3 Lessons Richard Branson Taught Us About Success

Space- the final frontier. 

My question is, why? 

On July 11, 2021, history was made in my home state of New Mexico. Well, history began being made in my home state of New Mexico. It was actually made over 52 miles in the sky. 

Almost two decades ago, Richard Branson set out to build a facility, a team, and a new age rocket ship that would change the way we view space, travel, and the final frontier’s of the Universe. Mr. Branson built his rocket- the Virgin Galactic- and set out to truly change what humanity thought to be impossible. 

During flight, Mr. Branson shared his childhood dream of going to space. He spent time inspiring young people to dream big, reach for the stars, and never give up. But this inspiration didn’t just fall on the ears of the innocent. These words of hope and aspiration landed on every person who was listening and who will playback the scene that took place on that sunny, summer July morning. 

Inspiration seems to hit hard within my spirit. It always has. Even as a child I would see moments of humanity, of catastrophe, of great accomplishment and be inspired to change the world. Not unlike most people, the moments we witness dreams coming true can often become the catalyst for taking action. Yet I wonder- is there a connection between space and dreams and hopes and stars and success and hard work and making the impossible become, well, ordinary? 

Witnessing the history of Virgin Galactic and hearing the words spoken by the crew members and Mr. Branson, I began traveling the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind. 

‘Space is really only 52 miles in the air?’

‘How many miles high does a commercial airplane fly?’

‘Wait a second- if space is only 52 miles in the air then why hasn’t anyone done this before?’ 

‘I mean, I know rocket ships go to space and satellites float around but it’s only 52 miles!’

‘So if I can reach for the stars, then success isn’t really that far away……..hmmmmm…..’

I began googling. The edge of space really is only 52 miles away- UP. 

Commercial airplanes, the ones we fly on constantly- the ones our small children see passing by, point, and go ‘Dad! Look at that massive bird!!’ Those planes- they only travel at 5-7 miles high. That’s it. 

Satellites- they are floating around the galaxy at about 60-70 miles in the sky. 

So then I began wondering, what is Mr. Branson really saying when he talks about his dream and children chasing their dreams? What story was he telling us with the look of sheer jubilation after their landing? 

Those are the questions I want to answer because it is in those answers that lie the permission you need to fly into the final frontier. 

While it takes much more than a simple desire to want to fly into space- you know, billions of dollars and really expert scientists, and a few astronauts- I believe there is so much we can learn from the history that took place on July 11, 2021. In fact, there are 3 specific lessons we can learn from this event that teach us so much about building success. There is an ancient text that says ‘where there is no hope, people die.’ Do people really die if they have no hope? Not physically. But emotionally, spiritually, and mentally? Absolutely. This is no more evidence of this than when you are building something. 

When you lose sight of the dream, of the vision, of your hope- your opportunity for success is now gone. 

So let’s fly into the final frontier and learn a few things about the possibility of success. 

1- Success is only 52 miles away

I drive 52 miles multiple times a week. Many people commute 52 miles one way to work or school or for entertainment! I have friends that run or bike 52 miles in one session! In regard to our everyday lives, 52 miles is nothing! 

Yet regarding success, it can often feel like 52 miles is a galaxy away. 

The thing about chasing final frontiers is it’s really difficult the first time it’s done. Mr. Branson and his Virgin Galactic crew have been planning for this moment for almost two decades! This feat was either going to work, or be tragic. There really is no in between when entering the realm of the unknown. No one had ever embarked on the exact mission they wanted to accomplish. Fly up 52 miles, hang out for a few minutes, come back down to earth and land on the same runway they took off. 

Yet, it’s only 52 miles. 

Too many give up too soon. They see the time and energy and effort and investment success takes to build and give up. Yet every day of their lives they are traveling the same distance to somewhere else that it would take to travel to fulfilling their dream! 

Yes- success takes hard work. 

Yes- building your dream life takes incredible effort.

Yes- you are going to mess it up.

Yes- it will take more energy than you have ever given.

But once you arrive, all of that frustration and sweat and hard work and those moments of pushing through weightlessly float around like they were never a burden at all. You see life through a different lens when you stand on top of the mountain or float through space. All of those moments of wanting to give up now become moments of gratitude. 

And that moment of speechless wonder is only 52 miles away. So keep pushing. Keep going. Don’t give up. 

2- Timing means more than you realize

For many, watching a billionaire play with their newest toy rocket ship is like that kid on the playground who makes sure everyone sees their new pair of shoes the minute they get to school. It seems like every single Friday little Jonny is flaunting his new shoes. Last week they were the light up when you step kind. This week they are shiny white. Next week they will have the latest logo of the best basketball player. All the other kids just want to take little Jonny’s shoes and hang them on the electric wire that runs through the school parking lot. The perfect spot where he can see them but high enough he can’t reach them. 

But let’s flip the coin for a minute. Think about the gumption it took for a billionaire like Mr. Branson to say ‘I want to fly to space. Then I want to make space accessible.’ What?! 

Two decades ago, Mr. Branson took on the risks necessary to achieve what many thought impossible. At the risk of reputation, losing tons of cash, and even asking people to risks their lives on this mission to change the world. But isn’t that what it takes to accomplish the impossible?

Most of us will never have to ask people to risk their lives, but we will risk quite a bit. For many, the greatest risk of all is time. What we fail to realize is time, and timing, are everything. 

We must be willing to put in the time so that timing has an opportunity to be fulfilled. Mr. Branson knew this project would take a lot of time. Years. Decades. What outweighed the hurry of time was the will to get this right. This needed to be right for all of the reasons that it couldn’t be wrong. 

Money

Hope

People

Possibility

Potential 

Mr. Branson knew there were other folks playing in the same sandbox. As we speak, multiple plans for similar flight explorations are taking place. But Mr. Branson is a maverick of sorts. The type of person that goes where no one else has the foresight to venture. He needed this timing to work perfectly because it’s who he is as a creator, a dreamer, a person who builds success. 

When building success you must know it will take time. You must know that true success is hard to come by when the team around you is all wrong. You must know that sustainable dream making doesn’t happen when you aren’t truly prepared for those dreams to come true! 

Timing is the most valuable asset you have. The more you prepare, the deeper you develop your vision and the better you align those around you- the more timing will work itself out to arrive the exact moment it is meant. 

3- Keep your eyes up

We have all been there- sitting in a restaurant and as we take a peek at what is taking place we notice something rather odd, or what used to be odd- everyone is looking down. Usually at their phones. Few people are talking to one another. Everyone is distracted by something other than what is taking place around them. 

I have witnessed people so distracted by their phones in this scenario they don’t hear the waiter talking to them! 

We spend far too much of our time with our eyes down and that gets us nowhere. We miss opportunities. We don’t hear or see or pay attention to what’s taking place in this moment. But if you want to build success, you must learn to keep your eyes up. 

The world is full of opportunity. And much of the opportunity you need to count on when building success is opportunity you never planned on knocking at your door. When you have your eyes down, focused on the challenges and barriers and how life isn’t going your way, you miss all of the possibilities that are floating around waiting on someone to take hold of. 

Every opportunity you need to build success and make your dreams come true already exists. It’s simply waiting for you to arrive. But you have to arrive. You have to hear the knock on the door. You have to open the door. And you have to invite opportunity in, have a chat, and fully receive what is needed to build the life of your dreams. 

Space existed before July 11, 2021. Rocket ships existed before July 11, 2021. Richard Branson has lived a long life and made tons of money and has created a world of resources for himself before July 11, 2021. 

But he didn’t take flight until then. 

And he was the first to take flight in the exact fashion that took place.

Your greatest opportunity may be right around the corner or it may take decades to prepare for. The timing of your success isn’t your business. Your business is to be about preparing yourself, gathering the resources and knowledge and people needed to take flight. 

But flight, into the final frontier, can’t take place until you keep your eyes up. 

And you’re only 52 miles away.