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Sir Richard Branson is a man I’ve admired as long as I remember. His books sit atop my bookshelves, their pages underlined with insights on taking risks, handling failure and living bravely.
So when given the opportunity to spend a week with him on his private Caribbean island of Necker through Virgin Unite (the entrepreneurial foundation of the Virgin Group) and Business Chicks, I was curious as to what else I could learn from the man behind the larger than life media persona. As it turned out, plenty. It just wasn’t what I’d expected.
To my surprise, what impacted me most was not his entrepreneurial brilliance (clearly that’s a given). The eye-opener was his “way of being” and how he infused passion into our group, the conversations we had, and the possibilities that emerged from them.
Before arriving in Necker Island I was asked to facilitate a Q&A session with him. The opportunity was a delight and and honor but, admittedly, I was a little nervous, too. A few times I had to give myself a little pep-talk and remind myself that no matter how wealthy or accomplished someone is, they are ultimately no more human than anyone else.
Turns out I give good advice, because despite Branson's larger than life media persona, he’s actually a very relatable and approachable person.
The lesson: Be someone people find it easy to be around.
People can sometimes be quite out of touch with how others perceive them and some even get a kick from being intimidating (a sure sign of an insecure ego). So put yourself in the shoes of the people you interact and consider whether you are someone people feel safe to speak to openly and candidly. The higher you climb, the more important this is. Oh...by the way, our interview went great!
2. Stop Trying To Prove Yourself
Sir Richard Branson may be a Knight of the British Empire but, barefoot most of our time on Necker, he cares little for formality. In fact, he is refreshingly unaffected by his fame or fortune without need to prove himself to anyone – a hallmark of every genuinely inspiring human being I’ve ever encountered. Of course that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a healthy sense of self-worth, but he isn’t driven by a need to continually prove his significance.
The lesson: Give up pretense and keep your ego in check.
Not only do you not have anything to prove to anyone, but when you try to do so, it doesn’t enhance how others perceive you, it diminishes. Nothing speaks more loudly than someone who is at home in their own skin.
3. Play More
Watch the business news and you can’t miss a bunch of suited men (and, if you’re really lucky, the occasional woman!) talking very seriously about very serious things because, let’s face it, managing a business-economy-country is serious business. But too much seriousness can suck the joy out of life.
While Richard Branson was not the loud larger-than-life larrikin I had somehow expected, he brought a light-hearted playfulness into our gathering as he does to everything. When we visited his home one evening to listen to Estelle perform for our group, he was the first to jump up on the bar and start dancing. I quickly threw off my heels and followed suite. Dancing on that bar, I decided I needed to dance more often… particularly on tables. It’s just more fun!
The lesson: Lighten up and stop taking everything so seriously (yourself included).
Play and laughter are not only good for your health, but make you much better company to be around. In all seriousness though, a little childish play can defuse the pressures of our adult lives.
4. Stay Curious
Each morning on Necker revolved around a “think tank” session where we heard insights from a host of people on business, leadership and life. One of them was former NASA Astronaut Captain Mark Kelly who talked about good decision-making and said, “None of us are as dumb as all of us.” It was a great insight on the perils of “group-think” and the importance of challenging the consensus thinking. As Kelly spoke, Branson scribbled notes in his small note pad that he takes wherever he goes.
Sure, he may have built over 100 companies operating in 50 countries, but he remains curious, open to new ideas and eager to find better ways of doing things. While being open minded may sound like sheer common sense, I’ve observed that as people grow older, they can easily slip into a fixed view of the world, complacent in their approach and closed to new (and better) ways of meeting their challenges.
The lesson: Be open to unlearning what you think you know so you can relearn what you need to know.
Never stop asking questions or assume you have a monopoly on answers. Because, no matter how successful you may be, there will always, always, be ways of doing things better.
5. Do What Lights You Up (And Don't Waste Your Life On What Doesn't)
At an age when many would retire to the golf course (or in Branson’s case, a tropical island), Branson has no interest in putting his feet up and sipping martinis. There are still so many things he’s passionate about, including the various initiatives of his foundation Virgin Unite.
Of course it’s easy to be cynical and say, “All fine for Richard Branson to do what he likes; he’s loaded!” But the truth is that he got to where he is because of the passion he’s brought to everything he’s done and his willingness to lay it all on the line to turn his audaciously bold dreams into reality. As Richard Branson has said many times, “There is no greater thing you can do with your life and your work than follow your passions – in a way that serves the world and you.”
Passion is contagious. It rubs off on everyone around you and attracts enthusiastic impassioned people into your orbit. After meeting Branson’s team at Virgin Unite, he’s clearly done just that.
The lesson: Find what you’re passionate about, then find ways to do more of it.
If you’re indifferent about what you’re doing, do something else. Because when you're passionate about what you’re doing then you’ll not only do it better but you’ll be far more successful at it.
6. Embrace a “Why not?” Mindset
As I posted photos of my week on Necker to Facebook, numerous people made comments like “The world needs more Richard Bransons.” While I agree with the general sentiment, I actually don’t believe the world needs more Richard Bransons (it’s not big enough!). What it needs are more people just like you and me committed to embracing his “Why not?” mindset - to challenge the status quo, dream bolder dreams and lay our fear, vulnerability and pride on the line for the sake of things that are far more important.
The lesson: Stop playing so safe and rethink the risks of inaction.
As I share in this recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, nothing worthwhile is achieved in your comfort zone. Most people overestimate the risks of leaving it, underestimate themselves and kid themselves about the cost sticking with the status quo.
Margie Warrell is a thought leader in human potential who helps people take braver risks and lead more purposeful lives. She is also a best-selling author of three books - Brave, Stop Playing Safe, and Find Your Courage. Learn more at margiewarrell.com
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