Thought Leadership/Opinion

A team is not a group of people who work together. A team is a group of people who trust each other.

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The responsibility of a company is to serve the customer. The responsibility of leadership is to serve their people so that their people may better serve the customer. If leaders fail to serve their people first, both customer and company will suffer.

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When we feel stress our bodies release cortisol. Cortisol impairs rational thinking & decision making. In a toxic culture we are biologically more likely to make a bad decision or do something that is ethically questionable. Healthy corporate cultures matter.

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In weak companies the dreamers are expected to serve the planners. In great companies the planners feel inspired to serve the dreamers.

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Giving direction is not the same thing as giving directions. Directions are instructions how. Direction is the reason why.

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Value is not determined by those who set the price. Value is determined by those who choose to pay it.

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A true leader can say “I don’t know” or “I don’t understand” or “I need help.” When I sat down with Inc. Magazine , I told them one of the best lessons I’ve ever learned—that I don’t have to pretend to know everything. You can watch our full interview here: https://bit.ly/2DRDPre. …see more

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The next time someone starts listing all the reasons an idea won't work or can't happen, ask them to give three reasons it can.

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Average companies give their people something to work on. The most innovative organizations give their people something to work toward.

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Our best competitors reveal our weaknesses. The goal is not to "beat" our competition but rather to improve ourselves.

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The true value of networking doesn't come from how many people we can meet, but rather how many people we can introduce to others.

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Great CEOs look up and out. Great COOs look down and in. It's the partnership of their perspectives that make great companies.

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Call me a skeptic, but I think this proves once and for all that inside of every #socialist there is a #capitalist screaming to get out! #highMargins #GreatProfits Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Congress

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To affect change inside an organization we must remember why people resist change. People don't fear change, people like comfort. The status quo is more comfortable than the unknown.

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Vision is the ability to talk about the future with such clarity it's as if we're talking about the past.

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“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu. We stand in solidarity against racism and for racial justice. Virgin Unite are proud to support The Bail Project who are doing incredible work providing bail assistance for people in communities across the US, including those protesting right now. Black Lives Matter. https://virg.in/p3Y …see more

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Intelligence uses what is known to solve problems. Creativity uses what is unknown to discover possibilities.

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30 years ago, if you pissed off a customer, they'd call "1-800-CUSTOMERSERVICE," tear your secretary a new one, and forget about it...but times have changed. These days, customers don't want to complain. They want vindication. They want to destroy your business! Almost everybody in North America has a phone in their pocket, and they're DYING to use it to decimate your brand. Instagram, Facebook, Yelp. There are more avenues than ever before for angry customers to set your livelihood ablaze, and you need to know how to tame the fire! …see more

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If we are unwilling to take the risk to trust others, then others will be unwilling to take the risk to trust us.

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A weak leader likes to tell us how many people work for them. A great leader is humbled to tell us how many people they work for. #leadership #service #servantleadership #leaderseatlast

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Listening, learning and taking action: it should not have taken George Floyd’s death for white people to wake up to the reality of racism around us. It has been centuries in the making. I have always believed that businesses and leaders must be advocates for the common good and this is truer now than ever. Virgin Management has signed Business in the Community’s Race at Work Charter and committed to 5 important and long-term actions. Here are more of my thoughts on Black Lives Matter and the steps needed to create real change https://virg.in/psX #BlackLivesMatter …see more

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The Caribbean has a chance to lead the world in becoming the first region to protect 30% of its ocean and inspire others to take up the challenge

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Nelson Mandela taught the world about the power of forgiveness and the importance of treating everyone equally. His strength was in his compassion, moral courage and a wonderful ability to bring light into any situation. Here are my thoughts on Madiba as we look forward to #MandelaDay tomorrow https://virg.in/NJq …see more

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"Work hard, play hard" sounds terribly unhealthy. I think we would all be a lot healthier, happier, and find greater balance in our lives if we learn to work smart and play always.

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Those who choose to adopt an infinite mindset are better equipped to manage the unknown. In fact, they are able to find opportunity in uncertainty. That’s one of the things discussed on this week’s episode of #ABitofOptimism with Jenna Arnold. Listen at apple.co/simonsinek …see more

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Are you honest? Have you ever told a lie? You see the problem. We all think we are honest, yet we have all done things that are dishonest. We can rationalize our actions, “it’s just a little white lie,” or “yeah, but it didn’t matter.” Dr. Lenny Wong has spent years studying “ethical fading,” when organizations and individuals make unethical decisions believing they haven’t done anything wrong. What’s astounding is how pervasive it is. In this week’s episode of A Bit of Optimism, we talked about what ethical fading is and what we can do about it. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at apple.co/simonsinek. …see more

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Mandela’s lessons apply in all spheres of life. He redefined what it means to be a great leader and taught us all how powerful forgiveness can be https://virg.in/EVJ

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Embracing violence, the big lie of a “stolen election”, recklessly spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories: these actions reject everything that truly makes societies and nations great, like tolerance, diversity, compassion and solidarity. But I refuse to believe that these challenges cannot be overcome. America’s best days can be ahead, projecting a resilient and unwavering democracy whose enduring principles, strong institutions and moral authority can once again be an inspiration for those struggling for human rights, equality, and the rule of law elsewhere in the world. Here are my thoughts on America: https://virg.in/jhx …see more

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Hey kids, we're one week in to 2019 and I've got one more resolution that you can still add. I'm sure you can guess what it is. PAY. DOWN. YOUR. DEBT. That is without a doubt the most important thing you can do for your future Of course you want health and happiness, and everybody wants everybody to have that, but in terms of taking care of your family and you, paying down your debt is No. 1. If you want to find financial freedom, you need to retire all debt — and yes that includes your mortgage. Craft a plan to speed up principal payments on your debt, whether that be on your mortgage, a student loan debt or credit card debt. If you have mountains of different kinds of debt, tackle your credit card debt first, because that’s typically the debt with the highest interest rates. Look at your credit card and you say to it, ‘I’m paying off your balance buddy, and I’m going to do that before July.' …see more

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When you run your business like a family, it’s important to support the different paths your people follow so they can reach their full potential https://virg.in/iDb

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If you want to be successful, you have to be willing to say I don’t know, I don’t understand or I need help. And you have to be willing to accept the help when it’s offered. Thanks Inc. Magazine for interviewing me for this series. Watch the full conversation here. …see more

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Great leaders don't see people as a commodity to be managed to grow profits. Great leaders see profits as the commodity to be managed to grow the people. #peoplefirst #leadership #trulyhumanleadership

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What does it take to fulfill our potential? Other people, of course. I share my thoughts on how we can all work toward fulfilling our true potential in 2018 as guest editor for Virgin . The only true way for any of us to grow, to truly fulfill our full potential, is by working to help others do the same. http://bit.ly/2CSh6ZC #togetherisbetter …see more

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#Entrepreneurs see the world differently from the rest of us. There's a sharp focus on what they want to create or build, rather than getting hung up on what's standing in their way.

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In an infinite game, goals are important but HOW you get there matters more than WHEN you get there. #TheInfiniteGame #ImpactTheory #TomBilyeu

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The irony of leading with an infinite mindset is it’s actually good for business. #PutPeopleFirst #TheInfiniteGame #ImpactTheory #tombilyeu

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I’ve long argued that anyone who has struggled in life deserves a second chance to live up to their true potential. The idea that no one should be judged by their worst moment lies at the heart of my passion for criminal justice reform and many other issues. https://virg.in/5QP #FairChecks …see more

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Entrepreneurs are natural optimists, who believe bringing people together to tackle seemingly intractable challenges can change the world https://virg.in/iEB

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I know there's a whole movement against college, but I think the answer to "is college a waste of time?" is more nuanced than that.

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Entrepreneurs are the dreamers, doers and risk takers that have the opportunity to transform society for the better. I didn’t even know I was an entrepreneur when I started Virgin – the word wasn’t really used back then. When I first learned the word, I had to ask how to pronounce it - French was never my strong point! This #GlobalEntrepreneurshipWeek I wanted to share a message of encouragement - everyone has the potential to become an entrepreneur. Head over to Global Entrepreneurship Network & check out some of the great resources they have for anyone who wants to start or scale a business …see more

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The rhino has hardly evolved in 50 million years - it’s a living, breathing time machine. I’ve shared my thoughts on what gives me hope in the fight to preserve the rhino from extinction: https://virg.in/Enj

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I think the current $1.9 trillion aid package is misguided. Why are we sending out checks to people that are already employed? In addition we don't need more PPP, there is ample liquidity in the market to provide capital for the businesses that deserve to be funded. With the benefit of hindsight, I think 50% of the March PPP programs were a complete waste of taxpayers money. There are only two mandates we the taxpayers should fund at this point. 1) More unemployment support to those that have been displayed by the pandemic. We need to give them more time to find jobs in the new America 2.0 digitized economy. 2) More Capital to accelerate the distribution of the vaccine. Everyone knowns someone who wants the vaccine but can't get it. Why spend more money bailing out another airline that should be allowed to go bankrupt and reduce its capacity when there are millions that can't get inoculated. So far the logistics of the vaccine roll out have been painfully mismanaged. if its money that is required to fix this problem then there is no better investment. If Israel can vaccinate its entire population by March 31st why can't we? https://lnkd.in/gAxzJ3n via @Yahoo …see more

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If a movement is to have an impact, it must belong to those who join it, not those who lead it. I join fellow TED speakers in exploring what makes a movement a movement in this new episode of TED Radio Hour. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gh_9AiV. …see more

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Infinite-minded players see beyond the bottom line. Where a finite-minded player makes products they think they can sell to people, the infinite-minded player makes products that people want to buy. The former is primarily focused on how the sale of those products benefits the company; the latter is primarily focused on how the products benefit those who buy them.

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Standing up to racism and racial injustice also means embracing the idea of human dignity. Dignity is “each human being’s inherent value and worth – the idea that there’s something about each and every one of us that is inviolable and must be protected from harm”. Black Lives Matter is a perfect expression of that. …see more

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Further proof that great ideas can come from anywhere. Great to see how Anand Mahindra & the Mahindra Group are so receptive to feedback & fast to execute. Listening is the secret weapon of great #leaders . We should all learn how to listen to both internal & external inputs. …see more

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It's hard to tell the truth. Peoples feelings get hurt. My mother taught me something when I was young that I try and live by today. Always tell the truth and you will never have to remember what you said. In business getting caught in a lie can do irreparable damage. It will destroy your credibility and your career. #truthtelling …see more

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I’m amazed companies don’t use plugins to calendars that tell you the cost of running a meeting, and the cost of adding each extra person. It’s always utterly baffling you can create a $3000 per hour meeting unnecessarily and nobody cares, but try to expense a mars bar from a hotel mini bar and finance are all over you. In the age of zoom we seem to value our time even less and the wastage seems less apparent. We have to start valuing our time, sanity and clarity more. Nobody else will on your behalf For more stuff like this. You can buy my book with one click and free (slow) delivery in over 150 countries from here. https://lnkd.in/d-tbg8K …see more

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To me, the best education is the one that helps us find and grow our talents in a way that fills us with joy. That’s what school should be all about. Life can cover much of the rest https://virg.in/iDU

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I want my employees to be as opinionated as I am- whether I agree with them or not! If your employees feel uncomfortable about sharing their views because you disagree you're a dictator not an employer!

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The Cold Hard Truth About Entrepreneurship This may be hard to listen to but if you are planning to start a business and be an entrepreneur you need to hear it. Sorry it's just the way it is. Now take a deep breath and go get it done! #entrepreneurship …see more

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My thoughts on human dignity - the idea that there is inherent worth to every one of us that is inviolable and must be protected from harm https://virg.in/apu #GlobalDignityDay

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There are 100 million American without any investment accounts. They have nothing set aside for retirement. This is crazy. We have failed them as a society. We taught them everything else in high school and college except financial literacy. Now #politicians , the press and the #wallstreet establishment are criticizing Reddit, Inc. #wallstreetbets and Robinhood for providing an entry for millions of people who also want the opportunity to invest but are ignored by most financial services companies because they don't have enough money to open a "profitable" account. What BS! https://lnkd.in/gTbCKie via @Yahoo …see more

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I don’t think many Baby Boomers realize how nuts the idea of saving for a pension is to Millennials. Here.... let me pay off my student loans AND save for a house I can’t ever imagine affording AND put money aside for when I’m 65.....with a company I’ll perhaps work for 2 years for...in one of the 10 careers I may have, while the world probably suffocates due to global warming or war.  It’s far more conceivable to want to do a job you like enough to not be desperately keen to leave it when you’re a very healthy 65 year old with 40 years life ahead. And to not have massive outgoing on stuff you didn’t need. …see more

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I have learned more from Matthew Barzun than most other people I've met. Matthew understands that our potential is truly unlocked when we work together. His ideas on teaming and how networks operate allow for entire groups of people to unleash their potential. …see more

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So many organizations and individuals are obsessed with winning. But how do you win a game that never really ends? I'm so proud of Brian Chesky and all that Airbnb is doing to play the Infinite Game and build an infinite company. …see more

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In my darkest moments, I fear that 2019 looks more like 1929 — before the stock market crash. But we have time to do all we can to reverse the big trends fueling this fear. Here are my suggestions for change. What are yours? #geopolitics #China #AI #automation #populism #technology #globalization …see more

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In the next few decades I believe that clean and plant-based meat will become the norm and animals will no longer need to be killed en masse for food https://virg.in/ieL

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An idea can be great, but it will never make money without the right entrepreneur behind it. On the flip side, an entrepreneur can be the most brilliant and capable person in the world but if they waste their time chasing bad opportunities or ideas, they’ll die broke. Every successful person has spent time on failures. The key is to know when to accept the fact that it IS a failure, and move on to the next thing. Learn from your mistakes, and get to work on something better. …see more

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I have always been a great fan of Sridhar Vembu. One can truly learn great lessons in #atmanirbhar #entrepreneurship from him. He is a great example of building without VC backing. His hunger for novel ideas made Chennai a SaaS hub. Equally commendable is his recent work in getting children back to school in rural areas. His is a story that truly inspires. He's shown how to create a good company, stay grounded and follow one's convictions. #Startups #India Zoho Corporation Pic Credit: The Indian Express …see more

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