What Would Sir Richard Say?

Richard Branson, here’s what you could expect Richard to say if he were to answer the questions I asked in my last post. Let’s look at each question, and then look at what it reveals about the ‘secret’ of Richard Branson! 1.  Is making a difference for others in the world important to you? Many people know that Richard Branson is a billionaire and has had incredible success with his industry-changing companies.  With over 300 separate companies, the Virgin Group is a juggernaut in the business world. What many people do NOT know about Richard is that what really drives his passion for business is to be able to use those businesses to effect change in the world, from a social, environmental and political perspective. For example, did you know that Richard takes all of the profit from Virgin Airlines, and commits it to research and development on new technologies and breakthroughs in the environmental sector? Or that Richard created the Branson School of Entrepreneurship in South Africa, which is teaching entrepreneurship and providing seed capital to young African entrepreneurs? Or perhaps that Richard was a driving force behind “The Elders”, the gathering of some of the world’s most respected luminaries, including Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter and Archbishop Desmond Tutu – with the goal of influencing politics and creating peace in the world? The point here is that the true entrepreneur is passionate about effecting change in the world – and wealth is a by-product of that passion.  If you’re an entrepreneur, you need to be passionate about having an impact – about adding value to the world.  And if you do this, you’ll find that success and prosperity seek you out!   2.  Are you making a difference for others in the world in a significant way right now? There’s a difference between talk and action.  Another amazing thing I observed about Richard is that he doesn’t just talk about doing good, or brainstorm ideas.  He acts – boldly, swiftly, and in the face of criticism or doubt. Most people are willing to say that giving back is important, but quickly acknowledge that they’re going to do something when they have more time, more money or more opportunity.  ‘Right now isn’t a good time’, and they’re planning for the day in the future when they really start to make a difference. Are you doing this?  If so, it’s time to recognize that the longer you wait to contribute value to the world, the longer you’ll wait to benefit from contribution (and the longer the world waits as well!)  One of the fundamental rules of wealth is that in order to become wealthy, you must start giving 10% of your income to worthy causes.  Not in a year, when you’re planning to make more money.  NOW.  Even if you have almost nothing to give. It’s the act of giving that triggers the cycle, and you then become involved in the giving loop.  Until you decide to take action and DO something, you’ll always be looking into the future, hoping for when you think you can ‘afford’ the time or the money. Richard Branson is a great example of someone that could use the excuse of being too busy.  But he doesn’t, and he’s committed his life to making significant changes in the world, and that’s what he intends to be his legacy.   3.  Do you experience an abundance of joy and fulfillment from what you do each day?   If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you probably answered this on the lower end of the scale.  All of us strive to have a life filled with joy, with happiness and with fulfillment .. but we’re too caught up in the stress and chaos of our ‘busy-ness’ to create the space and time for that. One of the most powerful lessons I learned from Richard Branson is that he is present and in the moment, all the time.  He takes pleasure in being active and involved in each moment of his day.  When he speaks with you, it’s obvious that he’s listening and interested in what you say. He’s not daydreaming about what he wants to do tomorrow, he’s not thinking about the problem that cropped up in one of his businesses yesterday.  He’s not thinking about what time his flight is later that night. He is simply enjoying the moment as it happens, and living the in present.  And he gets great joy and happiness from living this way. I asked several of his impressive staff why they loved working with Richard so much.  And the answer was always the same – they all said that it’s the ‘most fun’ job they have ever had.  When you’re around Richard, it’s all about enjoying life and having fun.  As Richard said to us, “if you’re not having fun doing something .. why do it at all?” And let’s face it – if a guy with 300 companies and 55,000 employees to manage is able to find a way to “have fun” every day and just enjoy the moment, shouldn’t you and I be able to do the same thing? Finally, the last question I asked is probably easy to answer for you now that you understand Richard better – especially when you consider the quote that appears on the back of his latest book, “Business Stripped Bare”.

“The courageous may not live forever, But the cautious never live at all.” The question was: Which would you rather do:    (1) Live only 10 more years, but accomplish all               of your life’s dreams and goals .. OR ..    (2) Live to 100 years old, but never achieve               any of the goals and dreams you have? As you’d expect, I am quite confident that Richard would prefer to achieve every dream and goal he has in his life, and to live every moment to its fullest, rather than to live to 100 .. but to have never enjoyed the moment, or having never done the things he dreamed and longed for. So in summary, here are the 3 most powerful lessons that I learned from Richard Branson, but from what he told us .. but from how he lives his life every day.  And the simplicity of this list reflects just how simple it CAN be to live a full and rewarding life. Sir Richard Branson’s Secrets to Success: 1. Have fun! 2. Try new things! 3. Make a difference! I know, easier said than done.  But if it works for Richard, I bet it can work for you as well!]]>