3 Brilliant Biographies That Inspired Me To Never Give Up
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Throughout your life, you constantly go through ups and downs like an out-of-control rollercoaster.
Sometimes, when you’re down, it helps to know that every single successful person ever… has also had major downs. Downs where they almost lost it all (sometimes billions).
That’s one of the main reasons I love biographies.
They give you the feeling that you’re not alone, and they often show you how to get back up and keep going.
Check out these 3 biographies that inspired me to push harder and get back up when I fell!
1. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
This biography is at the top of a lot of people’s lists, and there are many reasons why.
For most people, it can be hard to relate to someone who accomplished so much (let alone the guy who built the most valuable company), but upon reading this, you’ll realize Steve is very much human.
He got kicked out of his own company, Apple.
But then, he had one of the greatest comebacks in business history.
He did this by starting a new company (NeXT) and by buying into Pixar and turning it into a beast.
Apple ends up buying NeXT to get Steve back into Apple. Essentially, they paid 500 million to bring him back!
Steve had started Apple from basically nothing.
He created numerous incredible products such as the Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod (some of the greatest-selling products of all time).
But it wasn’t all about his business accomplishments.
Steve also had a great relationship with his wife till the end.
Interestingly, he also had a spiritual side.
He took a lot of inspiration from Zen Buddhism and even went on a journey to India to find a guru.
However, like everyone else, he was deeply flawed.
He had a daughter whom he refused to acknowledge for years. To say he was a bad father might be an understatement.
He cries often, screams more, but is deeply passionate.
Why does this help you?
You can learn from his business accomplishments, his obsession with simplicity, his genius marketing and sales strategies, his flaws and mistakes, and his mindset in general.
He accomplishes so much despite his flaws and deeply human nature.
“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.” - Steve Jobs
You can buy this book here.
2. Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson
This was one of the first biographies I ever read, and to this day, it still inspires me.
Richard Branson has started hundreds of businesses, has taken on random, insane feats, and has lived his life to the fullest.
His business accomplishments are obvious with Virgin Records, Virgin Airlines and many other ventures.
Richard disrupted the airline industry and took on giants who did everything they could to run him out of business. He literally started it in an airport when his flight was cancelled.
He is one of the people who helped commercialize space flight. Sir Branson even travelled to the edge of space in his own spacecraft.
Through Virgin Records, he helped popularize The Sex Pistols, Culture Club, The Human League, and many more legends.
In all of these ventures, he almost failed and lost it all, but he kept pushing. He was relentless.
But he didn’t stop there.
For years, he had a mission to fly a balloon around the world. He tried multiple times, almost dying on several occasions.
He’s insane.
Without a doubt, Richard Branson is the perfect example of someone making the most out of life.
“Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.” - Richard Branson
You can buy his book here.
3. Am I Being Too Subtle by Sam Zell
Unless you are in real estate, there is a good chance you have no idea who Sam Zell is.
As an entrepreneur, I was inspired by the fact that he grew a company from the ground up and sold it for $39 billion.
It’s not just the money that is impressive, though. He did this all on his own terms.
Throughout his entire journey, he never compromises who he is.
For example, in the 60s, he wore his jeans to work (which was super unconventional), and he even rode his motorcycle to work and meetings.
Part of how he was able to accomplish what he did was by thinking differently.
“If everyone is going left, look right” - Sam Zell
Throughout this book, Sam shares an endless amount of wisdom.
Whether you are interested in learning how a billionaire thinks, how to live a fulfilling life, or business strategy, Sam is a good person to learn from.
You can buy his book here.
To sum it all up
There are many good biographies you can read, but these 3 are must-reads!
I try to make sure every third book I read is a biography, because there is so much to learn from the greats.
These biographies inspired me and showed me how much one person can do in such a short amount of time.
What’s your favourite biography?
Thanks for reading