Melissa Stanger, Business Insider
RICHARD
Branson founded Virgin in 1970 at the age of 20, and he hasn’t looked back.
17 September 2012
He’s the only entrepreneur to have built eight separate billion-dollar companies in eight
different industries—and he did it all without a degree in business.
“Had I pursued my education long enough to
learn all the conventional dos and don’ts of starting a business I often wonder
how different my life and career might have been,” he writes in his new book, Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School.
“Had I pursued my education long enough to
learn all the conventional dos and don’ts of starting a business I often wonder
how different my life and career might have been,” he writes in his new book, Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School.
We’ve compiled some of the best tips from his book
here.
Don’t do it if you don’t enjoy it
Running a business takes a lot of blood, sweat, and
tears (and caffeine). But at the end of the day, you should be building
something you will be proud of.
Branson says, “When I started Virgin from a basement in west London, there was no great plan or strategy.
“I didn’t set out to build a business empire ... For me, building a business is all about doing something to be proud of, bringing talented people together and creating something that's going to make a real difference to other people’s lives.”
Branson says, “When I started Virgin from a basement in west London, there was no great plan or strategy.
“I didn’t set out to build a business empire ... For me, building a business is all about doing something to be proud of, bringing talented people together and creating something that's going to make a real difference to other people’s lives.”
Be visible
Branson received some timeless advice when building
Virgin Airlines from Sir Freddie Laker, a British airline ‘tycoon’.
“Make sure you appear on the front page and not the back pages,” said Laker. “You are going to have to get out there and sell yourself. Make a fool of yourself, whatever it takes. Otherwise you won’t survive”.
Branson always makes a point of traveling often and meeting as many people as he can. This, he says, is how he came by some of the best suggestions and ideas for his business.
Choose your name wisely
The unique name and brand that Virgin employs is
one of the things that has made the company a success. Branson makes sure that
the name ‘Virgin’ represents added value, improved service, and a fresh, sexy
approach.
Branson says that he is asked all the time about the origin of the Virgin name, back when Virgin was just starting. “One night, I was chatting with a group of 16-year-old girls over a few drinks about a name for the record store,” he says.
“A bunch of ideas were bounced around, then, as we were all new to business, someone suggested Virgin. It smacked of new and fresh and at the time the word was still slightly risqué, so, thinking it would be an attention-grabber, we went with it."
You can’t run a business without taking risks
Branson says that he is asked all the time about the origin of the Virgin name, back when Virgin was just starting. “One night, I was chatting with a group of 16-year-old girls over a few drinks about a name for the record store,” he says.
“A bunch of ideas were bounced around, then, as we were all new to business, someone suggested Virgin. It smacked of new and fresh and at the time the word was still slightly risqué, so, thinking it would be an attention-grabber, we went with it."
You can’t run a business without taking risks
Branson thinks of one of his favorite sayings when
advising about taking business risks: “The brave may not live forever—but the
cautious do not live at all!’”
Every business involves risks. Be prepared to get knocked down, says Branson, but success rarely comes from playing it safe. You may fail, but Branson also dares to point out that “there’s no such thing as a total failure.”
The first impression is everything. So is the second
Every business involves risks. Be prepared to get knocked down, says Branson, but success rarely comes from playing it safe. You may fail, but Branson also dares to point out that “there’s no such thing as a total failure.”
The first impression is everything. So is the second
The first impression you make on customers will
probably be when you acquire them. The first impression is extremely important,
says Branson, but the second is equally as important.
The second time a customer usually contacts Virgin, it’s because he or she is having problems with the product or service. How you present yourself and your brand in these situations says a lot about how your brand maintains good customer relationships and handles obstacles.
Perfection is unattainable
The second time a customer usually contacts Virgin, it’s because he or she is having problems with the product or service. How you present yourself and your brand in these situations says a lot about how your brand maintains good customer relationships and handles obstacles.
Perfection is unattainable
“There’s an inherent danger in letting people
think that they have perfected something,” says Branson.
“When they
believe they’ve ‘nailed it’, most people tend to sit back and rest on their
laurels while countless others will be labouring furiously to better their
work!”
For this reason, Branson never gives anyone a 100% perfect review of their work. He believes that no matter how “brilliantly conceived” something is, there is always room for improvement.
The customer is always right, most of the time
For this reason, Branson never gives anyone a 100% perfect review of their work. He believes that no matter how “brilliantly conceived” something is, there is always room for improvement.
The customer is always right, most of the time
The customer is always right . . . unless they’re
wrong. After all, they’re only human too. Your customers’ opinions are
important, but “you should not build your customer service system on the
premise that your organisation will never question the whims of your
clients,” says Branson.
He warns that many
entrepreneurs think if they provide ‘the-customer-is-always-right’ service that
it will improve their businesses. This is only sometimes true. Beware not to damage relationships with
customers or staff with your customer service policies.
Define your brand
Define your brand
When it comes to defining your brand, Branson
advises entrepreneurs to do the opposite of what he did with Virgin, which is
spreading out all over the place.
And while it’s true that Virgin branches into many different industries, Branson says the company is actually quite focused on one thing: “finding new ways to help people have a good time.”
Stick to what you know. Under-promise and over-deliver. Because if you don’t define your brand, your competitors will.
Explore uncharted territory
And while it’s true that Virgin branches into many different industries, Branson says the company is actually quite focused on one thing: “finding new ways to help people have a good time.”
Stick to what you know. Under-promise and over-deliver. Because if you don’t define your brand, your competitors will.
Explore uncharted territory
Branson compares exploring new territory in
business to exploring new territory in science or geography.
“We will find new species and better understand the
make-up of the deep-level waters,” says Branson.
Business translation: There are still many things
out there that haven’t been discovered, invented, achieved. Exploring little—or uncharted—areas can spark new ideas and innovations.
Beware the “us vs. them” environment
Beware the “us vs. them” environment
A workplace should be one in which the boss and his
or her employees communicate well and work together toward the same goal.
“If employees aren’t associating themselves with their company by using ‘we’, it is a sign that people up and down the chain of command aren’t communicating,” says Branson.
If you think there might be discrepancies or tension between employees and management, Branson advises to check with the middle management first to try to uncover the source of the problem and address it head-on.
Build a corporate comfort zone
“If employees aren’t associating themselves with their company by using ‘we’, it is a sign that people up and down the chain of command aren’t communicating,” says Branson.
If you think there might be discrepancies or tension between employees and management, Branson advises to check with the middle management first to try to uncover the source of the problem and address it head-on.
Build a corporate comfort zone
Employees must feel free and encouraged to openly
express themselves without rigid confines so they can do better work and make
good, impactful decisions.
“This may sound like a truism,” begins Branson, “But it has to be said: It takes an engaged, motivated and committed workforce to deliver a first-class product or service and build a successful, sustainable enterprise.”
Not everyone is suited to be CEO
“This may sound like a truism,” begins Branson, “But it has to be said: It takes an engaged, motivated and committed workforce to deliver a first-class product or service and build a successful, sustainable enterprise.”
Not everyone is suited to be CEO
A manager needs to be someone who “brings out the
best in people,” someone who communicates well with others and helps an
employee learn from a mistake instead of criticizing them for it.
Not everyone does this well, and that’s okay. The founder can but doesn’t have to be the CEO; if the fit isn’t right, he or she should know when the role is meant for someone else.
Seek a second opinion. Seek a third
Not everyone does this well, and that’s okay. The founder can but doesn’t have to be the CEO; if the fit isn’t right, he or she should know when the role is meant for someone else.
Seek a second opinion. Seek a third
Branson says you must learn to be a good listener
in order to succeed, and that means bouncing “every idea you have off numerous
people before finally saying, ‘We’ll give this one a miss,’ or ‘Let’s do it.’”
That means being thorough and deliberate before executing any decisions. In business, seeking a variety of opinions “can save you a lot of time and money,” says Branson.
“Don’t tell people about others’ suggestions until you’ve heard what they have to say. In the end you may decide that the best advice is to walk away—and later find out it was the very best solution.”
Cut ties without burning bridges
That means being thorough and deliberate before executing any decisions. In business, seeking a variety of opinions “can save you a lot of time and money,” says Branson.
“Don’t tell people about others’ suggestions until you’ve heard what they have to say. In the end you may decide that the best advice is to walk away—and later find out it was the very best solution.”
Cut ties without burning bridges
Business ventures with another person, be it a
friend or a partner, don’t always work out. If this is the case, successful
entrepreneurs know when to part ways.
But just because you decide to go in another direction doesn’t mean things have to end badly, especially with a friend, says Branson. Handle any problems quickly and head-on, and end the relationship as amicably as possible.
Pick up the phone
But just because you decide to go in another direction doesn’t mean things have to end badly, especially with a friend, says Branson. Handle any problems quickly and head-on, and end the relationship as amicably as possible.
Pick up the phone
It’s great to be tech-savvy, but don’t text or
email when you should be calling.
“The quality of business communications
has become poorer in recent years as people avoid phone calls and face-to-face
meetings, I can only assume, in some misguided quest for efficiency,”
Branson says.
Problems are more difficult to solve by text or email, and “there is nothing efficient about allowing a small problem to escalate,” says Branson, when it could have been easily addressed with a phone call.
Change shouldn’t be feared, but it should be managed
Problems are more difficult to solve by text or email, and “there is nothing efficient about allowing a small problem to escalate,” says Branson, when it could have been easily addressed with a phone call.
Change shouldn’t be feared, but it should be managed
“Companies aren’t future-proof,” says Branson, and
nothing lasts forever. An entrepreneur should be prepared to adapt, and avoid
being nostalgic about the company itself.
“Sometimes you have to take your company in a
new direction because circumstances and opportunities have changed."
If this is the case, Branson advises that you should “find ways to inspire all employees to think like entrepreneurs ... so the more responsibility you give people the better they will perform.”
When it comes to making mistakes, bounce back, don’t fall down
If this is the case, Branson advises that you should “find ways to inspire all employees to think like entrepreneurs ... so the more responsibility you give people the better they will perform.”
When it comes to making mistakes, bounce back, don’t fall down
Your decision will not always be the best decision.
Everyone makes mistakes, but the best thing you can do in the face of a mistake
is own up to it.
Honesty isn’t just the best policy, it’s the only policy, notes Branson. When a mistake is made, don’t let it consume you. Uncover the problem and get to work fixing it.
Be a leader, not a boss
Honesty isn’t just the best policy, it’s the only policy, notes Branson. When a mistake is made, don’t let it consume you. Uncover the problem and get to work fixing it.
Be a leader, not a boss
Branson sees the classic image of “the boss” as an anachronism. Being
bossy is not a desirable trait in a manager, he says. A boss orders while a
leader organizes.
“Perhaps, therefore, it’s odd that if there is any one phrase that is guaranteed to set me off it’s when someone says: ‘Okay, fine. You’re the boss!’” says Branson.
“What irks me is that in 90 per cent of such instances what that person is really saying is ‘Okay then, I don’t agree with you but I’ll roll over and do it because you’re telling to do. But if it doesn’t work out I’ll be the first to remind everyone that it wasn’t my idea’.”
Branson sees the classic image of “the boss” as an anachronism. Being bossy is not a desirable trait in a manager, he says. A boss orders while a leader organizes.
“Perhaps, therefore, it’s odd that if there is any one phrase that is guaranteed to set me off it’s when someone says: ‘Okay, fine. You’re the boss!’” says Branson.
“What irks me is that in 90 per cent of such instances what that person is really saying is ‘Okay then, I don’t agree with you but I’ll roll over and do it because you’re telling to do. But if it doesn’t work out I’ll be the first to remind everyone that it wasn’t my idea’.”
Branson sees the classic image of “the boss” as an anachronism. Being bossy is not a desirable trait in a manager, he says. A boss orders while a leader organizes.
A good corporate leader is someone who doesn’t just
execute his or her own ideas, but also inspires others to come forth with their
own.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/18-tips-for-success-from-richard-branson-2012-9?op=1#ixzz2cPz2Eoyo
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/18-tips-for-success-from-richard-branson-2012-9?op=1#ixzz2cPz2Eoyo
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