Last week Sir Richard Branson, English businessman and investor, turned the ripe old age of sixty-five. Self-described as adventurous, curious and fun-loving, the terms “ripe” and “old” are not in his vocabulary. As you’ll notice in the picture below, he’s still exercising his “brand”, the infectious smile of his youth.
Is he’s smiling because he’s worth $4.9 billion? Prior to yesterday, I would have believed the money had a lot to do with it. But I’ve changed my mind since having the opportunity to see him in person this week be interviewed by Soledad O’Brien, former CNN anchor. I believe he’s smiling because he’s having fun doing the things that make him come alive, or perhaps better stated, stay alive.
Branson has a learning disability known as dyslexia. I know what dyslexia is because my fifteen year old son, Jonathan, has it. It has nothing to do with intelligence, but everything to do with how one struggles with learning the written word. Those with dyslexia have trouble reading. Like my son, Sir Richard’s brain operates unconventionally, as do his businesses, all four hundred plus of them that make up the Virgin Group.
The five-foot-eleven, kite-surfing, serial capitalist quit school at age fifteen to pursue a career in journalism. Mmmm….he struggled with reading and wanted to be a journalist? Here’s what he said about that decision: “I was never really interested in business. I was interested in creating things that could help people’s lives better.” Years later after building his Virgin empire, his CFO pulled him aside during a break at a business meeting and said, “Richard, you don’t know the difference between gross and net do you?” You got to love it!
The unconventional Branson decided to start Virgin Airlines after getting bumped from a commercial flight bound for the Caribbean. His desire to create a different flying experience was based on his frustration and his unconventional thinking. This venture almost put him in bankruptcy in 1992, when he had to sell Virgin Records to EMI for $500 million in order to keep the airline afloat.
He’s won big and he’s lost big, and he challenges those who will listen with these words: “Give it a go…the worst thing you can do is fall flat on your face. Then you can pick it up and go again.” It’s refreshing to be in a room with a guy who can’t stop smiling, is awkwardly shy, and is the antithesis in appearance and presence of the typical Fortune 500 CEO. Branson makes one believe that what’s on the inside truly does matter more than what’s on the outside.
Here’s some advice and anecdotes that he shared with those of us fortunate enough to be in the room with him this week:
- If you want to win in the marketplace you must come in with something so much better than what’s out there – something that sets you apart.
- Travel and read about what’s going on in this world – the more you do this, the more you’ll be able to see opportunities.
- Employees and their happiness: “The time you spend at work represents about 80% of your life. It should be enjoyable, fun, and a great experience.”
- He challenges business leaders to “humanize” their businesses – he talks to the employees when he’s flying on Virgin, keeping a notebook to record their thoughts and his thoughts and ideas (he carries his notebook with him everyday and everywhere he goes).
- What he’s learned about leadership:
- Look for brilliant people to join you in business
- Look for those who are as passionate about your business interests as you are
- Be passionate about people
- Promote from within
- His favorite quote: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
- His favorite saying: “Screw it, let’s do it!”
I found it refreshing to hear Branson speak from the stage with genuine warmth about his family; his two children, wife of twenty-six years, and his newly arrived twin grandchildren. He spends the bulk of his time now trying to create a better world through his charity, Virgin Unite. Here he leverages his fifty-three million customers, twenty-six million social media followers, and the sixty-five thousand Virgin Group staff to raise awareness of, and take action around, important issues.
I’m hoping my son will be as inspired by “The Dyslexic Billionaire” as I’ve been. I look forward to sharing this information with Jonathan by challenging him to be like Sir Richard; adventurous, curious, fun loving, and always smiling. Perhaps my son can use his unconventional brain to shake up the business world, not by focusing on business as we know it, but by creating things that will help people’s lives be better.
…But I do think I’ll keep the part about Branson quitting school at fifteen years old to myself.
EXTRA: Here’s a short video that Richard Branson posted in one of his blogs and his introductory comments about it: “Every now and then you come across something so inspiring that you can’t help but share it. This was certainly the case with this wonderful idea from 12-year-old Isley, who has severe dyslexia. She struggles in school just like I did, staying quiet in the classroom, and feeling dejected. Then she began to learn about the amazing things dyslexic people have gone on to achieve in life. She decided to share her experience, and make a brilliant video in the process.”
Bill Edmonds is an “Outside-Insider” (an Executive Coach and Consultant), who works with leaders to help them reach their full potential in the areas of organizational and personal development. He spent 24 years with Merrill Lynch until his retirement in 2014, where he led a $100+ million per year revenue wealth management business unit as a Director with the firm.
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