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
To be successful, you have to be out there, you have to hit the ground running, and if you have a good team around you and more than a fair share of luck, you might make something happen. But you certainly can't guarantee it just by following someone else's formula.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success requires proactive effort, teamwork, and an element of luck rather than simply adhering to established methods.
In this quote, Richard Branson emphasizes that achieving success is not just about following a predetermined path or formula laid out by others. It involves actively engaging in one's endeavors ('hit the ground running'), surrounding oneself with a supportive team, and being open to the unpredictable nature of chance ('more than a fair share of luck'). While these elements can contribute to success, there are no guarantees, underscoring the idea that every individual's journey is unique.
Themes
SuccessTeamworkEffortLuckIndividuality
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a motivational speech to encourage employees to take initiative in their projects.
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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