Treat failure as a lesson on how not to approach achieving a goal, and then use that learning to improve your chances of success when you try again. Failure is only the end if you decide to stop.
Richard BransonRead
So I became a publisher by mistake - well, not quite by mistake, because I wanted to be an editor but I had to make sure the magazine would survive. The point is this: Most businesses fail, so if you're going to succeed, it has to be about more than making money.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success in business requires a focus beyond just profit; it should also encompass purpose and sustainability.
In this quote, Richard Branson reflects on his unexpected journey into publishing, which was driven by a desire to ensure the survival of his magazine rather than merely making profits. He emphasizes that true success in business is not solely about financial gain, but also about creating value and having a purpose, as many businesses fail without a deeper mission.
Themes
SuccessBusinessPurposeSustainabilityProfit
In practice
Example use cases
In a business seminar discussing the importance of purpose-driven work, this quote can inspire entrepreneurs.
More from Richard Branson
All quotes →It's a common misconception that money is every entrepreneur's metric for success. It's not, and nor should it be.
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Some 80% of your life is spent working. You want to have fun at home; why shouldn't you have fun at work?
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Values cannot be speedily forgotten if it is inconvenient or commercially expedient. Values have to have meaning and longevity; otherwise they are valueless. You cannot embrace innovation up to a point or only sometimes. Branding demands commitment; commitment to continual re-invention; striking cords with people to stir their emotions; and commitment to imagination. It is easy to be cynical about such things, much harder to be successful.
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Please don’t get hung up on this question of whether you need to have experience in an industry before you launch your startup.
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What's the most critical factor in any business decision you'll ever have to make? Basically, it boils down to this question: If this all crashes, will it bring the whole house tumbling down like a pack of cards? One business matra remains embedded in my brain - protect the downside.
Richard BransonRead
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