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We were all done in. Our eyeballs were red and tired. We were all seasick. We hated the boat. We hated the sea. We wanted to sleep for a week.

“We’ve got to go on!” I yelled.
“All right,’ they agreed. ‘We’ll give it one last shot.”

Screw It, Let's Do It, by Richard Branson draws you in with the simplicity and down to earth stories about the lessons he learnt in life and how they've helped build a business empire.

It’s like you’re sitting with him in Island, having a laugh as he shares the lessons he learnt, the mistakes he made, the success he gained from just going for it. To the things we take for granted.

Richard Branson..The Beginning...

Richard Branson had an idea for a magazine called Student. It became a reality and it was booming. Many said it would not work because they saw him as just a fifteen year old boy:

“I started Student magazine when I was fifteen years old and still at school. Some people said I couldn’t do it. They said I was too young and had no experience. But I wanted to prove them wrong and I believed it could be done.”

He faced one major challenge after getting rid of a friend who was causing a bit of trouble to try and kick Richard Branson out of the business altogether.

The challenge was the lack of cash flow.

He came up with an idea to save the magazine. He'd go and sell it to a magazine called IPC. One of the biggest print media in his time.

They were eager to hear his ideas.

So he launched at them with his vision and Richard doesn’t think small but big. I mean, real big.

He shared with them about cheap Student Banks, Hotels and Nightclubs. He talked of a vision of a cheap Airline and cheap Train services.

Richard Branson was way ahead of his time and these guys thought he’s gone mad.

"Erm, ok. Great ideas but...don't call us, we'll call you."

That was the end for the big plans for the Student Magazine.

Richard Branson Gets A Shock From The Banks

His next step was to open a Recording studio. He wanted a big place where everyone can come.

Recording studios in those times were you had to take all your gear, the drum kit, the guitars, bass, and the lot into a van and then drive to the studio. I remember those days too. Pain. Real pain and it was taken the fun out of our rehearsal. Maybe it changed because of the change Richard made and everyone followed pursuit.

Richard Finds The Hook..

This guy saw that pain, the hassle and saw a need to build a studio that had all the gear for the bands ready in place. A place where musicians, singers, songwriters, producers, could just focus in going to the studio, hire the gear right there and do what they love.

Yeah this man was into the Beatles, the Rock and Roll, the fun!

So he decide to look for a large house, something. He found an advert for a Castle. How much? £2,000.

That was great but it was right in the middle of a housing estate. He knew the noise would cause a problem with the estate and complaints would fly in.
 
He kept looking until he found an advert for an old Manor House.

You Get What You Negotiate In Life...

The moment he arrived, through a long drive with trees on both side, he fell in love it. He saw the Manor house light up and thought, "This is it!"
There was one slight challenge. He didn't have £35,000. Richard Branson called the owner.

"Can you come down a little?" He asked.
"For a quick sale you can have it for £30,000."

Perhaps, for anyone with that money, it is a bargain.

Perhaps, if it was someone else, they'd quit right there. Richard doesn't know the meaning of quitting. For the first time in his life, he put on some polished shoes, a suit and went to the Bank.

They said, "We knew you were in trouble when we saw you with a suit."

He showed them track record of the magazine called Student, the numbers and what he had achieved before. To his shock, they gave him £20,000.

£10,00 left to go.

His parents put away money, a trust fund for him and his sister. It was £2,500.

He went to his Dad and mum and shared his dream. They knew their son has always went for what he believed. Never waiting for anyone to encourage him to believe. Even against the odds.

Never has quit on anything and always finished the race. They agreed.

"But you now need around £7,000. Where you going to get that?" Asked his dad.

His dad called Auntie Joyce and explained, while Richard Branson got ready to meet her and have. As he explains to his Auntie she stops him and saysL

"Look Ricky. I wouldn't lend you the money if I didn't want to. What's money for but to make things happen!" She sorts the money out for him.

Richard Branson And The Lesson Of Giving...

What Richard Branson learnt later on in the years after he got that Manor house is this..

His Auntie Joyce didn't really have the money. She didn't have £7,000.

She believed in him so much and seen him stick to what he said he would do in life, everytime. Even if he failed, he'd get up and do it. This for her was a mark of a human being who has character. They loved Richard because of his spirit.

His Auntie mortgaged her home to get the money.

When we really believe in someone, their dreams, we won't make excuses. We'll find a way. Auntie Joyce found a way.

As A Human being...

13 Years after he bought the Manor, he launched his airline and the first thing he did, was get all his family to fly on his airline plane. He thanked them for their love, their support for the encouragement and the nurturing of his mindset.

It was a moment he’ll remember for the rest of his life, as he saw all his family, relatives altogether. There he saw how love, family who come together as one, encouragment, the moments as a teenager when he was taught discipline, integrity and to have fun, revealed itself to him.

For that moment, he wondered what would happen if the IPC, one of the biggest print media in his time took his offer years ago. If only they listened to his dreams with the same belief as his relatives. They would have prospered too.

He's a down to earth guy who made it simple, who just said, "I got this dream, will you help me. Let's come together and I can help you too. What you say?"

When Interviewed, he is known to be friendly, if his leaders mention he needs to leave, he looks at the person who is interviewing him and says:

"I've really enjoyed the interview and the chat. Would you like to continue this interview and travel with me, and we can carry on. All will be taken care of. I like to hear more from you and make sure you have got what you needed."

Down to earth. No wonder his team and the people who work for him love this guy. The guy I'd love to meet one day for sure.

Always Living On The Edge..

Screw It, Let's Do It, will keep you glued to your seat. It's so down to earth and filled with nuggets, gems and you walk away feeling great and..you want to Screw It! Let's Do It and get everyone hitting on their dreams.

As I finished reading the book, I remembered what the English Poet called Christopher Logue wrote:

Come to the edge.
We might fall.
Come to the edge.
It’s too high!
COME TO THE EDGE!
And they came,
and he pushed,
and they flew.
(1926)

Adam Taha