10 minute read
Sir Richard Branson
Sir Richard Branson is one of those selfmade entrepreneurs from a very well-to-do background whose omnipresence is such that there’s a good chance you cannot recall seeing him on the television for the first time.
However, underneath all of the evident, external, charismatic charm, academia and mental health wellbeing haven’t always been his best life journey companions. By Alan WaresSIR RICHARD BRANSON ADHD, dyslexia and more
If you didn’t know better, one might be convinced he’d enrolled at drama school; he has undertaken so many TV and film roles, almost exclusively playing himself, such is his omnipresence.
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson was born in Blackheath, London on July 18th 1950. His father was an eminent barrister, his mother a former ballet dancer, air steward and entrepreneur. He comes from a long line – on his father’s side – of well-regarded, senior people who have operated within the UK judiciary system.
EARLY DAYS
His first entrepreneurial venture was at the age of 16, founding the magazine ‘Student’ in 1966 with his friend Nik Powell. During the magazine’s lifetime, he interviewed the likes of Mick Jagger and eminent psychiatrist RD Laing.
Branson opened his first record shop in Oxford Street, London in 1971. In 1972, using money earned from his record store, Branson launched the record label Virgin Records with Powell. The name ‘Virgin’ was suggested by one of Branson’s early employees because they were all new at business.
One of the first shops opened after the Oxford Street store was in Queens Road, Brighton, and it stayed open in that location until the early 1980s before moving to Western Road.
Meanwhile, Branson had bought a country estate near Oxford – always nice to get that family leg-up – in which he installed a recording studio. He leased studio time to hitherto unknown artists, where his first, and still one of his greatest, success was the multiPlatinum selling Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield (1973).
By 1979, Branson, still not a major player in the music industry, and very much considered an ‘independent’, was considered to be worth £5 million (about £28 million today). It was around this time he made his first foray into travel and holidays.
CHAMPIONING NEURODIVERSITY
Branson is a champion of neurodiversity, coping with dyslexia, and openly talking of his ADHD diagnosis. He performed poorly academically, and on his last day at school, his headmaster told him he would either “end up in prison or become a millionaire.”
Writing about it in April 2021, he said, “Many businesses have caught on to the benefits of inclusion, but there are still lots of opportunities for thinking bigger and embracing different ways of thinking. I’ve always believed a great business is one that values new perspectives, different ideas and broader ways of thinking.
VIRGIN EMPIRE AND BEYOND
He eventually formed Virgin Atlantic – an airline – in 1984, and Virgin holidays a year later. In 1992, he sold Virgin Records, his first successful company, to EMI for an estimated £500 million (about £1.15bn today).
In the intervening 30 years, Branson has rarely looked back as a successful ‘captain of industry’, as his fortune has grown to an estimated personal wealth of £3 billion. His acts of self-promotion are legendary, and his world record attempts as barking as they are varied. The media could often rely on Branson for good copy.
He was knighted in 2000 for ‘services to entrepreneurship’.
That said, there have been a few instances of Branson not getting it quite right. Virgin Cola, Virgin Cars, Virgin Publishing, Virgin Clothing and Virgin Brides have been launched and summarily closed without pricking the public conscience too hard.
“I suppose the secret to bouncing back is not only to be unafraid of failures but to use them as motivational and learning tools... There’s nothing wrong with making mistakes as long as you don’t make the same ones over and over again,” he was quoted as saying when it comes to his attitude to business failure.
Virgin Records’ second shop, central Brighton, 1974 Like most billionaires who make no secret of their billionaire status, Branson is a heady concoction of juxtaposed ideals. On one hand, he will stand on a platform of saving the planet, while at the same time being an exponent of some of its ills.
His support for global humanitarian, environmental and technological improvements are well recorded, although this is somewhat counter-pointed by his involvement for nearly 40 years in airline ownership both in the UK and abroad. Similarly, he champions the UK economy while he himself living as a tax exile.
However, in the field of academia and mental wellbeing, Branson offers up a strong level of consistency. And as one of those noted billionaires who make a point of letting people know they are billionaires, they are not alone in this regard. “The world needs a neurodiverse workforce to help try and solve some of the big problems of our time. Many people on the autism spectrum excel in areas such as logic, technology skills, problem-solving, pattern recognition, precision, sustained concentration, analysis and other unique cognitive functions.
“Yet people on the autism spectrum are often overlooked for jobs that they might be brilliant at. It’s a staggering statistic that 85% of autistic adults are unemployed or under-employed.”
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE WITH ADHD?
It is known that people with ADHD have specific strengths, as a result of their brain functioning difference. They are more spontaneous, creative, energetic, intuitive, imaginative, and inventive. They also have the ability to hyperfocus on subjects that interest them to a far greater extent than their non-ADHD counterparts.
They can be outside-of-the-box thinkers and often produce the most original and creative ideas, and their superior energy means that they can achieve more and work harder and faster than others. Impulsiveness and spontaneity are closely related and many people with ADHD succeed in redirecting impulsivity and turning it into spontaneity, which can be utilised positively in every area of life.
People with ADHD need to work in professions that allow them to direct their need for physical activity, creativity, imagination, or sense of innovation into a profession in which they can utilise it positively and in which it will stand as an asset.
Given the explanation above, even by the most conservative of yardsticks, Branson’s sense of entrepreneurialism and subsequent can easily fall under the auspices of ADHD behaviour.
ADHD
ADHD is an acronym for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a cognitive difference, resulting in hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattentiveness, and poor executive functioning.
It is not a medical condition or a disorder, but a dysregulation of the biological functioning of the brain. The human brain is a complex communication network, whereby messages are relayed between neurons. In order for messages to be relayed, the brain requires two key neurotransmitters – also known as chemical messengers – they are called dopamine and noradrenaline.
In an ‘ADHD brain’, there is an irregulation of these neurotransmitters resulting in a variety of symptoms, both positive and negative, that can impact on education, work, and relationships.
The symptoms of ADHD usually fit into three general categories: hyperactivity, impulsivity, and executive functioning.
SYMPTOMS OF HYPERACTIVITY INCLUDE
n Difficulty sitting in a chair n Poor sense of danger n Fidgeting n Excessive talking n Excessive physical movement
SYMPTOMS OF IMPULSIVITY
n Interrupting conversations n Problems with self-control n Aggression n Overreacting to criticism and disappointments
SYMPTOMS OF DIFFICULTY WITH EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING
n Disorganisation n Forgetfulness n Chaotic work/home environment n Poor planning n Poor prioritising.
DYSLEXIA
On the subject of dyslexia, and how he has managed to cope, survive and thrive with this social and academic albatross, in 2018, Sir Richard wrote a letter to his younger self, encouraging him through his tough times.
To that end, Branson’s Virgin empire supports ‘auticon’, an IT and technology services firm that employs autistic people as technology consultants for businesses all around the world. It also provides support for Made By Dyslexia, and charity dedicated to changing the stigma around dyslexia.
Given the range of superpowers neurodiversity can offer, it may be time for the rest of the business world to wake up and take notice, rather than have it prejudicially rubbished by an uncaring society.
Dear Ricky, I know you’re struggling at school and I wanted to give you some advice on how to become the best you can be, even when it’s difficult and you feel like the world is against you. You should never see being different as a flaw or think that something is wrong with you. Being different is your biggest asset and will help you succeed. I know you have problems with reading, writing and spelling and sometimes find it tricky to keep up in class. This does not mean you are lazy or dumb. You just think in a more creative way and struggle to find the relevance in school. Just make sure you turn your frustration with education into something positive. Find things that interest you and pursue them doggedly. This passion is what will keep you going when things get tough – and life is always full of challenges. Your alternative ways of thinking will help you see these challenges as opportunities. It’s ok not to be good at some things; as long as you find good people you can trust and surround yourself with them. Learn what you’re good at and channel that, instead of focusing on what you can’t do. Use your alternative ways of thinking to be creative and think bigger. Look around you and see where things aren’t as they should be and try and come up with huge, big solutions that can have a positive effect on people. You might not realise it, but there are many, many other people out there that struggle at school in similar ways to you and many of them have gone on to invent or create wonderful things. As your mum is teaching you, never be afraid to fly higher. If you’re scared and excited about what comes next, you’re probably on the right path. Keep smiling, attitude is everything. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to – don’t ever believe anyone who tells you otherwise. All the very best wishes for the future, Richard Branson
Start Up Loans celebrates 10th anniversary and reveals its South East Ambassador
Former Hollywood stunt double, Chloe Bruce, is among 12 small businesses to be selected as champions of UK start-ups by Start Up Loans, part of the British Business Bank
The announcement comes as the programme celebrates its 10-year anniversary, having delivered more than 9,600 loans worth over £97m to new business owners in the South East since 2012.
One such recipient of these loans is Chloe Bruce, founder of the Chloe Bruce Academy, a business offering virtual martial arts classes and tutorials. Chloe took out her loan of £2,500 in 2020 to start the business.
Chloe said “As a mum of two juggling work and childcare, having an online business has been essential in ensuring I maintain a work-life balance. My dream was always to launch a virtual platform, and when Covid meant that people were forced to stay at home, it felt like the right time to formally launch to the public after years of planning.” Chloe Bruce START UP LOANS AMBASSADORS 2022/2023
Two Dragon’s Den winners, a former Hollywood stunt double and a PhD graduate turned toymaker are among 12 business owners announced this month as Ambassadors for the Start Up Loans programme. The announcement comes as the programme celebrates its 10-year anniversary, having provided more than £900 million in loans since 2012.
The annual Start Up Loans Ambassadors programme, now in its seventh year, celebrates exceptional business owners who have followed their ambition of becoming their own boss after receiving support from the government-backed Start Up Loans programme.
Drawn from each of the UK’s 12 Nations and regions, the 2022 Start Up Loans Ambassadors refl ect the broad diversity and ambition of the nation’s smaller business sector at a grass roots level.
