Richard Branson, whose quotes you canread below, was born in 1950 in southern 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 a while she even pretended to be a pilot, wearing a man's uniform. Her career ended right after her marriage.
The husband of Edward Branson had the oppositecharacter and led a calm and measured lifestyle. This he set an example for his son. In addition, Edward had a rare disease - dyslexia, which prevented him from working, which led to financial difficulties.
Childhood
Richard Branson got this disease by heredity.The boy was disturbed by the coordination of movements, there were constant difficulties with writing and reading. Willed character Yvette played a very important role in the upbringing of his son. She constantly arranged for him to test, so that Richard learned to adapt to the difficulties. If it was not for Mom, he would have remained an underdeveloped boy without a bright future. But Yvette taught her son never to give up, and soon his ailment receded.
First business
His first business Richard Branson organized in15 years. It was the magazine Student, where young people could openly express their opinions against the war in Vietnam. But despite the mother's help and advertising contracts, a couple of years later this edition was closed. Richard was not too upset, since he already had another business center for helping young people. His visitors were people with various problems: accidentally pregnant women, drug addicts, alcoholics, people with non-traditional orientation. This center has been working successfully to this day.
"Virgin"
The next business that Richard Branson tackled- sale of records. At first he sent them by post, but then he opened a store on Oxford Street, giving him a shocking name: "Virgin" (English "virgin"). A similar name was chosen for good reason. It symbolized the inexperience and ignorance of the entrepreneur in show business. However, lack of experience did not prevent "Virgin" to reach unprecedented heights and financial success.
The next step of a businessman is to conquer the world withusing the network of "virgin companies". First there were cinemas. Then Richard was carried away by the cinema and sponsored the screen version of Orwell's book "1984", playing the main role there. Then began to emerge "virgin hotels", toys companies, a radio station and an airline.
Today, "Virgin" is a corporation that includesThere are four hundred subsidiaries. In addition to the airline, it also includes fitness centers, medical services, rail transportation, beverage production, cable television, Internet providers and much more. But that's not all. Soon to the honorary list will be added the first on the planet space tour operator. Richard dreams of launching space excursions so that ordinary people can admire the Earth from space with their own eyes.
Hobbies and books
Richard Branson, whose biography was described inthis article, is fond of extreme sports. In this field, he achieved serious victories. In 1986, a businessman flown in a hot air balloon Atlantic Ocean. It was a world record. And in 1991 he crossed the Pacific Ocean. Even now, many people consider an entrepreneur to be the best master of aeronautics.
Also the businessman is engaged in writing.Branson Richard, whose books are immediately bought from the shelves, shares in them the secrets of success, adventures, victories, difficulties and ways to overcome them. His stories are not only an object of admiration, but also good "kicks-motivators" for all lovers of easy money.
The best quotes
1. "To create a business, you need very little capital."
We already talked about Branson's first business.So, for the issue of the magazine he had absolutely no money. One day his mother found a necklace and, like any decent man, took him to the police. Only the statement of the loss so no one has filed. Yvette sold the necklace and gave Richard a few hundred bills. Thanks to this, young Branson attracted advertisers and organized the publication of the magazine.
2. "Business is an idea for improving the lives of others."
Branson states that as an entrepreneur this strongly motivates him. "If you improve people's lives, then you are busy with a worthwhile job."
3. "To grow up, you become less."
Richard Branson did not begin to increase hisrecording business. Instead, he opened 30 record companies. The entrepreneur did not appoint top managers to control a large number of subordinates, and he came up with small organizational structures, at the head of which he placed middle-level employees. The spirit of rivalry within the collective was cordial and friendly.
According to the businessman, the success of his strategy consists ofin that every firm at any given time knows exactly what it can achieve and where it risks failing. Today, the income of "Virgin" exceeded the $ 20 billion mark. Nevertheless, Richard's unique strategy reminds everyone that this is also a group of small firms.
