Let's Not Take Ourselves too Seriously
Branson wrote a hilarious letter to a competitor one time because he was getting very vocal and negative about Branson and Virgin Airlines.
An excerpt from the letter said this: "Even if some of your comments don’t suggest it, your actions indicate you are taking us seriously. But let’s not take ourselves too seriously. I would like to propose a friendly challenge!"
I think that Branson really has something here. We can do everything we can to be excellent, provide great products and services, treat our customers great and receive the rewards that go with it.
But there are times when we really can take it a little too seriously. Some people can carry negative energy with them by being far too serious about what they do and even who they are. In other words they start to take it far too personal. This seems like it's a mistake to me. At least with the ones I've seen reach this place as well.
With Branson he always carries the outward persona he does and never fails to smile for the cameras, yet he does take his businesses seriously and understands them better than he outwardly seems like he would. But I still like it when he says that it just shouldn't go so far as to be too serious. I've seen some people in business become borderline psychotic because they were so serious about what they were doing.
There's a difference between being committed to excellence and continually improving and not even being able to enjoy what you're doing and the heat of the competition. At the end of the day, we still need to enjoy it and keep it in perspective. When it stops being fun anymore, maybe we need to take some time of reflection and see if it has become something we're too serious with.
Other Branson Sources:
Richard Branson conquered the world. Now he wants to fly you to space.
OPEN LETTER TO GEOFF DIXON FROM RICHARD BRANSON
Richard Branson's: Losing My Virginity
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