A Lucky Bastard

Not many people will call themselves a bastard, it is a mean word any way. But Sir Richard Branson just did it, when he told reporters his feeling after the surprise victory of Brawn GP in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Apparently, Branson’s Virgin Group signed a sponsorship with Ross Brawn just hours before he flew over to Melbourne to be with the Brawn GP team in the paddock to witness their debut race.

But I feel it is not solely luck that contributed to Branson’s maiden success in Formula 1 which is predominated by big budget teams such as Ferrari and McLaren Mercedes. Victory is so difficult to come by even with the huge investments over many years for teams such as Toyota, Honda and BMW or for that matter, our PETRONAS. That could be the reason why Honda is pulling out from Formula 1 as their investment never close enough to bring in its equivalent success as anticipated. But for Branson, it is a shrewd business deal made at a right time with the right people. Perhaps Branson has the gifted talent to be able to anticipate success in his business ventures.

As he wrote in his autobiography, “My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them...from the perspective of wanting to live life to the full, I felt that I had to attempt it”. Well said, Branson, it could be his passion that drives him towards unparalleled success time and again.