non-traditional thinking pays
May 15, 2007 – 11:56 am
“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth — not going all the way, and not starting.”
Buddha
Most would agree, Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is an extraordinarily innovative company. In the May 14th issue of The New Yorker (”The Innovators Issue”) there is an excellent piece on Branson which outlines this personal and professional passion for innovation. When he isn’t at the center of attention, he is experimenting with new ideas.
A high school teacher once told Branson that he would either end up in jail or become a millionaire. Branson managed to fulfill both her expectations. No wonder, innovation is at the core of everything he does. And innovation requires non-traditional thinking and lots of experimentation. Trial and error is the name of the game. Be sure he has made almost every mistake in the book while revolutionizing several industries along the way.
After meeting Al Gore, Branson took the lead on what he humbly refers to as the upcoming “green revolution”. He has since taken on global warming in the only way he knows how: media and money.
I am confident that this is only the beginning. This type of non-traditional thinking will continue to pay significant social and financial dividends.
