05/17/2026
Oooo, damn, this is good!
Five of the most surprising lessons I’ve learnt in life…
After sharing five of the most important lessons I’ve learnt in my career, Amitt Jaiswall left a comment asking what lessons I’ve learnt that have been the most surprising. It really got me thinking.
As someone who learns on the go, says yes to almost everything, and never plans too far ahead, I’ve had my fair share of unexpected wisdom. These lessons would be my top five:
1. You don’t need a perfect idea - you need a real problem. Most of our biggest ventures didn’t start out with a polished plan. We were just reacting to different hurdles and problems. Virgin Records may have never grown into the brand it was if a postal strike hadn’t forced us to pivot away from our mail-order retail model.
2. Kindness can be a strategy, not just a virtue. Kindness was ingrained in me from my parents. Little did I know how far it would get me in business. People open up when they feel safe. Kindness builds trust fast. Relationships are always more important than transactions. None of this is possible without a foundation of kindness. So long as it’s authentic, it can also be strategic.
3. The scariest moments bring the most clarity. Whether it was writing a letter to my children before a dangerous hot air ballooning expedition, or whenever I’ve faced a near-death experience - these moments make you acutely aware of what matters in life.
4. Most people are just as uncertain as you are. I realised this when I was a teenager pretending to be a credible publisher and all throughout the Virgin Records days. Whether it was a powerful executive or a global rockstar, I began to realise that everyone has fears and no-one has it all figured out. The power comes from being scared but showing up anyway.
5. Being calm is more important than being right. Whether it’s a crisis, a high stakes meeting, or any situation, really - panicking and overthinking is your biggest enemy. Accept you don’t have all the answers, listen to wise people around you, stay calm, and move forward with clarity. In a stressful situation, composure is more important than volume.
