Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons In Life

by Richard Branson

The best lesson I learned was to just do it. It doesn’t matter what it is, or how hard it might seem, as the ancient Greek, Plato, said, ‘The beginning is the most important part of any work.’

The lesson I learned from that and that I live by is to keep trying and to never give up.

Whatever your goal is you will never succeed unless you let go of your fears and fly.

If something stops being fun, I ask why? If I can’t fix it, I stop doing it.

As soon as something stops being fun, I think it’s time to move on. Life is too short to be unhappy. Waking up stressed and miserable is not a good way to live.

never just try to make money. Long-term success will never come if profit is the only aim.

If you do still have to work for a boss at a job you don’t like, as almost everyone does at some point, don’t moan about it. Have a positive outlook on life and just get on with it. Work hard and earn your pay. Enjoy the people you come into contact with through your job. And if you are still unhappy, make it instead your goal to divide your private life from your work life. Have fun in your own time, you will feel happier and you’ll enjoy your life and your job more.

One thing I always try to do is to keep my word. I set my goals and stick to them. Success is more than luck. You have to believe in yourself and make it happen. That way others also believe in you.

Some you win and some you lose. Be glad when you win. Don’t have regrets when you lose. Never look back. You can’t change the past. I try to learn from it.

Always beware if the risks are too random or too hard to predict, but remember, if you opt for a safe life, you will never know what it’s like to win.

Mum knew that losing wasn’t fair, but it is life. It’s not a good idea to teach children that they can win all the time. In the real world, people struggle.

I believe the one thing that helps you capture the moment is to have no regrets. Regrets weigh you down. They hold you back in the past when you should move on.

Always living in the future can slow us down as much as always looking behind. Many people are always looking ahead and they never seem content.

You can be best friends with someone and still not agree with them and, if you are close, you can get through it and remain friends.

It was the first fight I had ever had with anyone. I was very upset that the fight was with my best friend. But, by facing it head on, I stopped it from getting worse. The lesson I learned was that it’s best to bring things out into the open. A dispute with a friend or a colleague can be sorted in a friendly way.

What’s money for, anyway? It’s to make things happen.

Respect is about how to treat everyone, not just those you want to impress.

If you’re starting in business and ask me if I have a lesson for you, I’d say, ‘Be fair in all your dealings. Don’t cheat – but aim to win.’ This rule should extend to your private life. My motto is, ‘Never do anything if it means you can’t sleep at night.’ It’s a good rule to follow.

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