Friday, May 29, 2015

"PARENTS WORTH WATCHING : EDWARD AND EVE BRANSON"

                                         www.wsj.com

It is true that not all the ‘clever’ and creative people in the world, have had parents who positively contributed into their lives. But I am interested to look at a second set of parents who were positive, and raised a son who became an entrepreneur in his teens.
His entrepreneurial projects started in the music industry and expanded into other sectors making Branson a billionaire. His Virgin Group holds more than 200 companies, including the recent Virgin Galactic, a space-tourism company. …
Branson is also known for his sporting achievements, notably the record-breaking Atlantic crossing in Virgin Atlantic Challenger II in 1986, and the first crossing by hot-air balloon of the Atlantic (1987) and Pacific (1991). He was knighted in 1999 for his contribution to entrepreneurship, ..” 
RICHARD BRANSON. BIOGRAPHY
In Forbes 2014 list of billionaires, Branson was the seventh richest citizen of the UK with an estimated worth of US$4.9 billion.
Edward, or Ted, and Eve Branson said,“We didn't know whether he was 99 percent stupid and 1 percent rather exceptional. We hung on to that 1 percent. ” 
RICHARD AS A CHILD, THE ‘HIGH SCHOOL DROP-OUT’ -
Richard Branson is the eldest of three with two younger sisters.
“My mother gave us a lot of freedom to go out and explore.
When I was seven, I was sent away to boarding school…. I didn’t do well academically. I was dyslexic, …” 
RICHARD BRANSON : MY FAMILY VALUES
Richard’s dyslexia made reading and the understanding of some concepts extremely difficult. But despite this, at age15, he started a student magazine, along with friends. By 16, Richard had decided to leave school and give all his attention to the student magazine. His parents were concerned but gave no opposition, as his father knew what it was like to unwillingly be put into a career.
EDWARD AND EVE BRANSON, OPPOSITES –
Edward was a barrister, who had wanted to be an archeologist. He was quiet by temperament.
Eve in contrast had been a onetime dancer, air hostess and glider pilot.
After Eve and Edward met they settled in a small village in the English countryside.
PRACTICES EDWARD AND EVE INTRODUCED INTO THEIR FAMILY –
1.    NO TV – The children were not allowed to watch television and there was none in their home.
1.    LEARNING TO SURVIVE – FAST – “There is a rather well-known story about Mum stopping the car on the way home from a shopping trip and telling me to find my own way home - about three miles through the countryside, and I was somewhere around five years old. She was punishing me for causing mischief in the back seat, but she was also teaching me a larger lesson about overcoming my disabling shyness and learning to ask others for directions.
      RICHARD BRANSON: 5 LESSONS FROM MY MUM. http://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur/richard-branson-5-lessons-my-mum
      LIVING WITH NO REGRETS –  The Branson children were brought
up to not waste time looking at past failures, but instead to immediately move ahead onto a new project. Working beside their mother, they saw in action, how to ‘try again’. She believed each day was a fresh chance to accomplish something new.
Instead of being shut down by his dyslexia, Richard applied this philosophy of living
with no regrets. “…he compensated for what he lacked by exceeding in other areas,
developing extraordinary people skills and learning to trust his instincts." He is also 
known for being a good listener.
GIVING FREE REIN TO FIND HIS OWN WAY – Richard’s parents provided him with 
opportunities and lots of freedom. “Did you expect him to fall on his face? Oh yes." 
THE BRANSONS.  The Wall Street Journal.
He was taught to throw himself wholeheartedly into life, and he learnt perseverance, 
to be adventurous and enterprising, the makings of an entrepreneur
5.    PUTTING OTHER PEOPLE FIRST, FINDING THE BEST IN PEOPLE  AND NOT CRITICISING THEM –  Eve used an approach to force Richard out of his timidity. She would say, " ‘When you're timid, you're just thinking of yourself! Think of the other person—put him at ease, get him a drink.’ I used to get very cross when he was shy.” THE BRANSONS. The Wall Street Journal.
The importance of other people, was seen in the family attitude that the company to be present at a meal was always a higher priority than the food that would be eaten.
Richard was also taught to not criticise people and to always look for the best in others. This was reflected by their parents, as they  treated the children’s opinions with respect.
STRONG FAMILY BONDS, WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM, WORKING HARD, BEING FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL –My family means the world to me, much more so than business. We are lucky to be very close-knit…” 
RICHARD BRANSON : MY FAMILY VALUES.
There was always a focus on teamwork in our home - working in the garden, helping to prepare meals, cleaning up. I have two younger sisters, Lindi and Vanessa, and Mum always kept the three of us working hard. It certainly instilled a very healthy work ethic in me, as many of my staff would point out! 
5 LESSONS FROM MY MUM.
The children worked alongside their mum as she created wooden tissue boxes and wastepaper bins which she sold in shops, to increase the family income. She worked like a “whirlwind” with incredible energy and was hard to refuse.
THISWEEKWITHTHEKIDS - Obstacles and challenges are healthy for everyone, not just entrepreneurs. They force you to think outside the box, so to speak—to be creative.
The challenge is to follow through on a great idea. I think if [you’ve] got a great idea, you need to just give it a try. And if you fall flat on your face, pick yourself up and try again. Learn from your mistakes.”
RICHARD BRANSON ; VIRGIN ENTREPRENEUR