In my pre-Tuck life I was a book editor, so I have always loved to read and read voraciously anything I could get my hands on. In the months before Tuck I devoured every business book I could find. Some were excellent–Barbarians at the Gate; Liar’s Poker–others fell far short.
This past week, while on Fall Break, I read Richard Branson’s memoir, Losing My Virginity, which I’d put somewhere in the middle. Branson, as most Brits know, is the founder of the Virgin Conglomerate, which includes Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin Music, Virgin Cola, and everything on down. Before this book I mainly know of him as a crazy Brit who lived on a river boat for years and liked to fly hot air balloons. After reading it I see how he acquired his business acumen–largely through charm, intelligence, and hard work.
But what struck me as I read along was how my own reading of a business memoir has changed. Before Tuck I would have focused almost entirely on the narrative and anecdotes; the business details themselves would be relevant only to the extent they highlighted whatever else was going on in the book.
Yet now I was fascinated to see how concepts and frameworks drilled into us in the first year curriculum–cash flow, interpreting balance sheets, organizational behaviour, strategy, etc.–played out in his life. You can basically go down that list I mentioned and Branson indirectly addresses all of the points.
I’d like to think that some of these lessons, which Branson learned the hardway, I’ve been given a headstart while at Tuck. At least I know what to look out for even if, like all good lessons, I’ll likely still make the mistakes the first time and need to rediscover them myself.
Read the full article: Reading with MBA eyes