Richard Branson is one of the richest men in the UK, and he is a self-made man that had a tough start in life. If you have ever read his autobiographies, you will notice a few personality traits that seem to drive him towards success. Reading his autobiographies, you could hardly call him a lucky man, but he has driven his own success and created a unique brand that is somehow able to apply its name to anything from music to airlines. There are many times when Richard has sat down, taken a look at his life and asked, “Why the hell am I failing when I know I should be winning!” Here are a few tips based on his life struggles.
1 There is No Such Thing as Luck
This is going to really stick in some people’s throat, but consider the fact that it is true. Almost every instance of good luck was actually your own creation in some way. If a good friend shares her lottery winnings with you, then you were the one that kept the friendship going in the first place. If you were offered a fantastic job, it is because you put yourself out there on the job market; somebody didn’t knock on your door at random and offer you the job.
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2 An Opportunity is Something You Create
Richard proved this a bunch of times. He needed a way to get home, so he hired a plane and sold tickets in the airport to pay for it. He used this idea to start an airline. Steven Spielberg tricked security guards at a movie studio and stole an empty office to start his career. Hillary Clinton solicited millions from interest groups by promising to work for them when she becomes president. Liu Xiaomeng sold Suning Commerce franchises and made billions by saving her commissions and re-investing them into expanding her sales operation.
3 Know when to Grit Your Teeth and when to Quit
There are plenty of projects that Richard Branson started and quit, and plenty that he carried on to the bitter end. Part of being successful is knowing when to grit your teeth and when to quit. His Christmas tree business was a failure, so he quit, but when British Airways tried to muscle him out of the airline business, he fought back and won.
4 Do the Legwork Yourself to Find the Best Opportunities
Richard had become rich and wanted to buy an island, but he didn’t have the necessary millions to make it happen. He contacted an island owner that had listed the island for £2 million. He paid the man a visit and found out that the guy would accept £300,000 because he was desperate to sell. If Richard had not cut out the estate agency from the sale, he would not have owned his island from such an early age.
5 Your Success Rises and Falls on Your Own Reputation
This is an important message ladies. If you are in a loving relationship, you should still not allow your partner to take videos of you having sex or naked. Your success will rise and fall based on your reputation, and a leaked naked photo or sex act on the internet can ruin you. It can cost you anything from your managerial job in a jewelers, to how sexily you are allowed to dress when trying to promote the next Hunger Games movie.
6 Anybody Can Have a Fantastic Idea
The reason most executives do not listen to the ideas of their janitors, homeless people, their kids, or people of a lower status is because of credibility. Most think, if that person were so smart, then he or she would be better promoted or more important. Richard has proven time and time again that this bias isn’t true. Great ideas can come from anywhere.
7 Keep Your Private Life Private
Sorry ladies, but we are especially bad when it comes to this tip. There are women that break up with their boyfriend, and then detail every nasty element of their relationship to their friends and on Facebook. Remember that your reputation matters, just like your appearance matters. It would be nice if people were judged on how they were instead of their reputation, but they are not. You wouldn’t leave your child with a man that has a reputation for fighting, or with a woman that “looks” like she has just escaped from a mental asylum. You may want to brag about the time you visited the men’s barracks, or the time you cheated on your boyfriend with his hot brother, but such revelations will damage your reputation and make your path to success more difficult.
8 Don't do It if You Don't Enjoy It
To build success you need to be proud of it. Don't just start something because it will make you a lot of money or you feel it's something you have to do. You need to be striving to create something that will improve the world, not just something to give you notoriety.
9 It's All about Taking Risks
Richard Branson never thought Virgin Airlines would become what it has. But, he took the leap and went for it! Success rarely comes from playing it safe, but if you stick your neck out there and go for something full force, you're bound to have something great come from it.
10 Perfection is Unattainable
Richard Branson never strives for perfection. He believes when people "have nailed it" they rest on their laurels and allow others to do the grunt work. If you're continuously striving to make things better and better, you're going to continually find success.
It’s hard to argue with a man who has proved you can be massively successful from a small base. Follow your dream ladies!
