Richard Branson is most certainly one of the most successful and most recognizable entrepreneurs of the last 40 years. Like a lot of other small businesspeople, he didn’t start out wanting to be an entrepreneur. He just wanted to do what he loved and learned how to run a business in order to keep doing it. From his first venture in a small student magazine to Chairman of the Virgin chain of companies, Mr. Branson has achieved a level of success that most would-be business owners nay dream of.
“We look for opportunities where we can offer something better, fresher, and more valuable, and we seize them. We often move into areas where the customer has traditionally received a poor deal, and where the competition... is complacent…. we also look to deliver ‘old’ products in new ways. We are pro-active and quick to act, often leaving bigger and more cumbersome organisations in our wake. When we start a new venture, we base it on hard research and analysis. Typically, we review the industry and put ourselves in the customer’s shoes to see what could make it better....Above all, you want to create something you are proud of…. That has always been my philosophy of business. I can honestly say that I have never gone into any business purely to make money. If that is the sole motive, then I believe you are better off doing nothing.....To be successful, you have to be out there, you have to hit the ground running, and if you have a good team around you and more than a fair share of luck, you might make something happen. But you certainly can’t guarantee it just by following someone else’s formula.......Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.”
----Richard Branson
Comments