CHAPTER #6
Richard Branson’s
Secret Productivity Tool
How can you get your brain to quiet down? How can you always remember
your great ideas?
Branson’s Most Important Possession
Sir Richard Branson. Arguably the most celebrated entrepreneur of our time.
Founder of the Virgin Group, which now comprises over 400 companies,
Branson is reportedly worth $4.8 billion.
When asked about items he takes wherever he goes, Branson singled out one
item as being most important. In a May 5, 2006, interview he said:
It may sound
ridiculous, but my most important is to always carry a little notebook in your
back pocket. I think the number one thing that I take with me when I'm traveling
is the notebook…I could never have built the Virgin Group into the size it is
without those few bits of paper.
Branson, writing on his blog, elaborated on his note-taking habits. He said,
“If you have a thought but don’t write it down, by
the next morning it may be
gone forever.” One time, when Branson had an idea for a business metaphor, he
didn’t have a notebook nearby. So he just scribbled the thought down in his
passport!
Advice from Billionaire Aristotle Onassis
Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis once gave an interview in which he
shared his “million dollar lesson.”
Always carry a notebook. Write everything down. When you have an idea,
write it down. When you meet someone new, write down everything you
know about them. That way you will know how much time they are worth.
