Education
Do you know Richard Branson’s first venture was a school Magazine ?
Clear conscience, a valuable idea and focus evolved young Branson from budding businessman to a successful entrepreneur. ‘Student’ was a stepping stone of his success story, something that every child should know. It is a practical example of an adamant attitude paying off.
Once upon a time there was a not so impressive student, not more than sixteen and with a history of dyslexia and near sightedness, who made things happen the way he always dreamt of. He started his first business from a basement and grabbed every opportunity to make it a big hit; name of this student – Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, and owner of more than 400 companies.
‘Student’ his first school magazine was started in 1968 by him and his classmate to provide an escape from the stale and repetitive news being distributed in other school magazines.
Articles published in his magazine were all about famous celebrities, politicians and rock stars. According to Mr. Branson “’Student’ gave young people a voice and challenged the perceptions of youth culture – covering everything from pop culture and music to the Vietnam and Biafra wars.”
His first editorial spoke the motto of ‘Student’ which stated that the magazine will be developed as a platform for all shades of opinion, all beliefs and ideas. Soon his magazine started running ads of providing records at discounted price and then business poured in. ‘Virgin records’ was born soon afterward, above a shoe store.
Clear conscience, a valuable idea and focus evolved young Branson from budding businessman to a successful entrepreneur. ‘Student’ was a stepping stone of his success story, something that every child should know. It is a practical example of an adamant attitude paying off.
Today, when children are busy learning all about history, geography and other subjects that might be of no practical use to them in the near future, not denying their importance but still, one wonders, why they should not be taught about ‘Student’ and how it succeeded?
It is about one child trying to make his way when his own headmaster Robert Drayson on his last day of school, told him that he would either end up in prison or will become a millionaire. He took the statement as a challenge and proved him right; though on the positive than negative count.
It is not to say that he stumbled upon success all on his own. He was supported by his mother who kept helping him by giving pocket money to carry on the newspaper and also by writing stories too. In the nutshell his parents made sure that they understand his dreams and allow him to follow them whole heartedly. In a world where children are forced to become a part of the rat race, we desperately need parents like Branson’s, who were determined to make him independent.
It is not a difficult ordeal to let them breath, let them nurture their dreams and be different. Achievement is not just a word, it is hard work which when channelised in the right direction brings positive output. It is a habit which can be addictive and can make a person think out of the box to maintain its stability. It came naturally to Sir Richard Branson who dared taking difficult decisions at the right time and learned to defy odds at a very early age to play them in his favour.