Confidence is the first step to having a life you need
Act with confidence even when there's a big gap between what you can offer and what's being asked.
To be honest with you, I had never heard of the ‘Virgin Islands’....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.
Richard Branson bought Necker Island for a mere $180,000, despite its $6 million asking price. You would think it's all due to his negotiation skills, and I agree he must be quite the negotiator to reach such heights in business. But what struck me most was his confidence in making that first call.
Imagine seeing a $6 million price tag when you can only afford $100,000. Instead of walking away, he picked up the phone, arranged a visit to the island, and boldly offered his limited budget.
I wish I had that kind of confidence.
For example, I run a podcast and sometimes spot the perfect guest. Yet, I lack the courage to reach out to them on Twitter, LinkedIn, or email. But Branson's story teaches me the value of taking that first step.
Coming back to Branson's story, a year later, the island's owner hadn't received any better offers and called Branson again. This time he could offer more - $180,000 - and sealed the deal. The lesson here is clear: have the confidence to act even when there's a gaping chasm between what you can give and what's asked for.
I want to embrace this boldness in my own life. Maybe I won't always succeed in negotiating, but at least I'll have given it my best shot.