Wednesday, December 12, 2007

www.virgin.com


Reading is not one of my hobbies as everyone mentions it as one bulleted point in their CVs. Well I mean I won’t read any 500 page novel you give me and convince me however interesting it was.

But yes during my teenage and college times I used you read Famous Five, Secret Seven, Sherlock Holmes, Sidney Sheldon, Archies and of course Mills & Boons. But those had really catchy story lines and had lot of Mystery, Suspense and Fiction that kept you glued till the last page. I feel I had the patience to read those books simply because there was no personal TV or internet in my hostel room or it was my vacation time. Otherwise I used to always be studying J

“Losing My Virginity” The Autobiography of Richard Branson-This Best Seller was just like any other book in my Husband’s large library.(You can find books on any topic ranging from “How to Sell and Effective Management”, “Encyclopedias”, “APJ’s Wings of Fire” to the last edition of Business line.)

One day after returning from office I had a bad headache, after my Daily Sudoku war.I was just lying down on the bed, when my hand accidently found this book.His face was familiar and even the name “Virgin”. But I was not sure what it was about .

After reading the first page,I think my headache took a jetplane to an unknown location that I was drifted to an entirely different European Countryside era where Branson was born and the early 1950’s till today. He is lucky to have parents who supported him and encouraged him to whatever creative idea he had. This book is candid and humorous too. This incredible and unusual man bares even his soul to accomplish the task he has undertaken. Some have called him “Madman” because of his strange innovation,insight and commitment ideas to the future. But that was an era when he hadn’t proved himself. Today “Virgin” is one of the biggest and happening Business empires of the world. The name “Virgin” was chosen by one of his girlsfriends whose count I lost while on the 50th page of this 600 page book.. :) :)

Right from the start of Virgin Records today called Virgin Music…..and then Virgin Airways, Virgin Cola, Virgin Energy, Virgin Money, Virgin Territory, Virgin Unite etc etc till to the latest “Virgin Galactic” which will open doors to a new era of commercial space travel.I wish I could travel for a vacation on Virgin Galactic to the Moon or Mars in the future.”Tubular Wells” by Mike Oldfield was a significant turning point for the Virgins Records.

Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow very succesful businesses in sectors ranging from mobile telephony, to transportation, travel, financial services, leisure, music, holidays, publishing and retailing.Virgin has created more than 200 branded companies worldwide, employing approximately 50,000 people, in 29 countries. Revenues around the world in 2006 exceeded £10 billion (approx. US$20 billion).

Man this Richard Branson is indeed another Albert Einstein mixed with Bill Gates or rather APJ Abdul Kalaam mixed with Vijay Mallya. What I mean to say is “Invention and Innovation” mixed with “Smart Business” takes you to the Top.Making a difference in the customers eyes that’s their motive. Believe it or not he is just a normal man, who just couldn’t get his Maths and English spellings right. But he always took up challenges that he would have created for himself, be it the adventurous yet extremely Dangerous Virgin hotair ballon rides to the now Virgin Galactic where he’s going to travel into space so casually as you traveled by bus like on any other day.

To conclude I would say guys do read this book without fail. He is a true inspiration to all those innovative, young businessmen out there. His story proves how hard work pays one day, even when people around you laughed and called you crazy saying your dreams are weird. He is a modern living legend. He is also lucky to have a very supportive , brave and loving family.

I’m a fan of his at the 100th page so don’t know what will happen at the 573rd page !!!! :-)

To know more about the Virgin Group Sir Richard Branson do visit http://www.virgin.com/home.aspx or http://www.richardbranson.com/home.aspx



……May be continued after I finish reading the book! :-)


Signing off for now………







Priya Thomas
Officially @ priya@learnwareindia.com
Web @ http://www.learnwareindia.com/
View Priya Thomas's profile on LinkedIn

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Now, i understood that the girl next to me till yesterday too has got some taste in literature !!!!!!!

Rose said...

Well said dear...Your writing skills are admirable..and the topic is very refreshing....One suggestion - increase the frequeny of posts....For the sake of readers like me...:-)

Savvy Mom said...

Hey Pri..that was great. I appreciate the time and effort it took to write such a long post.

It was informative as well as interesting.

Keep up the good work.

Feby said...

Hey!!! Priya

Must say that you are really blessed...you have mentioned that you are not a good reader,however your language is so..powerful yet simple....

have you completed this book??? would like to hear more about it..