How Does Sir Richard Branson Forge Innovative Paths to Extreme Success?

I have been fascinated by the enigmatic Sir Richard Branson for a long time.  He lives with a lot of flash, and seems to have his hands in all kinds of business (in a very interesting variety of areas) and I've discovered that he has a very interesting background and life philosophy.

Branson recently became the most followed LinkedIn Influencer with 1 million followers, passing President Obama.  He is founder of Virgin Group, a thrill-seeking adventurer and he loves his mum.  In fact, he says the best advice he ever received came from her: "Have no regrets."  In an interview with LinkedIn, Branson says his mother "starts more new projects in a week than most people do in a year."

In other words, don't waste time looking back on failed projects.  Spend that time developing new ideas.

In his recent book, "Screw Business as Usual," Branson sums up his formula for success with a few simple ideas that incorporate passion, belief (confidence), perseverance, listening and having fun.  Oh, and delegating—one of the hardest things for a leader to do.  Balance good work with a good life and you, too, could be sitting pretty on your very own Caribbean island.  Branson named his Necker Island. What will you name your island when you get it?

Big Ideas = Big Risks

Branson encourages you to dream so big you have to catch up with yourself. When you have developed a plan for your idea, follow through with it no matter what it takes. You can't succeed if you don't try—a simple statement that has enormous impact.

If your risk takes money that you don't have, cut costs whenever possible to make your idea happen.  Market online through social media, reuse paper, print business cards for less, eat your leftovers, recycle cans & bottles for the deposit, save your change.

Reputation is Everything

Being controversial isn't always a bad thing. Richard Branson signed the Sex Pistols to his Virgin Records label after the punk band was dropped by other labels for the members' mayhem and debauchery. When other businesses are fearful of taking risks, step in and cash in the opportunity. If it blows up in your face, move swiftly onward and learn from your mistakes. But don't look back with regret or Mum Branson will be disappointed.

Move Swiftly

Act big on your dreams. Branson never had a journalism degree, yet he started a magazine. He never took a business class, yet he's one of the most successful and influential businessmen in the world. "Forbes" reports he's the fourth wealthiest person in the U.K.

Give Back

Richard Branson recently joined the Giving Pledge, where the world's wealthiest people—a total of 105 families from nine countries—make an agreement to donate half of their wealth to charities around the world.  Branson and his wife Joan are quoted on the website saying they would like the Virgin Group to help make a difference in the world; to address issues that allow business, government and not-for profit companies to join together creating a healthy, equitable and peaceful world.

Team Spirit

Encouraging a sense of togetherness that resembles a "daytime family" is top priority in Branson's companies.  In the Mojave desert, the Virgin Galactic team is building spaceships on a mission to take people to the moon for $200,000 a ticket.  It's a delicate venture building aircraft for these missions.  But faith, family, dedication, good health, kindness and hard work prevail.

Never Give Up

There is always something big out there for you.  If a business opportunity doesn't turn out as you had hoped or planned, keep on the path toward one that does.  Never give up.

What's Most Important for Focus?

For the past month, I’ve been working with Jason Womack  as part of a group coaching program based on this book, “Your Best Just Got Better” (you may recall I reviewed his book last month).  The program, called “Achieve Your Next” is all about clarity, focus, and outcome-oriented thinking.  I have really enjoyed the program, as well as the group approach Jason has taken.  

What are your MIT’s?

One key takeaway has been to move away from focusing only on tasks, projects – and even goals – and spending some of your time focusing on your roles and areas of responsibility.  Jason refers to these as MIT’s or “Most Important Things.”

For the past week, Jason has asked me to pick 3 MIT’s I want to focus on each morning, and try to deliberately engage in activities that help me improve in those areas.  Incidentally, this approach is also described in the book.

Earlier in the program, we began to achieve clarity about what our MIT’s were, so I already know what mine are (at least right now).

MIT’s drive focus

MIT’s can be things like “Thought Leader,” “Provider,” “Leader,” “Amazing Parent,”  or they can be even more tangible.  For example, Jason’s MIT’s for his business are Lifestyle, Revenue, Client List, and Products.

As you can see, however you define your MIT’s, they provide a lens to evaluate your tasks, commitments, projects, meeting, actions, and more – and to make sure you get what you want out of life.

If you're overwhelmed by stuff you could  do, maybe focusing on your MIT's will help with prioritization.  If you want to give it a try, check out Jason't book.

Colossal Public Speaking

I've just finished reading James Greenward's ebook, "Colossal Public Speaking: A Public Speaking Guide for Shy People," and I enjoyed it so I wanted to tell you a bit about it.

This book is not really about how to create a presentation (though there are some pointers for how to structure your story); instead, it focuses more on how to prepare yourself -- both mentally and physically -- to maximize your chances of delivering a compelling message, while overcoming fear, anxiety, and doubt.

Advice from someone who's been there

Greenward's guide is a "from the trenches" perspective on how to overcome some of the challenges of public speaking and presenting, particularly the aspects in which we tend to become our own worst enemies.

In this ebook, you'll find practical advice for how to become more comfortable in front of crowds, and tips and tricks to get some practice in before you actually stand up in front of the crowd.  I use a few of the techniques he describes (for example, "presenting" to myself during my commute), but I also learned a few new techniques from the book that I'm going to try.

One of the sections discusses how to get rid of stage fright (there's no silver bullet, but the tips he shares will help), and how to leverage your own personality and create a higher-impact presentation.  He also talks about how to get rid of things might be distracting, both in your voice and in your appearance - there is some good advice here, for sure.

More than just the presentation

One thing in this book was a bit different from other presentation books I've read:   Greenward's treatment of the Q&A session and how to prepare for success.  In particular, he discusses how to deal with adversarial audience members and how to deal with uncomfortable (and even unfair) questions.

If you consider yourself to be a shy or inexperienced public speaker, have a look at Greenward's site, where you'll find out more about this ebook as well as an ordering page.

Five Great Books on Motivation and Success

When you look at people who are successful and happy, do you ever wonder, "What's their secret? Why do they get to have it all?”

The secret is simple: There is no secret. Most people we classify as successful will tell you there is no magic formula or golden ticket that has led them down the path to prosperity. To a large degree, it comes down to careful planning, smart choices and a great attitude.

Timeless lessons

If you browse the "books" category of my site, you'll notice that I review a lot of current (or at least recent) books on management, leadership, self-improvement, etc.  This week, I though it would be fun to jump into the "wayback machine" and take a look at some of the best self-improvement books from the past.  

There are plenty of well-known figures who have shared their strategies and tips for success, and we can increase our odds of success by reading and reflecting on their books. Famous motivational speakers like Tony Robbins, religious leaders like Joel Osteen and Ed Young and scholarly experts like David Schwartz have written books offering motivation, inspiration and sound advice to help anyone prosper.

The list of successful professionals who can offer significant insight into being successful and happy isn't limited to modern-day writers. If you're looking to change the trajectory of your life with regards to business, family, romantic relationships or spirituality, check out the advice from some of these gurus (by they way - each of the book titles below is a live link to the book on Amazon):

"Awaken the Giant Within" by Tony Robbins

You may have heard of Tony Robbins, or seen one of his infomercials on TV. In this book, he takes on mental, physical, emotional and financial health and gives us a lot to think about. Robbins is famous for laying out step-by-step plans to improve yourself, and this book is no different - the techniques are very good and practical.  This book is 30 years old, but I think it stands the test of time, and so does Robbins.  Now in his 50's, he has reached over 50 million people over his 30-year speaking career - that's about a million people per year of his life.  Not too shabby.

"In the Zone" by Ed Young

Ed Young shares biblical principles about what it means to live a productive and rewarding life. Young is the founding pastor of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, and shares how and why we should avoid materialism, to increase the amount of hope and joy in our lives. "In the Zone" also gives actionable advice on escaping debt, achieving financial freedom and managing the resources we've been given.

"Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki

Robert Kiyosaki's well-known personal finance book discusses money from the perspective of two fathers. The poor/middle class dad works for his money, bringing home paychecks to sustain his family. The rich dad's money works for him. Kiyosaki discusses the philosophies that allowed him to retire at 47 and reveals actions you can take now to reach financial security and freedom.  There are a bunch of interesting financial habits in this book, and you'll benefit even if you only apply a few of them.  Good stuff.

"The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale

Norman Vincent Peale's inspirational classic has been translated into 12 languages and reprinted for a global audience. First published in 1952, this book outlines how to achieve popularity, overcome defeat, develop confidence and more. Peale believes a life rooted in joyful faith and a positive outlook can lead to these and he gives specific examples of how simple changes in your mental attitude can improve your life.

"How To Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie

This one is a classic, for sure.  Since it was first published back in 1936, Dale Carnegie's legendary motivational book has sold more than 15 million copies. At the heart of the book is a reassuring assertion: that communication, not brilliant insight, is what leads to success. Carnegie describes how readers can get the job they want and improve the job they have. As one of the books that pioneered modern self-improvement books, this is a must-read.