When people describe Necker Island, BVI, they usually associate it with its British billionaire private owner, Richard Branson. Follow up descriptions may include “the island with the monkeys on it” and/or the fact that former president Barack Obama once stayed there. A little over 40 years ago however, Necker was just an island up for sale and Branson was a young entrepreneur bazzidy for a girl.
“I had no idea where they were located or that they were actually called the British Virgin Islands,” the billionaire entrepreneur writes in a blog post about purchasing Necker Island. “But one Thursday in 1978, I was told that they existed and that I could potentially own one.”
The Finesse
“I had been madly trying to come up with a way to impress a girl I had fallen for, so I rang up the realtor, and expressed my interest. We were still in the early days of Virgin Records, and I by no means had the cash to buy an island. Luckily, the realtor didn’t know this and offered me an all expenses paid trip to see the Islands that weekend. I agreed to go on one condition – if I could bring a guest.”
Give Your Best and Leave The Rest (Or Get Left)
“To my delight, the object of my affection agreed to join me on the trip. I fell in love twice that weekend – once as our helicopter (supplied by the realtor of course!) swooped over the turquoise water and white sandy beaches of Necker Island, and again when I saw the smile on the face of the beautiful girl who sat beside me on the journey. Together we strolled around the Island and dreamed up plans for turning it into a haven for musicians.
Those dreams were quickly spoiled when the realtor quoted the ‘discounted’ asking price of $6 million. Smitten with the unspoilt paradise, and keen to impress my new love, I offered the highest amount I could afford: $100,000. As you can imagine, the realtor was less than impressed, and left us high and dry to find our own way back home.”
Trust The Process
“A year later, a charming man named Derek Dunlop arrived at my houseboat in London and explained that nobody else had made an offer on Necker, and that the owner of the Island was desperate to sell. Virgin Records was in a much better position than it had been a year before, so I quickly agreed to a purchase price of $180,000 – the only condition was that I would need to build a resort on the Island within four years.”
Boom!
“As for the girl… I married her there 11 years later in front of all our family and friends, and our two lovely children, Holly and Sam.”
Ladies and gentlemen, Bois and gyuls, Richard Branson bought a whole island for the price of a house and now you gotta pay over $5,000 a night to stay there. 😂
If that doesn’t inspire you, I don’t know what will. Although the 1970’s was a long time ago and a sequence of events quite like that may not be as possible today, there are a few evergreen lessons here we can all learn from all now.
1. Don’t count yourself out
Richard could’ve easily told himself that there was no way he’d get the island with the asking price being way out of his budget. I mean, who would’ve thought he’d get a 90% + discount on a private island! Shoot. Your. Shot.
2. Speaking of shooting your shot, pursue someone that makes you want to elevate
Richard knew this girl was special and no number 3 combo would’ve done the trick. His desire to win her over drove him to visit the island.
3. Take your blessings and multiply them
Branson fell in love with Necker and his sweet thing, Joan the day he visited the island and now they’re married and multiplied, and the once bare island now houses an extremely beautiful resort that attracts high profile celebrities and entrepreneurs.
Whether your “Necker Island” is a new job, career path or creative dream you can’t stop thinking about, don’t let doubt get in the way. Even when it seems near impossible, fake it till you make it!
Source: Virgin.com
