Summary Notes for Screw it, Let’s Do it by Richard Branson

The following are point-form notes from the book. Obviously they are concise and really intended as an appendix to the book itself. If you’d like some further discussion have a listen to our June FB Live, or spark up a discussion in The Clique.

Here you go:

Daydreams vs Goals- Richard dreams, then he finds out how to be practical with the dreams.

• If you love to do it, do it. Jump in.

• Have fun and the money will come.

• Ask yourself, “Is my work fun and does it make me happy?”

• Be ready to shift the business model if something doesn’t work (Story of the Christmas Trees and rabbits) >> Us and CWC Events, now we have The Clique as well.

• Be bold, but don’t gamble- take calculated risks.

• If the risks are too random or hard to predict, be aware, but if you opt for a safe life you won’t know what it’s like to win.

• Trust your instincts and if an idea grabs you, if it’s exciting, then find a way to do it.

• When things were tough, he: worked out a cash-flow survival plan. He hired the right people. He got a good team. He stuck to it. He wouldn't take no for an answer. He found other ways around problems.

• Believe in yourself to make it happen.

• Be glad when you win. Don’t have regrets when you lose. Never look back. You can’t change the past. Try and learn from it.

• Challenge is what makes us human.

• James Ullman, “Challenge is the core and mainspring of all human action. If there’s an ocean we cross it.” etc

• Recipe for rabbit pie: First catch the rabbit > you have to go out and get what you want.

• Story about buying back Virgin: that 182M was worth it to keep his freedom and his good name. He wanted to be master of his own fate.

• Live in the moment.

• Salvador Dali story about the peach: savour a perfect moment and don’t spoil it by wanting more, or by regretting your choices.

• The importance of sleep (and self-care)- note, link to Egg Wisdom from Kate Northrup

• Money is just a means to an end, not an end in itself.

• Money is for making thing happen.

• Relationships are important. We all need a support network.

• Spread the risk/ don’t have all your eggs in one basket.

• Hire good people.

• Respect is about how you treat everyone, not just the people you want to impress. You never know who is watching.

• Japanese story of having the long game (200 year plans for businesses).

• All we have in our life is our good name, or people won’t trust us.

• Never do anything that will stop you from sleeping at night.

• Using a setback (gaol) as a driver for success.

• Be charitable, the cheapest way: to do no harm.

• Create space for ideas to come to you.

• Have a notebook for your ideas

• Keep an open mind when you have these ideas

• Keep learning.

In Summary: 

• Just do it

• Think yes, not no

• Challenge yourself

• Have goals

• Have fun

• Make a difference

• Stand on your own feet

• Be loyal

• Live life to the full

• Chase fun, not money