Richard Branson Is The Real Deal

I have to admit, the last 24 hours have been a little surreal.  Arriving on Richard Branson’s private island was pretty stunning, as he has created a caribbean paradise in the British Virgin Islands that is one of the most beautiful and relaxing environments I’ve ever experienced. This is a shot of the island from the boat (the only way to access the island is by boat or helicopter.  It’s an island, after all!) Last night, Richard arrived to the island from Europe and spent the evening hanging out with the group of about 16 entrepreneurs over drinks.  Coming face to face with such a business icon and legend is truly a unique opportunity for an entrepreneur.  And in person, Richard is EXACTLY how he is in the public eye — relaxed, fun, witty, and always looking for a reason to smile. We spent most of the day with Richard, starting with breakfast this morning, our first brainstorming meeting, and then a boat trip called “island poker”.  We started the game by drawing one card from a deck, and then as we visited various other islands in the area, we would enjoy a drink or two at the local pub and then draw another card – ending up with 5 cards.  Of course, Richard couldn’t help himself and had to drive the boat to see what it could do.  It’s clear that he lives for speed and adventure! Tomorrow we find out who got the best hand in the poker game, but the truth is I’m not sure anyone cares!  The ability to spent time with so many incredible entrepreneurs is very powerful.  Among some of the guys I’m brainstorming with are Joe Polish, marketing legend; Yanik Silver, internet marketing genius and now operator of Maverick Business Adventures; and Dean Graziosi, one of the most successful informercial operators that is currently doing $2 million dollars a WEEK in sales! Tomorrow we’re holding a special brainstorming session with Richard and some of his key people, to discuss a new philanthropic venture that Richard is going to launch this year.  It’s incredible to watch, and participate in, all of the joint ventures and business deals that are happening all around us. Today, after spending a great deal of time speaking with and observing Richard, the thing that I noticed more than anything else is that Richard lives in the moment.  He is fully present, minute to minute.  When someone is speaking to him, he leans forward, listens intently, and engages fully.  No matter what he’s doing, he’s present and aware.  For a lot of billionaires, it would be easy for them to be a little detached and even bored in this kind of an environment.  But Richard is a true leader, and a true mentor.  He gets genuinely excited listening to small business owners and entrepreneurs, and giving them advice and insight from his incredible depth of experience. What’s become quickly obvious to me is how much Richard genuinely appreciates things as they are happening, and he’s completely conscious.  He loves life and is enthusiastic about everything he does.  He’s tremendously witty and so approachable, it’s easy to forget that you’re talking one of the greatest business minds and icons of our generation. Richard has long been one of my business heroes, and after having the privilege of spending time with him, I can truly say that he lives up to the reputation!  I believe Richard represents what a true entrepreneur really is — someone that loves a challenge, enjoys life, laughs a lot, and does a tremendous amount of good for the world. Tomorrow we’re doing some Q&A with Richard and the brainstorm on his new program, and I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of amazing ideas that high-powered mastermind is going to generate. One of the universal principles of wealth is that if you want to increase your level of success, surround yourself with people who are wildly successful.  That’s what I’m doing this week, and if you’re a business owner, entrepreneur or investor, you MUST do this yourself through masterminds and brainstorming sessions! Ok, I’m headed back to the gathering.  Tonight is dinner and drinks down on the beach, with a lot of great conversation about how everyone here is REFUSING to participate in the recession, and how so many of the entrepreneurs here are growing their business in today’s environment!]]>