RICHARD BRANSON Passion

Branson has stated in a number of interviews that he derives much influence from non-fiction books. He most commonly names Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, explaining that Mandela is "one of the most inspiring men I have ever met and had the honor to call my friend." Owing to his interest in humanitarian and ecological issues, Branson also lists Al Gore's best-selling book, An Inconvenient Truth and The Revenge of Gaia by James Lovelockamongst his favourites. According to Branson's own book, Screw It, Let's do It. Lessons in Life, he is also a huge fan of works by Jung Ch ang +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++ [74] .

http://blog.iqmatrix.com/mind-map/richard-branson-the-virgin-king-mind-map
Sir Richard Branson is an iconic and legendary figure within business circles. His Virgin companies span the globe, while his thirst for brand domination and sense of adventure tell a story of an intriguing and thought provoking life sprinkled with danger, high risk tactics that push the boundaries of the possible, and an all encompassing purpose that is built upon fairness and change. Add to this mix a charismatic persona and an extraordinary business acumen, and you have one of the most well-known and iconic figures of todays business world. The discussion that follows delves briefly into aspects of Richard Bransons personality and behavior in order to shed some light into the mindset of this entrepreneurial magnate. A deeper analysis of Richard Bransons personality and behavior will be presented at a later time.

Richard Bransons Habitual Patterns of Behavior

There are several slight and some not so slight behaviors that Richard Branson undertakes on a daily basis that enable him greater clarity of thought and a personal understanding of the events and and circumstances that he is confronted with at any given moment in time. These behaviors are briefly outlined below:

Stepping Outside of Comfort Zone

Richard Branson is constantly stepping outside his comfort zone into new industries and challenges that test his discipline, expertise and resolve.

Facing Problems Head-on

When problems arise, Richard Branson tackles them immediately and aggressively, making sure that small problems dont become big headaches.

Open to Change
Richard Branson is constantly open to changing his perspectives, viewpoints and approach to any situation if he feels that it will help him attain his goals and objectives in a much more effective and efficient manner.

Making Every Second Count

Richard Branson is very aware that every moment that goes by is an opportunity to do things better, to improve a process or to take the next step towards a bigger objective. He therefore makes every second count by mixing business with pleasure.

Hunting for New Opportunities

Richard Branson is always on the lookout for new opportunities and ideas that will enable him to gain an advantage over his competitors.

Asking Questions
Richard Branson is constantly asking solution focused questions that clarify his thinking and help him overcome the challenges that confront him on a daily basis.

Challenging Self

Richard Branson is constantly challenging himself; whether in business or life. He sees everything as an opportunity to strengthen his resolve, expertise and grow his Global Virgin Empire.

Enjoys Living Life to Fullest

Richard Branson is constantly seeking out new exciting endeavors, adventures and experiences. He believes that life must always be lived to the fullest potential or we are simply robbing ourselves of a full life.

Having Fun
Richard Branson turns everything into a game where having fun is on top of his agenda. For this very reason he enjoys mixing work with pleasure and has successfully created an easy going / fun-loving culture at Virgin.

Meeting New People

Richard Branson is a passionate Networker. He enjoys meeting new people, discussing new opportunities, and building mutually rewarding relationships with others.

Trying New Things

Whether it be venturing into a new and unexpected industry, or flying balloons over record distances it seems that Richard Branson will do just about anything at least once.

Enjoys Working
Because Richard Branson mixes his work with those things that bring him pleasure; this lifts his spirits and strengthens his motivation to work for extended hours throughout the day and night.

Surrounds Self with Great People

Richard Branson surrounds himself with Business Coaches and Mentors who act as sounding boards; helping to guide his decisions. He also surrounds himself with reliable Colleagues and Co-Workers who have similar goals, values and interests. These people naturally compliment Virgins ever expanding cultural presence. Finally, Richard Branson surrounds himself with supportive Family and Friends who believe in him, his mission and vision.

Takes Time to Read & Learn

Richard Branson fully understands that lessons are usually learned through personal mistakes and experience. Moreover, he acknowledged that lessons can also be experienced within the within the pages of a book. And it is these book experiences that save him an ample amount of time, energy and money, that he would normally spend learning in the real world.

Takes Time to Catnap & Daydream

In order to re-ergize his body and mind, Richard Branson takes Catnaps throughout the day. He also undertakes periods of daydreaming about his passions; which invigorates his creative mind and strengthens the flow of new ideas.

Richard Bransons Skill Set

A lifetime of unique experiences and a passion to fulfill his goals and objective, have helped Richard Branson develop certain sets of skills that help to improve his effectiveness and efficiency as he goes about his days. These skills are listed below: Flexible Thought Sales Skills Public Relations Negotiation Skills Persuasion Skills Leadership Skills Good Listening Skills Good Communication Skills

When Richard Branson communicates with others he often utilizes stories, descriptive words and metaphors that paint pictures and excite the senses; effectively bringing his listeners into his personal world and interpretation of reality.

Richard Bransons Mindset

Richard Branson is who he is, and does what he does because of who he has become as a result of a culmination of experiences, setbacks and triumphs. These circumstances have shaped his mind in profound ways; enabling him to achieve incredible feats that have progressively built his fortune and empire. To unlock this mindset, one must look no further than the patterns of Richards behaviors, decisions, language and actions.

Richard Bransons Purpose

The primary purpose that drives and directs all of Richard Bransons choices, decisions, behavior and actions is the act of Making a Difference in this World.

Richard Bransons Values

Every one of us has a hierarchy of values that help direct our daily choices and decisions. The values that lie on top of this hierarchy we consider to be of utmost importance, while the values that lie on the bottom tend not to direct our attention. Richard Bransons values have helped shape all the circumstances of his life. And while it difficult to pinpoint the hierarchy of his values (these can change all of the time), we can however identify some of the primary values that are currently molding his destiny. Here is a list of values that are driving Richard Bransons actions and decisions (they are presented in no particular order): Family Entrepreneurialism Adventure Frugality Fun Teamwork Contribution Competition By progressively adjusting your own values to match the list presented above, you will find that your choices, decisions and actions will slowly begin to align and match those of Richard Bransons.

Richard Bransons Beliefs

Beliefs are the building blocks of our daily decisions, behaviors and actions. They will essentially determine the actions that we take, or refrain to make when faced with the reality of life.

Richard Bransons beliefs have been shaped and molded as a result of a lifetime of unique experience. These beliefs have strengthened his resolve and made him into the man we know today. Here is a list of some of the beliefs that have molded Richard Bransons character: Believes that anything is possible. Believes that everything is negotiable. Believes that rules are made to be broken. Believes that business is a fun and creative way of life. Believes in developing people. Believes in leading from the front. Believes in action over hope. Believes in being polite and honest. Believes in doing no harm. Believes in building teams. Believes in integrity. Believes in respect. Believes in trust. Believes in Self controlling personal destiny.

Richard Bransons Qualities

There are certain and specific qualities that Richard Branson projects out into the world on a daily basis that help shape his character and public persona. These qualities include: A solution focused attitude. An ambitious and passionate nature. A competitive, resilient, bold, rebellious and ruthless approach to life. A fun-loving, humorous, cheeky, curious, enthusiastic and charming demeanor. These qualities are a representation of the visual mask that Richard Branson projects into the world on a daily basis. These are the qualities that the Media writes about, that Co-workers gossip about; that others try and emulate. However, keep in mind that you cannot cultivate these qualities within your own

character if your values and beliefs are in conflict with the external persona that you are trying to project into the world. You must therefore, first work on yourself within, before experiencing the results in the physical world.

Richard Bransons Perspectives

It is probably safe to say that Richard Branson perceives life somewhat differently than the majority of people in this world. And it is this perspective that drives his thoughts and influences the emotions he allows himself to experience on a daily basis. Lets take a closer look at these perspectives: He lives his life on the edge. He lives life to the fullest. He lives life for the moment. He lives life with a work hard, play hard mentality. He understands that a solution will always be found no matter how big the problem. He chases his dreams while at the same time remaining grounded in the real world. He perceives that money is a means of making things happen, and not an end in itself.

These perspectives help shape his life, while transforming the patterns of thought that are directing his behavior.

Richard Branson Quotes

Here are a number of well known Richard Branson quotes that will provide an even deeper insight into the makeup of his character: Business opportunities are like buses, theres always another one coming. A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts. I cannot remember a moment in my life when I have not felt the love of my family. We were a family that would have killed for each other and we still are. I wanted to be an editor or a journalist, I wasnt really interested in being an entrepreneur, but I soon found I had to become an entrepreneur in order to keep my magazine going. My mother was determined to make us independent. When I was four years old, she stopped the car a few miles from our house and made me find my own way home across the fields. I got hopelessly lost. Ridiculous yachts and private planes and big limousines wont make people enjoy life more, and it sends out terrible messages to the people who work for them. It would be so much better if that money was spent in Africa and its about getting a balance.

The balloons only have one life and the only way of finding out whether they work is to attempt to fly around the world. Whats the quickest way to become a millionaire? Borrow fivers off everyone you meet. You never know with these things when youre trying something new what can happen. This is all experimental. Well, Im somebody who is just livingliving life, and if I get frustrated by something, then I like to try to put it right,

Final Thoughts
There is no doubt that Richard Bransons qualities have brought him a great deal of success and fame over his lifetime. His charismatic persona, his rebellious and death defying acts, and his easy-going nature provides him with a unique blueprint of success that has helped him create a global brand unlike anything the world has ever seen. To model his success, one must cultivate an extraordinary amount of patience, discipline and passion over an extended period of time. It is after all these qualities above all else that lay down the seeds and the foundations of the dreams that are still yet to come. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++

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Belief Model for The Leadership of Richard Branson

Model Name: Source: Category: Author: Richard Branson Business the Richard Branson way by Des Dearlove Leadership Paul Beeston

Ability
Leadership of a successful business

Context
Richard Branson is a household name in the UK. For more than 20 years he has successfully put the Virgin emblem on products from records to pensions. He continues to expand the Virgin empire.

External Behavior

Emotions (Sustained)

Think in pictures. Blur the division between work and play. Move quickly. Create and manage effective joint ventures. Encourage informality.

Playful, fun, enthusiasm, confidence, energised and caring.

Emotions (Transitory)
Curious, shy, actor and school boy.

Test for values and beliefs

You can observe the flow of information within the organization. You are getting feedback on the profitability and opportunities facing the organization. You have the feeling that the products are in alignment with the current market and are in alignment with the values of the Virgin brand.

Strategy A (test for beliefs & values satisfied)

Listen to people. Encourage communication and feedback. Create opportunities for communication to take place.

Strategy B (test not quite satisified)

Check that the company and products is in line with current and future market requirements.

Strategy C (test not at all satisified)

Integrate personnel into other parts of the organization.

Enabling beliefs and values

Hiring entrepreneurs. Creating energy around a goal and expecting people to achieve the goal. Constantly reviewing new business opportunities and new markets. Leading from behind. Everything is a game.

Beliefs & Values About The Ability

Beliefs and values about the ability

Definition of beliefs and values

Finding the right people and creating an Treat employees as extended family. Hire the environment in which they can flourish right people and give them responsibility to do the = job without interference. Give them the freedom and build a profitable business. Learning by testing and making mistakes. to be creative and innovative. Fully accepting that Success depends on learning. to learn and grow mistakes have to be made.

Core beliefs and values

Helping people achieve things that they did not know they were capable of. Being a catalyst to the success of others. Constantly learning.

Supporting beliefs
Only go into a new market if you passionately believe you can turn it on its head. With the right people and conviction anything is possible. Keep the size of the company small. Do not let inexperience stop you. Position yourself as the small guy.

Additional Comments
Success

Little things matter. Move with the times. Follow your instincts. Leap before you look. Constantly review new opportunities. Constantly look for and respond to feedback. Position yourself as the small guy. Stand up and be counted. Negotiation Haggle, everything is negotiable. Persuade others that they are getting the best part of the deal. Ask for more than anyone else would dare. Realise where the value of the deal really lies. Be patient. Learn when to talk, when to be silent, when to press and when to walk away. Branson's Personality Radiates school boy charm. Spontaneous, shy, actor, frank, credible, sensitive, vulnerable, caring and enthusiastic. Branson's Skills Public relations genius - he understands what the media wants and gives it to them. He is likeable. He knows when to disappear. Branson on Business Your name, your brand is your promise. Don't let inexperience stop you. Don't go into a market just to make money - passionately believe that you can turn it on it's head. Money is a way of measuring achievement. Values For the Virgin brand - Value for money - first class at a business class price. Quality, reliability. innovation and fun. For new markets - Best quality, innovative, value for money, challenging to existing alternatives, are fun and have a sense of cheekiness.