Richard hired me after we met very briefly. So briefly I was pretty sure he never even noticed me. I was working in private equity at the time, and we were approached by Virgin to look at funding a new venture, which incidentally never came off.
A few weeks later I got a call from a voice I did not recognise.
“Who is it?” I asked.
“It’s Richard. Richard Branson”
“Oh f*** off, who is it really?”
“No it really is me, promise”
“Ah. er…sorry about that. How can I help you Richard?”
“I wondered if you wanted a job?”
“Sounds iiiiiiiiinteresting” I said, trying to conceal my excitement “er….what sort of job? What would you like to me do”
“I dunno,” he said, “what can you do?”
“Um…..I can buy and sell companies. I can fix broken companies” I lied.
“Oh that’s great, we need all of that, yes come and join us”
“Er….what about salary”
“What are you earning now”
I told him.
He spluttered “Well that’s ridiculous, we can’t afford that. Will you take a 50% pay cut?”
“50%? Ooh. Ow. er…ok, if I can start my own business within Virgin within the next two years”
“Yep, fine, sounds good, when can you start?”
And that is how I landed up at Virgin.
LESSON LEARNED
When luck comes your way, grab it with both hands. It may not come again
Post poo and feeling inspired to start or grow your own business? Read The Three Golden Rules and Tips and Tricks to learn the nuts and bolts of how to.