理查德·布兰森是全世界最有个性也最成就非凡的企业家之一。他是维珍集团创始人，旗下掌管多家企业，据《福布斯》杂志统计身家达50亿美元。更难以置信的是，这位66岁的商界大亨竟然高中就辍学了。

虽说事业成功没有一试百灵的秘诀，但追随成功大佬的步伐总有裨益。以下小结了15条理查德·布兰森打造成功事业和生活的经验之谈。

1. 要勇敢

他在《维珍创业经——理查德•布兰森如何颠覆传统行业》一书中写道，“勇者是无法永生，但畏畏缩缩等于白来世上一遭。”

追随梦想需要勇气，因为过程中肯定要冒些险。不过布兰森提醒企业家，只要目标明确，旅途坎坷也值得。他认为但凡有抱负的商业人士都应该在追寻梦想的道路上展现勇气。

2. 要独立

布兰森在博客上写道，“天下成功企业家不会一模一样。实际上，正因每个人具有独特的个性和不同的思考方式，才会获得成功。”

如果研究过布兰森之类亿万富翁的习惯，你会发现成功人士会采用不同的方式解决问题，不要害怕另辟蹊径。不过，学习前人的经验也是有必要的。

布兰森表示成功企业家往往会主动承担风险，从错误中学习，注重把握大局，清楚何时授权他人，而且擅长与周围的人沟通。

3. 守时

人们有时会看到布兰森从车里冲出来，跑着赶去赴约，主要就是因为他很讨厌迟到。他认为迟到非常粗鲁，缺乏尊重，不管什么身份。

布兰森在博客中提到，“不管是开会、赶飞机、见面还是约会，很重要一点是说几点到就几点到。说起来有点老套，但入行50年来我都遵守这个原则，效果很好。商业世界里最重要的就是声誉，所以说到做到非常重要。”

不管事情大小，都要准时赴会，向同事和客户显示你值得信任。

4．努力争取

优秀的商业领袖都明白生活中没什么是免费的。不管是白手起家还是拓展事业，一定不能靠救济。精明的企业家不会傻坐着等重大机遇降临，而是积极行动抓住每次机会。

在《理查德·布兰森自传》一书中，他表示“要成功就得豁出去，得脚踏实地拼命干。”

5.不要勉强

不要为了成功牺牲了个人信仰，丧失自我。

布兰森说，“对我来说，做生意可不只是西装革履，或是伺候股东。而是诚实面对自己，了解内心的想法，然后专注最重要的部分。”

毕竟，如果过不了想要的生活，商业上再成功也没意义。目标明确，坚守信念，就可以通过奋斗实现梦想同时保持自我。

6.不要不择手段

胸怀大志的企业家往往以为，要成功有时就得使些不光彩的手段。但布兰森并不鼓励。

“很多手段难免卑劣，绝非必要，”布兰森在自传中说。

或许有些手段短期内对事业有帮助，但长期来看可能会影响公司声誉，与同行和顾客的关系等等。所以上策还是眼光放长远，别做明天想起来不齿之事。

7.敢于梦想

成就伟业意味着敢于变革和创新。为了实现目标，布兰森鼓励企业家追随梦想，不管在别人眼里多么疯狂。

布兰森在博客中写道，“不要怀疑自己的梦想，也不用担心别人认为你太理想主义，或是不够认真。自我暗示时不要带批判眼光。要带着天真的乐观主义看待世界，相信自己可以克服万难，敢于梦想。”

8.回馈社会

如果眼里只盯着钱，很难保持成功。

布兰森在Virgin.com网站上一篇文章中表示，“未来的成功品牌追求的愿景不只利润。”

多想想企业能如何改善客户和同事的生活。行善不必身家数十亿。只要经常表现善意就能提升自己的名声，最后的收益一定不只体现在财务上。

9.多多倾听

如果学不会倾听，就不可能变成解决问题的高手

布兰森表示，“开创事业其实就是解决问题，而解决问题需要倾听。”

最近《哈佛商业评论》刊发了一篇研究，也证实了认真倾听才是积极参与对话。实际上，优秀的倾听者往往擅长追问，启发思考并推动进一步探索。要满怀好奇心，思路放开，机会可能不经意间到来。

10.不惧失败

从失败中学习，才能获得成功的能力。

在《商界裸奔——理查德·布兰森与他的维珍之旅》一书中他写道，“在实践和失败中学习，只有从失败中才能学到如何不失败。”

创建维珍集团时，布兰森和同事并不熟悉商业世界，所以才取了这么个名字（Virgin直译为无经验之人——译者注）。他们按照自己的方式做事，并未墨守成规。正如所有的新生行业，过程中他们也遇到不少挫折。布兰森表示，正因从犯过的错中学习，维珍才会有今日的成就。

11.共享荣耀

商业世界里，成功经常意味着找到跟你同样满怀激情为目标努力的同伴。

“具体业务上，我从来不是最优秀的，”布兰森在博客中说。“即便成功也不必抢风头。跟同伴互相鼓励支持实现目标，成就感强烈得多。”

也不必担心跟别人分享看法，或是请求帮助。如果能找到合适的人帮忙，结果会比单打独斗好。

12.学会同意

布兰森公司的员工给他起了个昵称，“同意博士”，因为他非常愿意接受新观念。

他在《管他呢，开始干吧》一书中写道，“如果某个主意听起来不错，我会说‘同意，我会考虑’，然后努力实现。我当然不会事事同意。关键是想清楚：偶尔犯错危害大，还是思想僵化错过机会危害大？”

见机行事，不要故步自封，才有更多机会将好点子付诸实践。

13.保持幸福

不同人眼里成功有不同含义。有些企业家只想着积攒财富，但布兰森建议不要放忽略好心情。

“所有企业家衡量成功时都用金钱当标准，这是个误区，”他在领英的博客中写道。“金钱并非唯一标准，也当不了标准。”

成功的关键是幸福。布兰森表示，并不是有钱之后才生活幸福，而是幸福生活确保了事业成功赚钱顺利。

停下来问问自己是否幸福。如果感觉不开心，先找到属于自己的幸福。

14.照顾好自己

布兰森表示，照顾好自己才能不被工作耗尽精力。

这位维珍集团老板在领英博客中写道，“每当有人问我：‘事业成功的关键是什么》’，我会根据当时的情况回答，有时会谈授权，有时谈人才，有时强调从失败中学习等等。但说到底，自己身心健康才是最重要的。很简单的道理，如果你连自己都照顾不好，如何照管好生意呢。”

布兰森坚持每天锻炼，不管在哪，也不管在忙什么。

“健康的身体等于健康的头脑，而只有健康的头脑才能成就事业，”他表示。

15.找到让自己兴奋的事

商业领袖经常会强调保持工作-生活平衡。不过对布兰森来说，工作和玩耍并不一定矛盾。

他在领英博客中表示，“如果某个新的商业机会或项目让我觉得没意思，或是觉得做起来不是特别有创造性而且有乐趣，我宁愿不做，再找下个项目。生命短暂，何必浪费时间做无聊的事。”

如果你对手上的事毫无热情，不妨将注意力和精力转个方向。（财富中文网）

本文原载于GoBankingRates.com

译者：Charlie

审稿：夏林

Richard Branson is one of the most recognizable and accomplished entrepreneurs in the world. The Virgin Group founder has managed multiple companies and built a fortune of $5 billion, according to Forbes. What's even more remarkable is that the 66-year-old magnate was a high school dropout.

Although there is no one secret to business success, following the strategies of the world's most successful people can help you get ahead. Here are 15 of the best Richard Branson tips to build a great business and life.

1. Dare to be brave

In his book, "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won't Teach You at Business School," Richard Branson wrote, "The brave may not live forever — But the cautious do not live at all."

It takes bravery to reach for your dreams, as doing so involves a certain degree of risk. However, Branson reminds entrepreneurs that a bumpy journey is worthwhile if you're headed to a desirable destination. He suggests that aspiring business professionals demonstrate courage in pursuit of their goals.

2. Be an individual

The Virgin Group founder wrote on his blog, "No two successful entrepreneurs are the same. In fact, it's their individuality and different ways of thinking that make them successful."

Study the habits of billionaires like Branson, and you'll quickly see that these successful people approach business and problem solving in numerous ways — never afraid to go against the grain. Still, you can learn from the traits of those who came before.

Branson says that successful entrepreneurs take deliberate risks, learn from their missteps, see the big picture, know when to delegate and communicate well with those around them.

3. Be punctual

If you've seen the occasional photo of Branson jumping out of a car or running to get to his next appointment, it's probably because the billionaire hates being late. He think it's rude and disrespectful, no matter your station in life.

As Branson wrote on his blog, "Whether it is a meeting, a flight, an appointment or a date, it's important to ensure you are there when you say you will be there. This may feel like an old-fashioned tip to give, but it has served me well for five decades in business. All you have in business is your reputation — so it's very important that you keep your word."

Show up to meetings on time and show your co-workers and clients they can trust you with matters both small and large.

4. Be a hustler

Top business leaders know that few things in life come free. Whether you want to start your own company or take your business to the next level, it's important not to rely on handouts. Instead of sitting idly by waiting for their big breaks, savvy entrepreneurs are proactive and seize opportunities.

In his book "Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way," Branson said, "To be successful, you have to be out there, you have to hit the ground running."

5. Don't try to be something you're not

You shouldn't have to sacrifice your beliefs and lose who you are to achieve success in life.

Said Branson, "To me, business isn't about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It's about being true to yourself, your ideas and focusing on the essentials."

After all, it doesn't matter how successful you are in business if you don't have the life that you want. By focusing on your goals and staying true to your core beliefs, you can accomplish what you desire without losing yourself along the way.

6. Don't fall victim to "necessary evils"

As an aspiring entrepreneur, you might assume that succeeding in business means doing things you're not proud of on occasion. However, Branson doesn't believe in necessary evils.

"Most 'necessary evils' are far more evil than necessary," said Branson in his book, "Losing My Virginity."

While an action might seem to benefit your business in the short term, in the long run it could affect your company's reputation and your relationships with peers and customers. For best results, think long term and avoid doing something today that you'll be ashamed of tomorrow.

7. Dream big

Achieving greatness means focusing on change and innovation. To that end, Branson encourages entrepreneurs to follow their dreams, no matter how crazy they might seem to others.

Branson wrote in his blog, "Don't be self-conscious about dreaming, or about people thinking you're too idealistic and not serious enough. Don't allow your self talk to be judgmental. Look at the world with wide-eyed enthusiasm, believe you are more powerful than the problems that confront you and dream big."

Naysayers might criticize you for dreaming large, but you'll be the one laughing when your dreams become realities.

8. Give back

It can be difficult to sustain success if your sole concern is cash.

Said Branson in a Virgin.com article, "The brands that will thrive in the coming years are the ones that have a purpose beyond profit."

Think about how you and your company can make a difference in the lives of customers and co-workers. You don't have to be worth billions to give back, either. A simple act of kindness can boost your reputation while bringing rewards beyond the financial.

9. Be a good listener

You can't be a good problem solver without being a good listener.

Said Branson, "To launch a business means successfully solving problems. Solving problems means listening."

A recent Harvard Business Review study confirms that listening well means being active in the conversation. In fact, the best listeners are those who ask follow-up questions that offer insight or promote discovery. Be curious and open-minded, and you might just find your next adventure.

10. Be willing to fall

Learn from your failures, and you'll gain the aptitude to succeed.

As Branson wrote in his book, "Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur," "You learn by doing and by falling over, and it's because you fall over that you learn to save yourself from falling over."

Branson and his colleagues were newcomers to the business world when they created Virgin — hence the name. They did things their way rather than following a rulebook. And like any new business, there were a few stumbles along the way. According to Branson, those mistakes helped the company grow into what it is today.

11. Share the spotlight

In the business world, achieving success often means finding individuals who are just as passionate as you about achieving your goals.

"I've never been the best person at doing every job," Branson said in a blog post. "Finding the spotlight isn't about standing in it. There's so much to be gained from working with people who support each other to achieve great things."

Don't be afraid to share your vision with others or ask for help when you need it. The right people can help you achieve more than you would have alone.

12. Learn to say yes

Branson's staff gave him the nickname "Dr. Yes" for his openness to new ideas.

In his book, "Screw It, Let's Do It," he wrote, "If something is a good idea, my way is to say 'Yes, I'll consider it' — and then to work out how to make it happen. Of course, I don't say yes to everything. But what is worse: making the occasional mistake or having a closed mind and missing opportunities?"

Be an opportunist rather than a naysayer and boost your odds of bringing great ideas to fruition.

13. Be happy

Success means different things to different people. While some entrepreneurs focus only on building their fortunes, Branson recommends focusing on happiness as well.

"It's a common misconception that money is every entrepreneur's metric for success," he wrote on his LinkedIn blog. "It's not, and nor should it be."

The real key to success is happiness. Rather than his monetary success bringing him happiness in life, Branson says that his happiness has enabled him to achieve great success and wealth.

Stop and ask yourself if you're happy. If not, find that happiness.

14. Take care of yourself

Taking care of yourself could save you from career burnout, says Branson.

The Virgin Group entrepreneur wrote on his LinkedIn blog, "When I'm asked: 'What's the key to success in business?' my answer can differ depending on the subject at hand — delegation, people, learning from failure, etc. — but when it comes down to it, the key is you. The simple fact is, if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to take care of business."

Branson exercises every day, no matter where he is or what he's doing.

"A healthy body equals a healthy mind, and a healthy mind takes care of business," he said.

15. Find what excites you

Business leaders often stress the need to achieve a positive work-life balance. However, for Branson, work and play don't have to be at odds with each other.

He wrote on his LinkedIn blog, "If a new business opportunity or project doesn't excite me, and if it's not something with which I can have a lot of seriously creative fun, then I'd rather pass on it and move right along. Life's too short to waste your time doing things that don't light your fire."

If you don't have passion for what you're doing, consider directing your attention and energy elsewhere.

This article originally appeared on GoBankingRates.com