• 
  Lorie

  I couldn't even finish this book. Yes, Richard Branson definitely achieved a lot in life, but if you read this book it sounds like he solved world hunger. Also, space tourism and trying to improve the environment do not go together in my opinion. Nobody needs space tourism. Couldn't finish this book because all he talked about was how great he is.
• 
  Quan Truong

  Okay - now I know, I shouldn't feel bad prioritizing the fun when running my business Love the fun parts!
• 
  Maria Mateva

  Branson has strongly self-praising tone in the book, which I find quite annoying. Even the mistakes he confesses about are described as heroic, which again makes me no fan of the book.
  
  There are two major contradictions in the logic of statements, that are weird to me. First, Branson claims there is nothing more important than the family, but then he describes how he went on a life-endangering(but ego-boosting) event which prevented him from attending the birth of his second child. Next he explains he was aware he could leave two children half-orphaned. Still, he finds this story as amazing demonstration of courage. I would qualify it as amazingly irresponsible to the family.
  
  Second, there is a constant restatement of the idea to risk it all. Еxcept when you should not. There is no clear line described, which leads to the conclusion that Branson makes these decisions thanks to his outstanding business intuition. OK, praise again. Hurray. But nothing practical for the reader to learn.
  
  Anyway, I cannot help but give the author the credit for all the honesty and brevity throughout his life. I believe some of the stories would be interesting to entrepreneurial or business people. To me, the greatest aspect of the stories told is the one about humanitarian and environmental awareness and aid.
  
  I particularly enjoyed chapters "Gaia Capitalism", "Think Young" and "Do Some Good", where a number of very generous actions of Branson's are described. And, attention to issues like lowering the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, war prevention, famine relief, education in extremely poor regions, etc. is drawn.
  
  To sum up, I cannot even say if I liked the book. But it does have a few good stories worth reading.
• 
  Tony Vynckier

  In his book - Screw it, Lets do it - Sir Richard pulls out stories from his life to illustrate some of his beliefs, principles and practices. He talks about having fun, being bold, challenging yourself, standing on your own feet, valuing the family and doing good.
  Short, sweet and simple, insipring and open-hearted.
  
  The most interesting suggestions are:
  - Have fun, work hard and money will come.
  - When it's not fun, move on.
  - Be bold, seek challenges, aim high, set calculated goals.
  - Try new things, always try but well prepared.
  - Challenge yourself, make a difference, say Yes instead of No.
  - Money is for making things happen.
  - Always think what you can do to help.
  - And do not forget : Live life to the full.
  
  The book makes the business role reconnect with humanity.
  
  His lessons are fairly simple: know what you want, work hard at it, don't give up until you get it, take risks but calculated risks, weigh up the odds in everything you do, some risks are not worth taking ... all stuff that we claim to already know, but so seldom apply to our own lives.
  
  As Sir Richard Branson states:
  A journey of a thousand miles starts with that first step. If you look ahead to the end, and all the weary miles between, with all the dangers you might face, you might never take that first step. And whatever it is you want to achieve in life, if you dont make the effort, you wont reach your goal. So take that first step. There will be many challenges. You might get knocked back - but in the end, you will make it.
  Good luck!
  
  Tony VYNCKIER
• 
  Keith Blakemore-Noble

  An excellent book!
  It is written in a very easy-to-read style, has minimal waffle, and is great for gaining an understanding of Branson's philosophies about life and business.
  He back them all up with some very good examples throughout his life - these often give not only useful illustrations of the points he is discussing, but also offer a fascinating insight into what was actually going on both with Branson, with the Virgin companies, with competition and, in some cases, with some very significant global situations.
  
  Don't read this expecting a detailed, step-by-step breakdown of how specifically to do what Branson has does (such approaches are doomed to failure anyway because no two people will ever experience the exact same scenarios and conditions).
  Instead, read this from the perspective of understanding the mindset which enabled him to do what he did, which is a much more powerful thing to have.
  
  Would love to see a third edition, updated to add his reflections upon what has happened in the decade since he last touched the book, but the book itself is still very well worth reading.
  
  In short, it's the book I wish I'd read 40 years ago (admittedly it couldn't have been written then for obvious reasons, but you get the idea).
• 
  Chithamparanathan Rajathagireesan

  Global entrepreneur Richard Branson has built a business empire and made billions, yet is renowned for his approachability, ability to challenge and succeed against the odds. Screw It, Let's Do It reveals the lessons from life that have helped him through his business and personal life such as, believe it can be done and that, if others disagree with you, try and try again until you achieve your goal; or that you must love what you do. These and other lessons, with examples of how he learned them and how he has used them, are included in this stirring and candid look at his lessons from an exceptional life, which will inspire you to make a difference in your own life.
  
  Richard Branson donated freshwater by filled a Boeing 747 with bottled water and sent it during Tsunami when Sri Lanka desperately wanted freshwater.
• 
  Mark Blane

  Intriguing insights into a man whose father was a lawyer, and his humble beginnings with his Student magazine. I don't know if his pro-climate change agenda was a bit too much in Chapter 9. In fact, he boldly says much of the Amazon rain forest will be extinct by 2020, and obviously that is not the case. The book was published in 2011, so what else is wrong with his pro-climate agenda stance? Other than this, I enjoyed his polite mannerisms that only his British heritage could deliver, and how overall it is a positive book about not giving up, and pressing on with things. I don't agree that you should pursue your passion when it comes to making money as that is a bit too idealistic for me, but whatever, he is the one that had created some international brands.
• 
  Helen

  Thank you Richard for writing this amazing book, it took a lil while to read because work is exhausting, and the training period hasn't been a lot of fun, stealing my time to read. But in my time off I managed to get my hands on it and take the advice in it to heart. My ideas will not remain stacked in my clipboard forever, they're there cooking in my mind until I have the means to make them reality. I have only lent this book but I will purchase it to re-read it over and over, for entrepreneurial inspiration. I'm a doer type of person and It is my duty to work on my dreams.
  Wonderful read it was!
• 
  Gemma Williams

  I thought this book had lots of useful lessons about how to approach life, although there was nothing that was groundbreaking and isn't in similar books. It was interesting learning about Richard Branson, he seems like a very reasonable person and there were very few things that I disagreed with him about. Now and then it felt like an advert for virgin but not so much that it put me off, a quick read worth it for the time it takes to read it.
• 
  sprinkle.your.sparkle

  Not a big fan of the way that book is written. The bragging style combined with the below average writing skills annoyed me. A lot. I flipped through most of the book, reading only some of the stories along the way. Not surprisingly, I ended up ditching it altogether.
  
  That being said, Branson has some interesting stories to tell and a pretty simple philosophy in life that can be summed up in a page.
• 
  Jessica

  This is where I get to gush like the roadie fan that I am and say that I LOVE everything that Branson's business philosophy is about. If you're going to do business, do it your own way but have a look at what Branson built his empire on. Business and philanthropy must be fundamentally married from the start. I guess his life principles just spoke to me in a big way - hope they do to you too!
• 
  Yves

  It started as reading so light I was surprised the book did not float off the table but then it changed. The nuggets of business intelligence in this book never stopped coming and it became a real dialog with Richard Branson. A snapshot of the period where the business became a dedicated team and a billionaire was made.
• 
  Andrew

  Opened my eyes even wider to why I do what I do, to have fun and love life!! There are endless lessons learned but the most important is to always respect others, always be positive and just have fun.
• 
  Ivan Breet

  A very inspiring and light hearted look into the Branson phenomenon. Full of little lessons, tips and advice. Mainly aimed at sales and marketing people, but a good read for everyone with a little sense of adventure.
• 
  Yehia Abo el-nga

  This is an amazing book that did really change the way I think. In this book, Richard Branson reflects on the easygoing, and adventurous way, he lived his life. He elaborated on taking smart, weighted risks, and how to enjoy your life as an entrepreneur.
• 
  Devin Partlow

  "Live life to the fullest", "Money is for making things happen", love it! Love it so much that I give it 4 stars instead of 3. Its an inspiration book for people that kinda already believe in the maxims of this book, but beyond that there's nothing really groundbreaking about it.
• 
  Hafizal Nordin

  RB sangat adventurous dan seorang yang berani ambil risiko. Walaupun tak berpelajaran tinggi, tapi sangat creative dan pandai ambil peluang. Buku ni hanya cerita sedikit dari apa yang dia dah capai. Perlu cari biography yang more detail.
• 
  Oksana

  Exquisite read that fosters the "doer" and "no-regrets" attitude, teaches a simple, yet crucial rule - do what you feel is right for you and don't waste a second to think about it - just do it. Loved it :]
• 
  James

  Very Quick Read... worth the price of admission!