Richard Branson, whose quotes you canread below, was born in 1950 in the south of London, in a family of aristocrats. The boy's mother, Yvette Flint, was a bright and strong woman who, even before marriage, managed to become a flight attendant without any education. For some time she even impersonated herself as a pilot, wearing a male uniform. Her career ended immediately after marriage.
Spouse edward branson had the oppositecharacter and led a calm and measured lifestyle. By this he set an example to his son. In addition, Edward had a rare disease - dyslexia, which prevented him from working, which led to financial difficulties.
Richard Branson inherited this disease.The boy was disturbed by the coordination of movements, constantly having difficulty with writing and reading. Yvette's strong character played a very important role in raising his son. She constantly arranged for him to test, so that Richard learned to adapt to the difficulties. If it were not for his mother, he would have remained an underdeveloped boy without a bright future. But Yvette taught her son never to give up, and soon his illness retreated.
Richard Branson organized his first business in15 years. It was Student magazine, where young people could openly express their opinions against the Vietnam War. But, despite the help of the mother and advertising contracts, after a couple of years, this edition has closed. Richard was not too upset, since he already had a different business - a youth help center. Its visitors were people with various problems: women who became accidentally pregnant, drug addicts, alcoholics, people with gay men. This center successfully operates to this day.
Следующий бизнес, которым занялся Ричард Брэнсон - sale of records. At first he sent them by mail, but then he opened a store on Oxford Street, giving him the shocking name: "Virgin". Such a name was chosen for a reason. It symbolized the inexperience and ignorance of the entrepreneur in show business. However, the lack of experience did not prevent the "Virgin" to reach unprecedented heights and financial success.
The next step of the businessman is to conquer the world withusing the network of "virgin companies". First came the cinema. Then Richard became interested in cinema and sponsored the adaptation of Orwell’s 1984 book, playing a major role there. Then "virgin hotels", toy companies, a radio station and an airline began to emerge.
Today "Virgin" is a corporation that includesthemselves four hundred subsidiaries. In addition to the airline, it is also fitness centers, medical services, rail transportation, beverage production, cable TV, Internet service and much more. But that's not all. Soon the first space tour operator on the planet will be added to the honorable list. Richard dreams of launching space excursions so that ordinary people can admire the Earth from space with their own eyes.
Richard Branson, whose biography was described inThis article is keen on extreme sports. In this field, he achieved serious victories. In 1986, the businessman flew over the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon. It was a world record. And in 1991, he crossed the Pacific Ocean. Even now, many people consider the entrepreneur the best master of aeronautics.
Also, the businessman is engaged in writing.Branson Richard, whose books are instantly bought up from the counters, shares in them the secrets of success, adventures, victories, difficulties and ways to overcome them. His stories are not only a subject for admiration, but also good “kick-motivators” for all lovers of easy money.
1. "To create a business, you need a very small capital."
We have already talked about Branson's first business.So, on the issue of the magazine he had no money. One day his mother found a necklace and, like any decent person, took him to the police. Only claims of loss so no one filed. Yvette sold the necklace and gave Richard several hundred-dollar bills. Because of this, young Branson attracted advertisers and organized the publication of the magazine.
2. "Business is an idea for improving the lives of other people."
Branson says that as an entrepreneur it strongly motivates him. "If you improve the lives of people, then you are engaged in worthwhile things."
3. "To grow, become smaller."
Richard Branson did not increase the size of hisrecord business. Instead, he opened 30 record labels. The entrepreneur did not designate top managers to control a huge number of subordinates, but invented small organizational structures, at the head of which he put middle-level employees. The spirit of rivalry within the team was cordial and friendly.
According to the businessman, the success of his strategy isthat each firm at any time knows exactly what it can succeed in and where it risks failing. Today, Virgin's revenues have exceeded $ 20 billion. Nevertheless, Richard's unique strategy reminds everyone that this is also a group of small firms.
