Networked Richard Branson

      Networking in business is developing and using contacts made in business for the purposes beyond the original reason (Clifford, Shandrow & Enthis, 2015) while according to Business Dictionary (2015), networking is creating a group of acquaintances and companions and keeping it operative through daily communication for mutual benefit. Nowadays, many business use networking as a key factor in their marketing plan. It helps to develop a strong feeling of trust between those involved. For example, the relationship between suppliers and businesses. In business world, there’s a quote says that ‘it’s not what you know it’s who you know’.

      The example of entrepreneur that use networking in business is Richard Branson. Based on the Richard Branson Biography (2015), Richard Branson was born on 18 July 1950, in Surrey, England. His father’s name is Edward Branson. His father worked as a barrister. His mother’s name is Eve Branson, his mother worked as a flight attendant. Richard struggled with educational institutions because of dyslexia. At the age of 13, he attended to Scaitcliffe School. After that, he transferred to Stowe School, a boarding school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire, England.

Richard Branson

     Based on the Richard Branson Biography (2015), Branson was dropped out at the age of 16. After that, he starts a youth-culture magazine called Student. The publication which is organized by students is specifically for students too. It was launched in 1966. The first 50,000 copies were given for free, after Branson covered the costs with advertising. By 1969, Branson moved to London. He lived in area where it was surrounded by the British music and drug scene. It was during this time that Branson had the idea to begin a mail-order record company called Virgin Record. At that time, it was only to help fund his magazine efforts. The company performed well enough to expand his business venture, adding a record shop in Oxford Street, London. He even managed to build a recording studio in 1972. 

     Based on the Entrepreneur (2012),  Richard Branson shows his networking skills when he started networking on behalf of Virgin Music. He needs to meets with many agents, persuading musicians to sign with his company and finding distributors. At that time, he swapping phone numbers only uses napkins. 

      In the beginning, he attended many industry events and meet key players in the industry. He always joined regional business association. Thus, he can learn many things about market condition. He also met many potential mentors through the school events, clubs and business groups. This is because he realized that when he get stuck or when something goes wrong, these contacts will be the people that he can call for help. 

      According Entrepreneur (2012), he is also aware that to start up a new company is tough and challenging. So, he starts to build his network and searching for smart, supportive partners and employees who understand and share his goals for the business.  When he started Student magazine as a teenager, he only worked with a small group of other students. Their tireless support was invaluable as they got the magazine going. Some of his workers continued to work together for decades, and they have become among of his closest friends. Furthermore, he also built a network of peers, he did not wary of making friends with his competition. Because when he saw other people achieving similar goals, he feels confident with his own plans and dreams.

             

       As a conclusion,  we learn that networking is very important in this digital age. Thus, a successful entrepreneur should aczquire on applying the technology items in order to catch up with the latest trends.