Standing out and doing what you love

[Steve]

Richard Branson owner of the Virgin companies is really an inspiration to us all. I wanted to post a few quotes from a recent article about him that I hope inspire you. Branson's next big bet - I honestly invest in things that interest me or in things that I want. The reason I moved into the airline business was that I flew a lot of other airlines and I hated the experience. I felt we could create an airline that people wanted to fly, and that turned into Virgin Atlantic Airways. But we made it with a difference: We straightaway started with sleeper seats. We put stand-up bars in the plane. We introduced, years before anyone else, seat-back videos for economy and business class, and we had manicurists and masseuses on the planes. ....The point is this: Most businesses fail, so if you're going to succeed, it has to be about more than making money. Are you saying entrepreneurs should go into business without the bottom line in mind? Ideally, since 80 percent of your life is spent working, you should start your business around something that is a passion of yours. If you're into kite-surfing and you want to become an entrepreneur, do it with kite-surfing. Look, if you can indulge in your passion, life will be far more interesting than if you're just working. You'll work harder at it, and you'll know more about it. But first you must go out and educate yourself on whatever it is that you've decided to do - know more about kite-surfing than anyone else. That's where the work comes in. But if you're doing things you're passionate about, that will come naturally. The question I have for you is do you love what you do now or do you feel it is more a step in a larger adventure where you hope to find something you love to do?

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I like him a lot. Great vision, and he knows ideas that don't work aren't failures, just lessons. He also has the money to make this happen, and I haven't done the research to determine how he in fact made his fortune. Gopher, is he a self made guy?

[Steve]

Yes Richard is self-made. I think you can always tell the self-made business owners because they seem to be cut from a different cloth. Richard tries many projects. Some are more successful than other, but he never stops experimenting and exploring.

If you are interested in learning more about him. There are a bunch of books on him. One of them was spotlighted in our business book of the month.

Richard started off in H.S. putting together a magazine for students called 'Student.' But what really got him rolling was creating his record label Virgin. That was his big money maker which pushed him into record stores, later to become Virgin Megastores and all his other projects.

He really has incredible stories.

[kc2006]

I agree with everything he said. I love this industry, it's where I started working years ago and I've wanted to stay in it. It has it's ups and downs but I still love it. Everyone laughs that I'm "too into my business", I don't think theres such a thing as being too into your business. My business is my life basicly, I thought about this the other day and my life revolves pretty heavily around the green industry. It really has become a passion of mine and the stronger the passion grows, the stronger the business grows.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I love this industry, it's where I started working years ago and I've wanted to stay in it. It has it's ups and downs but I still love it. Everyone laughs that I'm "too into my business", I don't think theres such a thing as being too into your business.

I think this is one of the many reasons why you are going to continue growing.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Team Gopher @ July 31 2006,8:24)]

I think this is one of the many reasons why you are going to continue growing.

I would agree. However, I do need to stop myself, look around, and truly enjoy the other things that are special to me in my life. I would say I'm borderline "obsessive", but one needs to ponder....How do these people become self-made millionaires? Is it that they just have an amazing idea, and in a short period of time it just transpires into a fortune? I don't believe so. I'd be very surprised if Richard Branson wasn't thinking about new ideas for his businesses for a great deal of his day. So while many of us may be accussed of being too wrapped up in our business, I think it's just from people who don't understand being happy from being productive, or already have too much money anyway. Besides, can you become financially secure by just sitting around? I tried...it didnt' work!

You need to be focused and disciplined to make things happen. Especially BIG things. Not sure what the line is though...

[Steve]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]How do these people become self-made millionaires? Is it that they just have an amazing idea, and in a short period of time it just transpires into a fortune?

The first person that comes to mind is Mark Cuban, who started a website called broadcast.com which he sold to Yahoo.com for a large sum and then took that money to buy the Dallas Mavericks. He became very rich in a short time on an idea that wasn't too great to begin with. He got lucky. The site/service he created wasn't used much after the purchase date and is no longer in service.

There are those who hit on something, an idea, whos time has come and it will blossom no matter how hard they try to control it or guide it.

For instance Ebay. Or U-haul. Microsoft. etc The time was right and customers were waiting for the product. Then the company is just playing catch up most of the time trying to handle the customers.

There are other companies that through sound business practices, improve on an industry and made money by streamlining processes. Such as Wal-Mart.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I would say I'm borderline "obsessive", but one needs to ponder....How do these people become self-made millionaires?

Well if you don't care about your company who will? I think when people are excited about their business they do more and the business grows.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Not sure what the line is though...

I think there is a line somewhere too. When you start hearing complaints from those in your immediate circle, it could be time to re-evaulate priorities.

The path of the entrepreneur is littered with wrecked families. Wrecked lives. Abuse, drug/alcohol issues. We all do need to keep our feelers out testing things. How are the people around us reacting to our moves. Are we keeping their feelings and thoughts in mind?

These are things we always have to keep an eye on.

I used to really love what I do, but now I like it. It could be perhaps because I have stepped back from it and realized that my work is not my life. I realized about 2-3 years ago that work was controlling everything of me. I never had time to spend with my wife, go on vacation, or do stuff with family. And that was when I had employees too to fill in for me. That is when I finally said, enough is enough. I took a step back and saw that there was a lot my to life than work. I don't want to look back on my life and see that all I did was work, and not have any fun and enjoy my life.

[Steve]

I agree with you and I am glad you saw it was a problem, then worked on fixing it. No business is worth losing your family over.

Have you ever listened to Suze Orman speak about finances? www.suzeorman.com

She always says put people first before money.

to be honest with you....I can not stand listening to her