Product Description

In many ways, Richard Branson and his company the Virgin Group are unique. In an era dominated by strategists, Branson is an opportunist with an uncanny knack of sniffing out great deals where others hesitate or fear to tread. Never before has a single brand been so successfully deployed across such a diverse range of goods and services. Branson is the ultimate brand builder.

So how does he do it? Now bought completely up to date for this new edition, Business the Richard Branson Way, not only reveals the secrets of Branson's remarkable success but also draws out the universal lessons and identifies strategies that can be applied to any business or career. From picking on someone bigger than you to moving faster than a speeding bullet, and from making work fun to keeping the common touch, you have in your hands the secrets of phenomenal success.

Contents

• Richard Branson Revisited
• The Life and Times of Richard Branson
• One Pick on Someone Bigger Than You
• Two Do the Hippy, Hippy Shake
• Three Haggle - Everything's Negotiable
• Four Make Work Fun
• Five Do Right By Your Brand
• Six Smile for the Cameras
• Seven Don't Lead Sheep, Herd Cats
• Eight Faster than a Speeding Bullet
• Nine Size Does Matter
• Ten Never Lose the Common Touch
• How to Build a Brand the Branson Way
• Last Word

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23950 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 188 pages

From Library Journal
Is there anything new to say about the four high-profile corporate executives featured in this series? The work of Dearlove and Crainer, two British business writers, suggests that there is not. Their texts consist of quotes from previous books and articles held together by statements that appear to have little to legitimize them. The authors give no indication of the source of their opinions, facts, and speculation. For each executive, there are ten "secrets" on which the analysis of his management style is based. Although the other three executives are referred to in each book, there is no attempt at comparative analysis. For example, for Murdoch, ruthlessness is cited as a secret of success, with the belief that "nice guys finish second." But Branson's common touch with customers and staff alike is the key to his popularity and success. Go figure. The quality of the writing is uneven and frequently repetitious, but there is an easygoing approach that makes all four books appealing for a quick read. Undergraduate term-paper writers and casual readers who have heard these names may appreciate the one-stop biography/management style content. Graduate students, businesspeople, and other specialists will pass on these books in search of more solid content.ASusan DiMattia, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover
In the modern world of business, Richard Branson stands alone. In an era dominated by strategists, he is an opportunist. His company, the Virgin Group, is unique. Never before has a single brand been so successfully deployed across such a diverse range of goods and services. The distinctive red and white Virgin logo, it seems, is as elastic as Mates condoms - just one of many products it promotes. Branson is the ultimate brand-builder.

How does he do it? Now brought completely up-to-date for this new edition, Business the Richard Branson Way not only reveals the secrets of Branson's remarkable success but also draws out the universal lessons and identifies strategies that can be applied to any business or career. From picking on someone bigger than you to moving faster than a speeding bullet, and from making work fun to keeping the common touch, you have in your hands the secrets of phenomenal success.

About the Author
Des Dearlove is co founder of the media content, concepts and consulting firm Suntop Media.  He writes on business issues for magazines and newspapers throughout the world, including The Times, American Management Review and is a contributing editor to the US magazine Strategy+Business. Suntop Media’s Thought Leader Interview series is syndicated to publications in more than 25 countries.
Des is an author or co-author of numerous books. They include Generation Entrepreneur (shortlisted for the WH Smith Book Prize), Gravy Training, and Firestarters!   Des is an editor of the bestselling Financial Times Handbook of Management, now in its the third edition.

Customer Reviews

A Good Insight into Richard Branson's Business Strategies!
Des has done a good job into explaining how Richard Branson does business.
A fun read full of practical ideas!

Kiss kiss kiss Richard Branson's butt.
And that's pretty much all this book does. And truly I'd be okay with that if it were at all well written or offered ANY real insight into his method. Y'know how reality shows always spend like one-third of their air time repeating stuff they already told you? This book is like that.

The King of Virgin is clearly a marketing genius. Surely there's another book that does him justice.

A Good Read!
This book is a handy compilation of observations, hypotheses and speculations on the subject of Richard Branson. Author Des Dearlove freely and frankly admits his debt to several other writers who have probed the Branson story in depth and breadth. There is little if anything original to be found, aside perhaps from the author's style of presentation, which tries hard to be light and deft. Although the book carries you along, its biggest punch resides in the author's list of "10 secrets" of Branson's success. Readers who would like to know in the most general terms what Branson has done and how he has done it, and who are willing to swallow a few clichés in lieu of explanations, will seize upon this book.we think you will enjoy it and, after all, enjoying your work is one of Branson's great secrets.