by 3 years ago | 5 Min Read
Richard Branson is a successful entrepreneur with a net worth of over $5 billion. He is one of the co-founders of Virgin Group Ltd., a British multinational venture capital conglomerate that has ownership stakes in over 400 companies. He has built a business empire and he’s done it on his own terms. He is very unique, very flamboyant and full of positive energy. He doesn’t fit into the cookie cutter mold of a corporate executive. His unique personality and actions have been questioned by some people in the business industry but his multiple decades of success speak for themselves. Here are his 5 biggest keys to finding your own success.
#1. Keep It Simple
Richard Branson is dyslexic, just like me, so he always tries to keep things clear and simple whenever he speaks to his partners, clients, employees or anyone else. Some people think that simple solutions won’t be successful, so they look for more complicated solutions instead. In reality, it’s much better to keep things simple and focus on the specific details that matter the most. Richard Branson also makes it a point to speak to people in an equal way. He doesn’t talk down to people or talk above them, in a way that will make them feel insecure. He keeps things simple and straightforward, and this is especially true for his communication with others.
#2. Don’t Give Up
Richard Branson is always hungry, always looking for new opportunities. Whether he succeeds or fails at any given project or venture, he keeps moving forward, towards his next set of goals. He has started or invested in several business ventures that ended up failing. He’s had specific services and products fail. Yet in spite of his failures, he always maintains a positive mindset, considers what lessons he can take away from the experience and moves onto his next mission.
#3. Be A Leader
Richard Branson has always had strong leadership qualities. Successful companies need to have a leader with a strong vision. That vision, and their work ethic and energy, will inspire the people below the leader to buy in and work hard. Being a leader means being a great listener, a great motivator and someone who offers praise to the people who perform well. Richard Branson uses the analogy that people are like flowers. If you tend to them, give them the water, nutrients and sunlight they need, they will blossom into beautiful flowers. If you treat people well, support them, encourage them and praise them, they will similarly blossom into being the ideal partners, colleagues and employees for your business.
#4. Challenge The Status Quo
Richard Branson has a quote that he likes to say often, when he’s presented with opportunities to disrupt an industry. “Screw it, let’s do it.” He has often looked for ways to offer innovative products and services to the market. There is no greater example of this than his flagship company, Virgin Atlantic Airways. At a time when most flights and airports were seen as just some way to travel, Branson decided that his airline would offer more services to their customers that elevate the overall experience of flying. They opened lounges in certain airports, so that passengers could get massages and enjoy other amenities before getting onto a flight. Branson made this decision because he felt that it would be very attractive to the countless people that regularly fly for business. His prediction was accurate and the company has been a massive success.
#5. Have Fun
Whether he’s working hard on a project, meeting with his employees, talking to clients or anything else, Richard Branson always makes sure that he’s having fun. Most people have this idea that business must always be serious. Richard Branson goes completely against the grain in this regard and it’s led him to live a life filled with happiness and success. Richard Branson once took a hot air balloon across the Atlantic Ocean. He did this because he thought it would be fun, but it also was a great way to market himself and his brand. Back in July of 2021, he went up into space with his company Virgin Galactic. Just like the hot air balloon, this gained him a lot of press and publicity but he wouldn’t have gone to space if he didn’t think it would be fun for him. It’s important to work hard in life but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while you work. If you are genuinely happy while you work, you will be far more productive and efficient with whatever you’re working on.
Richard Branson has lived a life of success, excitement and bliss. He has built a personal fortune but all you need to do is see his smile, to know that he has lived a great life that he loves. If you follow his 5 steps to success, you too can find success on your own terms and be happy while you do it.
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I hope that you’ve found value in this blog post! Feel free to share it with anyone that you think will benefit from it as well.
If you’d like to hear more of my thoughts on this subject, you can check out my video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVj1s0mEb94
If you’d like to be even more effective as an entrepreneur, check out my blog post on What Can Entrepreneurs Learn From Amazon’s Acquisition Of MGM Studios?
