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. ”
THE
BRANSONS The Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704013604576249123462201938
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.
RICHARD BRANSON : VIRGIN ENTREPRENEUR http://www.success.com/article/richard-branson-virgin-entrepreneur
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
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