A 6-year-old boy is told to get out of his mum’s car and walk the rest of the way to his grandparents’ house - alone, slightly lost, with just his wits. Something was forged inside him that day; an unstoppable self-reliance and creative resilience. From that moment on, Sir Richard Branson would find his own direction in life, whether travelling by land, sea, air or even into space.
While he still credits his mum, Eve, for the radical (don’t try that at home!) parenting that made him realise his own potential, Richard Branson has continued to push himself beyond his limits, whether launching the world’s first space travel company or his near-fatal trans-Atlantic flight in a hot air balloon!
The dare-devil entrepreneur has applied this fearless attitude to his business endeavours, and it’s certainly paid off. With his Virgin group now comprising over 60 companies and employing over 70,000 people in 35 countries, Branson has created a business empire that is surely beyond what even he could have imagined.
As a dyslexic child, Branson struggled at school and felt he couldn’t understand anything his teachers gave him to do. Leaving school at 16, having started his first business – a student newspaper – there, he decided not to continue into further education. It’s worth noting that as an adult, Branson feels his dyslexia gives him the ability to understand things differently… it’s a strength, and one that he uses to his advantage.
Sir Richard Branson shares his top tips from over 50 years as an entrepreneur here with his secrets to success for young entrepreneurs:
Sir Richard Branson: Advice for young entrepreneurs
I’ve been an entrepreneur for five decades, that's 50 years, and I'm always finding new things to learn and to discover.But my top tips for starting a business are:
Be curious
To be an entrepreneur means to be curious and interested in every aspect of life. If you throw yourself into life you're quickly make observations about what is missing from the world or what needs improving. So find your idea.
Be passionate
Starting a business comes with many challenges. But if you're passionate about what you're doing it’s easier to keep going when the times are tough.
Be unique
Well, I often tell aspiring entrepreneurs that If you create something that solves a problem and that you can be really proud of, then you have a good shot at success.
Be resilient
Whatever comes into your imagination, continue to dream big. Challenges will be a constant in your life. You'll make a lot of mistakes and you’ll fail time and time again. But don't let this discourages you. Failure teaches us life's greatest lessons and often shows us a better way of doing things.
Advice for young entrepreneurs
• To surround yourself with people who you enjoy spending time with and whose skills complement your own.
• To learn to delegate and have fun together.
• To never stop dreaming and creating. Young people are too often told they cannot do this and they shouldn't do that; ignorethat. Always seek adventure and don't ever let anyone prevent you from going after your dreams.
There you have it! Be curious. Be passionate. Be unique. Be resilient.
Find new challenges, make mistakes and learn from your failures – they are what make you succeed in the long run!
Feeling inspired? Check out our Enterprise Skills collection of guides and articles for budding business leaders… you might even become the next Sir Richard Branson!
If you’re interested in a career in business, Barclays LifeSkills have lots of great resources to support you on your journey.
Explore how you can develop your enterprise skills or take a look at their Business start up planner for inspiration.
Your future awaits!
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