Appreciating MicroWorld: Richard Branson

Live life to the fullest. He is inspiring.

This was the sentence that stuck in me after pouring through the captivating book by Richard Branson, 'Screw it, let's do it', in a way it also recall the Nike advertisement, 'Just do it'. It is such a powerful dictum for the young and fearless. As one aged, one begins to hold back from adventure and challenges. The aged gets to be stereotypical, physically easily tire and less energetic. Keeping young and constantly reinventing oneself becomes a relentlessly tiring process for many. Facing the unknown and unfamiliar becomes evermore difficult, as it is not only cerebrally taxing but also physically difficult. There would always be the question, when are you going to take a rest and enjoy yourself. The relentless would inebriate, "when was I ever not enjoying myself.” A lot of people think that doing nothing is enjoyment.
Branson had defied all the odds and reinvent himself in different areas, from Magazine to Music, from Airlines to train and space travel, from being a CEO to record breaking air-balloon traveler, and his recent involvement as a social and environmental crusader. It is a lot of accomplishment and wonderful experience. All these without a degree or diploma. He was a dyslexic and left school at 15. It seems to prove the believe that if you want to be rich get out of school early and have an early start. So much for people who believe that education is the only way out of poverty.

It is interesting to note that Richard was bad at study but he excels at life. What the school tested was only a certain aspect of life. The education system, then and even now does not appreciate the ability to connect with people, 'mind to mind' and 'soul to soul'. He has the rare power to motivate people to excel against all odd and rise above it. The creative entrepreneur and a creative solution is needed in this information society. The industrial society was a bygone for a lot of country; stereotype solution is not able to resolve the complex situation that we have.

Branson was made to walk 5 miles on his own when he was 4 years old to find his granny by his mum. It seems cruel by today's standard and his mum could be prosecuted. This made Branson to be fiercely independent. Overly protecting our children can only make them unable to stand on their own.
Children need to have courage to stand up to what they believe in. Courage doesn’t just show up, they need to be horned and developed. How many people for that matter can stand up for what they believe in, few. Most will bow down to social norm, the powerful, and the majority.

Word of mouth and direct sale was where the Student Magazine depended on when it was launched. Hard sell was the technique to get sponsors and advertisers. There was a lot of cold call. Success is always about 'keep going and never give up'

There would always be seasons and one must learn when to sow the seed and harvest the field. Timing and understanding nature is important. Going through an education system or examination system, there is a certain rhythm of when to relax and when to make that 100 meter dash. Who would start sprinting at the start of the marathon? The sprinter would experience a burn out. Here is an interesting quote from the book,

'He who work all day is miserable. He who plays all day doesn't pay his bills. The bowman hits the marks, as the sailor reaches land, by having different skills and knowing when to work and when to relax', Egyptian sage.

How to take calculated risk, as we always heard, 'No venture to gain'. So knowing that the world had changed so drastically why are the education methodology still remain the same since our days? Should not we teach our kids differently?

'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure', Mandela.

There is always a need to invest a little in order to make money, but really, not just money, immense time, and effort especially for work in new frontier or saturated market.