#48 Finding My Virginity The New Autobiography by Richard Branson

In his autobiography "Finding My Virginity," Richard Branson reflects on his life's journey as an entrepreneur. He shares candid insights into the ups and downs of his career, from his early days starting a magazine at 15 to selling Virgin Records and achieving financial freedom. Branson emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes, embracing life's adventure, and making a positive impact. He also discusses his admiration for Steve Jobs and the value of time. Throughout the book, Branson offers lessons on life and business, including the significance of branded venture capital, the pitfalls of court battles, and the power of storytelling. His narrative is a testament to the belief that a fulfilling life is one of purpose, risk-taking, and relentless pursuit of one's passions.

• Richard Branson views life as a continuous adventure, emphasizing learning and overcoming challenges.
• He believes that learning from mistakes and having a positive attitude are crucial to living a fulfilling life.
• The ups and downs of life, including failures and triumphs, contribute to personal growth and make life interesting.

"I view life as one big adventure. I'm always learning and finding new things to try and challenges to overcome."

This quote encapsulates Branson's philosophy of life as an ongoing journey of discovery and personal development.

• A life portrayed as a constant success is likely dishonest, as everyone experiences difficulties.
• Sharing both successes and failures in an autobiography makes it more relatable and genuine.

"If your life is one long success story, it won't make for a good read. What's more, you're most likely a liar."

Branson criticizes the portrayal of life as a series of unending successes, suggesting it lacks authenticity.

• Time is the most precious resource, more valuable than money.
• Living each day fully and cherishing relationships are central to Branson's approach to life.

"The late Steve Jobs, the entrepreneur I most admire, said, my favorite things in life don't cost any money. It's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time."

Branson quotes Steve Jobs to highlight the significance of time over material wealth in achieving a meaningful life.

• "Finding My Virginity" is a reflection on Richard Branson's life and lessons learned.
• The book follows "Losing My Virginity" and provides insights into Branson's experiences and business philosophy.

"So this is going to be the second of a three part series on Richard Branson."

The quote introduces "Finding My Virginity" as part of a series on Branson's life and works, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of his experiences.

• Branson's approach to business is characterized by speed and experimentation.
• He believes in trying various ideas and moving on quickly if they do not work.

"Generally, we like to work fast, try ideas, see if they stick, and if they don't, quickly move on to the next one."

This quote reveals Branson's business strategy of rapid iteration and flexibility, which has been a hallmark of his success.

• Branson's "branded venture capital" involves creating partnerships and leveraging the Virgin brand.
• The model allows for a diversified portfolio of businesses with capped downside and significant upside potential.

"With the Virgin group, he has this term he uses. It's called branded Venture Capital."

The quote explains Branson's unique approach to business expansion through partnerships and brand leverage, which is distinct from traditional venture capital.

• Branson has faced several legal challenges throughout his career but has stood firm on principles.
• He emphasizes the importance of not being bullied and defending one's rights in business disputes.

"In the end, we decided on principle to stand firm. We're in the right here. I'm not being bullied by them."

Branson's quote underscores his commitment to principle over compromise, even in the face of legal adversity.

• Virgin Mobile's partnership with T-Mobile soured due to a dispute over marketing fees.
• Branson's decision to go to court was based on principle and the contract terms.

"I dislike going to court almost as much as I dislike wearing suits."

This quote reflects Branson's aversion to litigation but also his willingness to engage in it when necessary to defend his company's interests.

• The court ruled in favor of Virgin, condemning T-Mobile's conduct and awarding Virgin their shares.
• The case exemplifies the resilience required in business and the importance of fair play.

"Instead of T Mobile being given our shares for one pound as they demanded, the judge ordered them to give us all of their shares worth 500 million pounds for one pound."

The outcome of the court case, as described in the quote, demonstrates a significant legal victory for Branson and the value of standing up for one's contractual rights.

• Richard Branson was invited to the competitor's headquarters for a personal apology.
• The competitor acknowledged the mistake by planning to fire Harris Jones, who was responsible for the mess.
• Despite the loss, the competitor expressed interest in a future commercial deal with Branson.
• Branson admired the competitor's pragmatism in seeking to rescue something from the situation.

"He told me he was going to fire Harris Jones... And that he accepted the court's judgment. I hope, and this is the surprising part, I hope we can enter into another commercial deal going forward."

The quote illustrates the competitor's willingness to take responsibility and their desire to maintain a business relationship with Branson despite past issues.

• Richard Branson identified poor service, high prices, and lack of entertainment on American flights as an opportunity for Virgin America.
• Virgin America aimed to disrupt the sector with better service and enjoyment for customers.
• The consolidation of US airlines into fewer giants stifled competition and innovation.
• Virgin America's success was reflected in customer satisfaction, topping major US airline surveys.

"We saw it as a real chance to disrupt a sector where we had already had expertise in a key market where the Virgin brand was loved but had room to expand."

The quote highlights Branson's strategic approach to market disruption by leveraging Virgin's brand and expertise to enhance the American flying experience.

• The consolidation of six major US airlines into three was seen by Branson as negative for consumers.
• He criticized the practice of acquiring and shutting down competitors, which he saw as detrimental to customer choice and innovation.
• Branson's personal stance is against crony capitalism, where large companies influence politics to their advantage.
• He advocates for a diversified market with many players innovating and competing.

"And letting six airlines consolidate onto three, it's never good. At least it's not good for us."

The quote expresses Branson's belief that the consolidation of airlines is not beneficial for consumers or the market as a whole.

• Branson correlates risk with focus, using adventurers' experiences as an analogy for business.
• He references the documentary "Free Solo" to illustrate the concept of focus in high-risk situations.
• Branson recounts the risks and focus involved in the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer project.
• The Global Flyer's challenges and successes are detailed, including setting a world record for the longest nonstop flight.

"When you know the dangers are trained for them and are fully focused, you are usually ready to deal with them."

This quote underscores the importance of preparation and focus in managing risks, whether in adventure or business.

• Richard Branson describes the emotional difficulty of selling parts of his businesses.
• He emphasizes his attachment to the people within the companies and the sense of loss he feels when selling.
• Branson reflects on the necessity of selling stakes to fund new ventures, despite the emotional toll.
• He acknowledges that while selling can be right for all parties, it can also lead to hurt feelings.

"Selling always leaves me sad feeling somehow I have traded people."

The quote conveys Branson's emotional connection to his businesses and the people involved, highlighting the personal cost of business decisions.

• Branson reflects on the importance of enjoying and valuing the present, influenced by reading autobiographies.
• He discusses the impact of being a good parent and the lasting influence it can have on the world.
• The narrative emphasizes the fleeting nature of time and the desire to make the most of life's moments.

"I want to make sure that I'm relishing and enjoying life."

The quote reflects Branson's introspection on life's impermanence and the importance of cherishing the present.

• Richard Branson discusses the pressure on young people to make significant life decisions early.
• He emphasizes the importance of allowing youth to explore and enjoy their formative years without undue stress.
• Branson shares a personal anecdote about advising his son, Sam, to take a gap year to discover his own path.

"Like many young people, Sam, this is his son hadn't worked out what he wanted to do by the time he left school. I reassured him that that was absolutely fine and natural, too."

This quote reflects Branson's understanding of the common uncertainty faced by young adults regarding their future careers and his reassurance that such uncertainty is normal.

"You're 19. I remember telling him in one conversation, and then this is the sentence that just hit me hard. And I was kind of talking about last night at dinner that only happens once, so enjoy it."

Branson stresses the uniqueness of being young and the value of savoring this period in life, rather than rushing into life-altering decisions.

• Branson recounts a pivotal moment when he trusted his intuition to avoid a potentially damaging business deal.
• He describes a time in the mid-2000s when he was approached to invest in a new commodity that he found confusing and risky.
• His gut feeling and further investigation led him to decline the investment, which turned out to be a wise decision following the subprime mortgage crisis.

"In the mid 2000s, lots of people were excited about a new commodity that Goldman Sachs wanted to invest in. I had never heard of it, found it quite confusing, and balked at the amount of money required."

Branson's skepticism of an investment opportunity with Goldman Sachs is a testament to his cautious approach to business, prioritizing understanding over hype.

"It was a timely reminder to always examine every aspect of a deal and go with your instinct if it doesn't feel right."

This quote highlights the lesson Branson learned about the importance of thorough due diligence and trusting one's instincts in business decisions.

• Branson discusses the negative impact of industry consolidation on competition and consumer choice.
• He shares his opposition to a partnership between British Airways and American Airlines, which he believed would reduce competition.
• Branson's philosophy is that more companies competing leads to better outcomes for consumers.

"If I was king for a day, I would ensure competition laws were more strictly adhered to. I believe small is beautiful, and the more companies competing, the better."

Branson expresses his belief in strict adherence to competition laws and the benefits of having multiple companies in the market, which aligns with his business philosophy.

"Allowing the two biggest carriers on the planet to merge would create a hugely uneven playing field."

This quote captures Branson's concern about the potential consequences of allowing large companies to merge, which could diminish fair competition and negatively impact consumers.

• Branson reflects on the rise of social media and the internet's transformation of information consumption.
• He acknowledges Virgin's initial slowness in adapting to the digital landscape, which was a costly mistake.
• Branson shares his experience with launching the world's first iPad-only magazine, "Project," which ultimately failed due to market misjudgment.
• Despite setbacks, he emphasizes the importance of adapting to new platforms like blogs and Twitter to connect with audiences.

"Two of the big changes over the 20 years since I wrote my first autobiography have been the rise of social media and the way the Internet has changed the way we consume information."

This quote sets the stage for Branson's discussion on how the digital revolution has altered the way businesses communicate and interact with consumers.

"One of the biggest mistakes Virgin ever made was not being fast enough off the mark to become a digital leader."

Branson acknowledges a major mistake made by Virgin in underestimating the importance and rapid development of the digital world.

• Branson advocates for the practice of regular note-taking as a means to remember important information and ideas.
• He considers note-taking essential for learning and retaining knowledge from meetings and events.
• Branson also discusses the art of delegation, which he views as a strength and a key factor in his success.

"If I didn't, I would forget them before I ever put them in action."

This quote underscores Branson's belief in the practical necessity of note-taking to capture fleeting thoughts and ideas for future implementation.

"Asking for support is a strength, not a weakness. If you try to do everything yourself, you won't succeed and you'll make yourself miserable along the way."

Branson shares his perspective that seeking help and delegating tasks is not a sign of weakness but a strategic approach to achieving success and maintaining well-being.

• Storytelling is a fundamental human communication method.
• We experience life through narratives, which is how we understand our surroundings and our place in the world.
• The speaker appreciates the insights on the impact of social media, the importance of writing and note-taking, and the art of communicating company values through stories.

"Humans communicate through stories. It's how we make sense of our surroundings, ourselves, and our place in the world."

This quote emphasizes the intrinsic nature of storytelling in human communication and its role in making sense of our experiences.

• The book discussed is about life as much as it is about business.
• It contains musings on a life filled with unbelievable experiences.
• The speaker finds the anecdotes and reflections on living life with purpose to be poignant and valuable.

"You have to live a life filled with purpose. Do not suffer every day."

This quote underlines the book's message that one should strive to live a meaningful life rather than simply enduring daily suffering.

• The speaker shares a personal anecdote about the death of a close relative.
• The story conveys the importance of relationships and the impact of loss on one's life.
• It reflects on how the relative lived a full life and the lessons learned from them.

"Dad felt as constant a part of my life as the sun rising and setting each day."

The quote expresses the speaker's deep emotional connection with their father, highlighting the significance of familial bonds.

• Richard Branson provides advice to a young girl about entrepreneurship.
• He emphasizes the importance of delegation, risk-taking, and working with a great team.
• Branson's own experiences with dyslexia and how he leveraged it as an advantage are shared.

"The art of delegation, risk taking, surrounding yourself with a great team and working on projects you really believe in."

This quote lists the key entrepreneurial skills that Branson believes are crucial for success, applicable at the start of his career and still relevant today.

• Branson believes all humans are born entrepreneurs, but not everyone gets the chance to explore this aspect of themselves.
• He encourages maintaining a childlike sense of wonder and playfulness throughout life.
• The speaker admires how biographies of successful individuals can inspire others to design their own lives.

"Entrepreneurship is our natural state, a big adult word that probably boils down to something much more obvious, like playfulness."

The quote suggests that entrepreneurship is akin to the innate curiosity and inventiveness that children possess before it is diminished by the rigors of adult life.

• The speaker promotes different ways listeners can support the podcast.
• They discuss the value of taking notes on podcasts for learning and knowledge retention.
• The speaker also introduces Founders Notes, a service that distills key ideas from podcasts for subscribers.

"If you're listening to a podcast to learn, you should be taking notes."

This quote highlights the importance of note-taking as a way to remember and engage with the content of a podcast, thereby enhancing the learning experience.

• The speaker concludes by thanking listeners for their support and outlining additional ways to engage with the podcast content.
• They express gratitude for the support that allows them to continue the project.
• The speaker encourages listeners to leave reviews and share the podcast with others to receive exclusive content.

"Thank you very much for the support. Thank you very much for listening, and I will talk to you next week."

This quote is an expression of gratitude to the audience, reinforcing the speaker's appreciation for their engagement and support of the podcast.