Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way PDF
Preview Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way
Contents Cover About the Book About the Author Praise Title Page Dedication Prologue ‘Screw it. Let’s do it.’ 1 ‘A family that would have killed for each other.’ 1950–1963 2 ‘You will either go to prison or become a millionaire.’ 1963–1967 3 Virgins at business 1967–1970 4 ‘I am prepared to try anything once.’ 1970–1971 5 Learning a lesson 1971 6 ‘Simon made Virgin the hippest place to be.’ 1971–1972 7 ‘It’s called Tubular Bells. I’ve never heard anything like it.’ 1972–1973 8 ‘To be second choice means nothing.’ 1974–1976 9 Never mind the bollocks 1976–1977 10 ‘“I thought I’d move in,” Joan said.’ 1976–1978 11 Living on the edge 1978–1980 12 ‘Success can take off without warning.’ 1980–1982 13 ‘You go ahead with this over my dead body.’ 1983–1984 14 Laker’s children 1984 15 ‘It was like being strapped to the blade of a vast pneumatic drill.’ 1984–1986 16 The world’s biggest balloon 1986–1987 17 ‘I was almost certainly going to die.’ 1987–1988 18 ‘Everything was up for sale.’ 1988–1989 19 Preparing to jump 1989–1990 20 ‘Who the hell does Richard Branson think he is?’ August–October 1990 21 ‘We would have about two seconds to say our last prayers.’ November 1990–January 1991 22 Flying into turbulence January–February 1991 23 Dirty tricks February–April 1991 24 The kick boxer in the first room April–July 1991 25 ‘Sue the bastards.’ September–October 1991 26 Barbarians at the departure gate October–November 1991 27 ‘They’re calling me a liar.’ November 1991–March 1992 28 Victory March 1992–January 1993 29 Virgin territory 1993–1998 30 Diversity and adversity 1998–2005 31 Changes 2006 32 Flying High 2007 Index Picture Section Picture Credits Copyright About the Book Much more than just a memoir, this is Richard Branson’s own take on his extraordinary life so far – and a definitive business guide that reveals his unique philosophy on commerce, success and life. Richard looks back on how Virgin grew from a mail-order music business into the global brand it is today, and how, rather like his balloon flights, the years have been as much about endurance and survival as they have been about runaway success. He shares the inside story of his latest projects in the areas of health, the environment and the media, as well as his reflections on his own intrepid adventures and family life. From the $25 million Virgin Earth Challenge to the launch of Virgin Galactic, this is a powerful and unique inside look into the life of an iconic global entrepreneur. About the Author Richard Branson is chairman of the Virgin Group. He was born in 1950 and educated at Stowe School, where he set up Student magazine when he was sixteen years old. In 1970 he founded Virgin as a mail order record retailer, and shortly afterwards opened a record shop on London’s Oxford Street. Two years later the company built a recording studio and Virgin Records went on to become one of the top six record companies in the world. Since then the Virgin Group has expanded to encompass around two hundred companies in over thirty countries. Richard is the only person in the world to have built eight billion-dollar companies from scratch in eight different sectors. He recently established the $25 million Virgin Earth Challenge and has pledged £200 million for renewable energy projects. Through the Virgin Group’s charitable arm, Unite, Richard is working to develop new approaches to social and environmental problems. Richard’s autobiography, Losing My Virginity, and his books on business, Screw It, Let’s Do It and Business Stripped Bare, are all international bestsellers. He lives on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands and is married with two grown-up children. www.richardbranson.com Praise ‘Grabs you on page one and never lets go … read what makes this brilliant and hardworking man tick’ Spectator ‘Candid and humorous’ The Times ‘An incredible man, and this is an incredible autobiography … a great read – sex, balloons, intrigue and money’ Sunday Business ‘For anyone burning with entrepreneurial zeal, his reminiscences are akin to a sacred text’ Mail on Sunday ‘Branson bares his soul – and everything else – in a non-fiction blockbuster … a must-read’ Business Age RICHARD BRANSON LOSING MY VIRGINITY THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY
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