Losing My Virginity: The Autobiography by Richard Branson

Richard Branson is one of the British about whom i have been getting positive remarks whenever his names comes up in a conversation. He is known well with his entrepreneurial business skills (creator of Virgin brand), generous support to various charities, connections with various political and non-political figures, and of course, his sport challenges, some of which has, understandably, patriotic aspect. But, like many other people, my personal experience with Richard Branson is limited, through his companies, Virgin, as a customer and it is mixed with satisfaction (virgin trains) and frustration (virgin media).

Even though, Branson is one of the well known celebrety entrepreneur in Bratain, it is so rare to see him on public events (even on enrepreurial related TV prograns such as Dragons Den). It seems he enjoys his privacy and prefer to stay away from public attention which make people more interested in his life. His autobiography "Losing My Virginity: The Autobiography" is a good reference for those who interested in him and history of Virgin.

In his autobiography, his extra ordinary, colorful life is fluently told in a relatively long way (now it is about 600 pages, and he updates it regularly every year). Although, last two chapters (2006 and 2007) kinda come across as snapshots from his busy calendar, this book suprisingly is worthwhile to read.

Richard Branson is born into a post war England in 1950. He is the oldest children of Ted and Eve Branson both of them actively involved in WW II. Richard with his two sisters had a peaceful childhood in Surrey. He describes his family as that would have killed for each other. That special bond between him and his family, especially with parents can be sensed through the pages whole book.

He remembers his childhood full of challenges which were set up by his parents and relatives to make him self-sufficent and creative. These challenges were generally sportive and business oriented rather than academic. This was not a coincidence. Since Richard has dyslexia, his academic record was not good, however how much he tries hard in schools. In these times, when dyslexia was not known, and pupils who fail at Math are branded as stupid, sportive activies were the only way to survive in school. So, Richard focused on sport and made a good reputation as football player in school team. But after an accident in field, doctor banned him participating any sportive activities which led to a miserable school life. Upon the accident, he spent his most of the time in library, far away from eyes, but girls.

One of most apprepciated characterisitct of Richard, i think, his modesty and personality. From the first pages of the book, it came cross to my mind that maybe he owes his personality to a degree to his dyslexia which made him more sensetive, conscious, caring to other people. My this superficial thought is got stronger when i read Sally Gardner's interview on a magazine. Likewise Richards Branson, Sally Gardner is a dyslexia and she makes livelihood writing children books. She does not also recall great memories from her schooltimes due to her dyslexia. She explains affect of dyslexia on personality by : "After such a long period of time seen as a misfit you always feel an outsider. It is something that never leaves you. I will always be a round ball in a square hole. "

Since neither in academic nor sport(after the accident) he was successful, he directed his all effort to small scaled business plan in his childhood. In high school, about in the second half 60's, when students rebelling against established system in all around the world, he came up with the idea of a student magazine called Student. With a childhood friend, he set up the magazine. While his friend was editor of the magizine, he took all financial and organizational responsibilities. He and his friends made Student one of the biggest magazine for student in 60's. While content contributors of Student were generally leftist, he tried to keep himself in neutral, as a business man.

He learnt quite lots of deal about marketing and business and made extensive business network out of Student. As far as i see from the book that Richard Branson tries to apply all these lessons to all his business deals till now. Some of these lessons are that a succesful business is a team work and must enjoyable, the satisfaction of staff comes first and taking risk is essential to grown the business.

Rather than discussing about his success in business, i would like point out something else which i could not help myself noticing through the pages. As i mentioned above, Branson is very keen to his family, parents, sisters, children and wife. I dont want to speculate on his personal life, but with respect, i am a bit suprised that he did not mentioned so much about his second wife, Joan, mother of his two children and love of his life. Through lines, she comes cross as just a good, modest mother and full time house wife. But i am sure she is more than just these, as you guess, partners have big impact on someone's success. For example, Clementine, wife Winston Churchill, was the biggest supporter of his husband in many matters in peace and war time.

I think it would be very revealing to read biography of Joan&Richard Branson from one of their children (for example Holly Branson who recently graduated from University College in London with MD) for a objective and insider aspect to the life of Richard Branson.