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Richard Branson Challenges Entrepreneurs to Be a 'Force for Good'
The billionaire founder of Virgin was joined by Rob Dyrdek, a fellow member of the AOL Small Business Board of Directors, and VIPs from the worlds of business and philanthropy at a recent charity benefit in Irvine, Calif.
Posted 2/ 2 11 at 6:00 PM | Board of Directors, Money, Leadership, International Business
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With much of his attention focused on space exploration these days, Sir Richard Branson's ambitions literally know no boundaries. But he is also doing his part to help make life on this planet a little better.
On Jan. 25, the globetrotting founder of Virgin and member of the AOL Small Business Board of Directors made a stop in Irvine, Calif., for a candid conversation about entrepreneurs' role in furthering world peace and a charity benefit that drew VIPs from the worlds of business and philanthropy.
The evening began at the University of California at Irvine, where Branson shared personal anecdotes about his entrepreneurial journey, in a conversation moderated by Jerry Murdock, the managing director of Insight Venture Partners and a board member at the Aspen Institute and the Santa Fe Institute.
Following the talk, guests headed over to the nearby Center for Living Peace for a reception and charity auction. Rob Dyrdek, a professional skateboarder, serial entrepreneur and fellow member of the Board of Directors, joined Branson at the event and donated a birthday party at the "Fantasy Factory" -- his downtown Los Angeles superoffice and skate park that serves as the backdrop for his popular MTV reality series -- which helped raise more than $250,000 for Virgin Unite over the course of the night.
Dressed as a "pirate for peace," Branson advised entrepreneurs to approach business with a greater purpose. "I think they just need to change their way of thinking as to running their businesses, make them a force for good, not just a force to make money," Branson said in an interview. "If they think like that and they empower all their staff to think like that, they can make a massive difference."
For Dyrdek, who oversees more than a dozen business ventures and a foundation of his own, which builds "Safe Spot Skate Spots" for kids, the evening was a chance to connect with one of his longtime entrepreneurial heroes.
"It was quite inspiring, to say the least," Dyrdek said following the event. "I was able to relay to him that his principle and school of thought and his entrepreneurial spirit has inspired me. And, in turn, I was inspired by his incredible outfit."
In true Branson fashion, the frequent flier headed off to South Africa following the event, for a fashion show and fundraiser for Lesego Malatsi, an entrepreneur at the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship in Johannesburg.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
"Force For Good" - LOVE this! Well, SRB certainly can coin that statement since he exemplifies the meaning of it! Always, always an inspiration! Thank you Sir Richard Branson - you are a beacon to all entrepreneurs!
This is far fetched! However I am nowhere near as fortunate in monetary wealth as Mr.Branson but my heart is huge! With my life savings and family's life savings I purchased a large parcel of property to build a park for kids and elderly and town homes for unfortunate families and I ran out of resources and my lender and local developers are trying to take advantage and take it away.
I challenge these entrepeneurs to step up and help us bring this to fruition and keep it out of hands of greedy!!
I do not want to sound brash at all however asking for HELP MY number is 1-845-849-2551 my email is American2007007@aol.com I do this for no personal gain only for the kids and elderly and save my life savings this is a nominal project for you Mr. Branson! I know you will help step up and help us! I hope this reaches you!
Tom
LOL those kids and "unfortunate" welfare kind of people will tear that place down to a dump before you cut the ceremonial ribbon! But you got heart, something that is not often seen today in the world. I started a simple neighborhood clean up in an "less fortunate" area. Removed graffiti, planted trees and flowers, removed trash, etc. I was fighting a losing battle. I learned very quickly that you can't make people care. Some people just want to "stay down" so they can blame everyone else for their unfortunate situation. Can you tell that I am losing faith in humanity???? lol
Help me, help you.
I am an inventor / new products designer. I am working on an energy project that is 100% clean. No oil, no natural gas, no solar, no nuclear, no coal, no wind... five thousand to finish the prototype in thirty days. I have plans for Stage Two, to make home energy units (with a working prototype investors should be very interested) and a new transportation energy system... so, it could start here with you at the bottom. This industry will take over the country by next winter. Yes, I have thought of getting help from the educational system as a lab project, and it would be great for them after the prototype is done and a production line has started. They could show all the different uses in there projects and so on. I need an investor to take a chance in me and my project. As a hand shake deal, I will finish this for us all, some how.
Life and business is cyclical but in the time we are part of the system, we can, as individuals create a ripple effect that reaches farther than we can ever imagine. There is no truth to those who stand by because they do not feel they can make a difference. IT is true it may take a long time to see results. But if it is in you to be a force for good, do it. Make a difference by being a good person, by caring and letting go of synical baggage that does not allow you to be a light in the world of others.
In business, I work for a small company called WALCO Tool & Engineering and supply to large OEMs across the country. AS a Certified Practitioner of Appreciative Inquiry for Positive Change in Business and Society, I work hard to create a caring relationship in business that cares more about the people I work with than an order or the opportunity to make a part. Appreciative questions hope to kindle discover, dream, design, and destiny. " “[Appreciative Inquiry] deliberately seeks to discover people’s exceptionality – their unique gifts, strengths, and qualities. It actively searches and recognizes people for their specialties – their essential contributions and achievements. And it is based on principles of equality of voice – everyone is asked to speak about their vision of the true, the good, and the possible. Appreciative Inquiry builds momentum and success because it believes in people. It really is an invitation to a positive revolution. Its goal is to discover in all human beings the exceptional and the essential. Its goal is to create organizations that are in full voice!”
Cooperrider, D.L. et. al. (Eds) , Lessons from the Field: Applying Appreciative Inquiry, Thin Book Publishing, 2001, page 12.
MY role hopes to bring understanding, hope in business as a positive agent of change that does not take advantage of smaller businesses or individuals. I speak boldly to let people know that I want to create GREAT business that cares about bringing out the best in its work community within its walls and outside its walls. It takes alot of time to create the opportunity for this discussion and it takes time to break down walls that have been constructed out of fear and miscommunication. My goals are to be a different type of business person who speaks openly to build open honest trusting discussions. I believe this will bring about more innovation...smarter innovation where green is not just a word used to cover dirty innovation. We must think about new strategies together that use less to produce more. We must think about the bonding that happens during tragedy and create that opportunity without tradgedy. I have compiled an outline for sustainable communities and hope to install those ideas in a small town in North Carolina in the near future. It is my passion. It is my drive that energizes me to work as hard as I do to let others know how I feel. Some say I wear rose colored glasses, but I have researched and studied behaviors that are constructive and breed hope vs those that let us sit idle, complain and point fingers at others behaviors and actions. There is great hope we more than we ever thought we can be. Let us use business as a positive agent of change in the world to create opportunities and democracy and freedom across the globe with answers that are better for all of us. It just takes one person to create a difference. It has been proven through all of time. I look forward to the dialog that supports each of our dreams to include doing more than dream.
Karen Schultz
I agree with K. Your commet is too long. I got to about the 4th sentence. Get to the point or start your own blog.
Not sure I followed the above by Karen due to it's length. Might try shortening that a bit to gain attention to your concept. Some of these sound a bit schetchy to me. If you gave your money American2007 then I don't understand the problem. If the donated housing is paid for then why is it a burden for anyone else? Mr. Energy idea......get a goverment grant while you can if your idea is good. Using the education dept's will only give away your prototype unless it is protected by copyright. Some of the smallest ideas are the best like getting a job with Virgin Airlines, etc. if you want direct contact with Mr. Branson. He has an excellent Web presence for that.
Sir Richard Branson has been an inspiration to our little green company,
The Little Pinecone Company
Solar Transportation Products For A Green Future
www.thelittlepineconecompany.com
He has brought awareness to the entrepreneurial spirit in our team in New England and in Florida. It is amazing what one person can do with a dream and accomplish it successfully. We plan to use 2011 as a launching pad for an amazing year ahead of us and we look forward to Boston Greenfest this summer!
We hope to really make a difference with our product line!
I am told by local realtors we are neighbors to Sir Richard Branson in West Texas since we have a ranch nearby but have yet to meet him. We would LOVE to hear from their team if they would like to try out any of our products or be our guests at Boston Greenfest.
Keep up the great work everyone making Earth a better place and GO GREEN!
I LOVE RICHARD BRANSON !! Donald Trump could stand to learn a few things from him... the first time I ever heard of Sir Richard, was when he did that Reality TV Show, and in the first episode, he disguised himself as the chaffeur; when he picked up the contestants at the airport, he was able to see them as themselves, and quickly eliminated that young cocky bitch who treated the "old man" like sh--, acting like a prima donna, ordering him around. THAT scene will be embedded in my heart, mind, and soul forever. I truly believe in treating people like how you want to be treated; no matter their 'walk of life'. If there were more people in the world like Sir Richard, this world would be a better place; I hope all of you who attended the Irvine event, Gets It.
I was raised, to be a, "Force for Good."
Be Kind, Caring, Non-Judgmental, Giving, Loving, Volunteer, Helpful, Generous, (me, sometimes to a fault), Champion Human Dignity, Non-Discriminatory, Share Your Knowledge & Educate the Unprogressive.
Peace ~
Doc G
It is so encouraging to see that there is a growing trend where more and more entrepreneurs are forging new paths for business to create social change and benefit. Some of them are famous like Richard Branson and some are just starting, like Elena Patrice who commented above, of Websites Give Back.
And all of these entrepreneurs are doing good not only through their philanthropy and socially responsible practices, but by creating inspiration for others to follow their example.
THIS ALL SOUNDS GREAT BUT HAVE YOU GUYS NOTICED THE HUMANITY, OR LACK OF HUMANITY IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY. I THINK THE "DO GOODERS" ARE OUT NUMBERED BY THE BITTER, HATEFUL AND SELFISH.
I AM A FORCE OF GOOD......FOR ANIMALS. MOST PEOPLE SUCK IN MY OPINION.
I'm with you on that Kim. I put all of my $ and effort into the animals. That is not to say that I don't care about people. I just like animals better.
A force of good, is within us all
No matter how much bread-
So give what you can, no debt incurred
For a shawl starts with a thread.