Traits of World Class Achievers

from Christine Harvey

Shortly after my first book, ‘In Pursuit of Profit,’ was published in London, I was invited to a grand event hosted by Richard Branson of Virgin Airlines, now Sir Richard Branson. We were on the top floor of a palatial building in London at a party he threw to announce some of his new ventures. I was with a friend of mine, Hilde Bartlett, who would later receive an award presented to her by him as Business Woman of the Year in Great Britain.

Like so many of the world class achievers I’ve met and interviewed, Branson showed his entrepreneurial skills VERY EARLY in life. In secondary school, he was orchestrating friends his age to create newsletters which they sold for a profit.

As a speaker myself, I had often been faced with how to handle large crowds that amass, with everyone wanting to say a few words to me. After being introduced to him, I was interesting in watching the way he handled persistent people who wanted to monopolize his conversation. Branson had developed a unique way of pivoting on his heels from left side to right side, such that he could talk to one person or group for a few minutes, then swivel instantly to the other side to catch another person or group. It left no doubt in the mind of the first group, that their time with him was finished.

I’ve never seen anyone do that, before or since, but it was certainly effective for Branson, who constantly had people handing him envelops with business ventures they hoped to pursue with him, or funding requests for their projects. These envelopes, he handed off to a colleague standing nearby. I could hear the high hopes and anticipation in their voices as they presented their projects at this social affair - their one chance to get to Branson personally. While not all of the envelopes turn into joint ventures, Branson like many Billionaires is able to parlay his wealth building through collaboration with others.

While even in college, his newsletter business had become a substantial money making venture. The marketing expertise he gained, and working with others, would stand him in good stead for his coming years as a controversial wealth creator.

Prior to starting his airline, he was best known for starting his chain of music stores around England. “How can a music store owner succeed at starting an airline?” asked most Brits as Branson launched Virgin Airlines, undercut his competitors, and lead the field in equipping passengers with individual state of the art video screens and head sets before others could even imagine it.

The public expressed similar disbelief when Branson announced his spacecraft collaborative venture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in July 2005, then set about offering flights into space starting at $200,000. “We hope to bring the price of the flights down over time,” said Branson!

And this collaborative expertise lives on. As of 2008, he has plans for China, partnering with others to launch a chain of hotels and health clubs. “For any business these days, it is madness to not be involved in China,” says Branson.

He also plans to launch a cell phone service in China, called Virgin Mobile. Cell phones themselves are a sensitive subject for Branson. Many years ago one of his best friends died from a brain tumor, which in a televised program Branson attributed to the use of his cell phone. X-rays of the brain were shown on that program with the placement of the tumor around the ear where the cell phone was held. In one scene, Branson was seen using his own cell phone, but with deliberate use of a head set while the phone itself was strategically placed on the seat next to him, not touching his body.

So what traits can we glean from Richard Branson, should we aim for the billionaire ranks ourselves?

For sure, the use of collaborative ventures. It’s important to run with the ideas of others and let others take the lead while engaging one’s own strengths, as Branson does by using his well honed marketing skills and business growth skills. Also, it’s important to guard one’s time, as Branson does at events, and to have a system of delegation for standard procedures as he has with meeting crowds and handing off the business idea envelopes.

Why not think of your ventures, no matter how large or small, and decide which of these habits you can incorporate in your business now? When you do, perhaps you’ll be on the road to your next venture, be it in China or in the air!