Founders
Episode 47 #47 Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way
Founders

Episode 47: #47 Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way

Founders

Episode 47

#47 Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way

David Senra is the host of Founders, where he studies history's greatest entrepreneurs. This is what he learned from reading Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Wayby Richard Branson

What I learned from reading Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Wayby Richard Branson

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Business is a fluid, changing substance. A mutating, indefinable thing [0:45]

I just pick up the phone and get on with it [7:50]

smart ways to get initial traction [9:51]

to understand the entrepreneur, study the juvenile delinquent [14:19]

Richard Branson's early business philosophy [14:49]

the beginning of Virgin [19:00]

what he learned from going to jail [23:01]

the scope of Richard's ambition at 21 [24:44]

a model of compatible businesses [27:00]

how Richard Branson made his first fortune [29:00]

how Richard Branson gets Necker Island and the idea for Virgin Airways [34:45]

protecting the downside risk [38:40]

Richard Branson's view on public companies [46:12]

taking Virgin private, funding secured [52:00]

questioning the direction of his life at 40 years old [59:54]

#47 Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way

Introduction

Even though I'm often asked to define my ''business philosophy,'' I generally won't do so, because I don't believe it can be taught as if it were a recipe. There are ingredients and techniques that will guarantee success. Parameters exist that if followed, will ensure a business can continue, but you cannot clearly define our business success and then bottle it as you would a perfume. It's not that simple.

To be successful, you have to be out there. You have to hit the ground running. And if you have a good team around you and more than your fair share of luck, you might make something happen. But you certainly can't guarantee it just by following someone else's formula. Business is a fluid-changing substance. And as far as I'm concerned, The Virgin Group will never stand still.

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