Richard Branson went to space this week.
But he wasn't always destined for success.
He was actually the "dumbest person in school".
Here's how Branson got his start and how the Virgin Group got its name🧵
But he wasn't always destined for success.
He was actually the "dumbest person in school".
Here's how Branson got his start and how the Virgin Group got its name🧵
Branson grew up upper middle class.
Right from the start, he struggled with school.
He didn't like his classes and dyslexia made it more difficult.
At 8 years old, he still couldn't read.
"I was seen as the dumbest person in school."
Right from the start, he struggled with school.
He didn't like his classes and dyslexia made it more difficult.
At 8 years old, he still couldn't read.
"I was seen as the dumbest person in school."
Branson couldn't even picture how he would ever be successful.
But he realized that school wasn't for him.
So he dropped out.
Here's the parting words from his high school headmaster:
"You will either go to prison or become a millionaire.
But he realized that school wasn't for him.
So he dropped out.
Here's the parting words from his high school headmaster:
"You will either go to prison or become a millionaire.
At 15 years old, Branson starts a magazine called "Student Magazine".
Branson decides that he would interview rock stars and politicians.
So he convinces Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones to agree to an interview.
Jagger almost never did interviews.
Branson decides that he would interview rock stars and politicians.
So he convinces Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones to agree to an interview.
Jagger almost never did interviews.
But he agreed because he couldn't believe the audacity of this 16 year old.
"I can vividly remember walking to his home at 48 Cheyne Walk, my hands shaking as I carried a primitive tape recorder."
"I can vividly remember walking to his home at 48 Cheyne Walk, my hands shaking as I carried a primitive tape recorder."
"Student Magazine" did ok but it taught Branson a valuable lesson.
This idea from Steve Jobs:
"Everything you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you.
And you can change it, you can influence it.
Once you learn that, you'll never be the same.”
This idea from Steve Jobs:
"Everything you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you.
And you can change it, you can influence it.
Once you learn that, you'll never be the same.”
Richard's real passion was always music.
So he teamed up with some friends to sell records through the mail.
He solved his own problem:
He wanted niche records that weren't sold in popular shops.
If he had this problem, a few other people may have it too.
So he teamed up with some friends to sell records through the mail.
He solved his own problem:
He wanted niche records that weren't sold in popular shops.
If he had this problem, a few other people may have it too.
This mail-order record business blew up.
But soon there was a postal strike and the business almost died.
He quickly learned another valuable lesson: platform risk
Relying on 1 platform is choosing to test your luck daily.
But soon there was a postal strike and the business almost died.
He quickly learned another valuable lesson: platform risk
Relying on 1 platform is choosing to test your luck daily.
So what did Branson do?
He launched a Virgin Record store.
It quickly expanded throughout Britain and became a hangout spot for teens and 20 somethings
But why call it Virgin Record?
He launched a Virgin Record store.
It quickly expanded throughout Britain and became a hangout spot for teens and 20 somethings
But why call it Virgin Record?
Well, Branson and his friends knew they were virgins at business with 0 experience.
The V in the logo representing the Virgin seal of approval.
They were complete rookies and used that to their advantage.
The V in the logo representing the Virgin seal of approval.
They were complete rookies and used that to their advantage.
Similar to this idea from Kevin Ryan when he started @businessinsider without journalism experience:
"Industry expertise is overrated.
Being new to an industry gives you unique insight.
"Industry expertise is overrated.
Being new to an industry gives you unique insight.
By 1972, Branson is a 22 year old with a recording studio, 10+ record shops and a record label.
By 1977, Virgin Records was top 5 in the world with artists like Janet Jackson,The Rolling Stones and Phil Collins.
By 1977, Virgin Records was top 5 in the world with artists like Janet Jackson,The Rolling Stones and Phil Collins.
But in 1984, Branson was stuck on the tarmac on his way to the British Virgin Islands.
He was stuck.
But he finds a chalkboard at the back of the plane.
And scrawls a simple message:
"$39 one way to British Virgin Islands"
That became Virgin Atlantic's first flight.
He was stuck.
But he finds a chalkboard at the back of the plane.
And scrawls a simple message:
"$39 one way to British Virgin Islands"
That became Virgin Atlantic's first flight.
Today, the Virgin Group is worth $20 billion.
But with successful people, failures become footnotes that we forget about.
Here are some of Branson's footnotes:
• Virgin Cola
• Virgin Cars
• Virgin Digital
Failure is necessary to succeed.
But with successful people, failures become footnotes that we forget about.
Here are some of Branson's footnotes:
• Virgin Cola
• Virgin Cars
• Virgin Digital
Failure is necessary to succeed.
I believe that successful people aren't smarter.
As Branson says himself, he was the "dumbest in school."
They just reframe failure as an opportunity to learn instead of a reason to give up.
As Branson says himself, he was the "dumbest in school."
They just reframe failure as an opportunity to learn instead of a reason to give up.
If you liked this story and the lessons, please retweet the 1st tweet so more people can learn!
https://twitter.com/chrishlad/status/1416767928825958404?s=20
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