There’s a story behind my bike ride with Richard Branson that I think says a lot about who he is.
He usually invites Necker Island guests who are up for the challenge to join him on a hilly ride on a nearby island.
I was excited to go, but I messed up. Misread the time, and showed up an hour late.
I was crushed, and disappointed in myself. I tried to play it cool, but word got to him.
The next day, Richard said, “I heard you really wanted to join, so I’ve arranged another one.” He didn’t make me feel bad. No guilt trip.
And, this isn’t a casual spin around the island. It meant organizing a boat both ways, getting the island medic to trail us in a van, and calling in the bike guide (who had the day off!)
I barely slept the night before. Adrenaline, nerves, pressure. The ride turned out to be one of the hardest rides I’ve ever done, with nearly a kilometre of elevation.
While riding, Richard and I kept comparing heart rates. His was lower than mine, even in his 70s. He said it’s just because he does the ride often. No showmanship.
My legs were on fire. The van, aka “relief-from-shooting-pain”, was always nearby. I was told that over 90% of people quit, even after their second, third, or fourth tries. It was tempting.
I pushed through. And when thanking Richard for the motivation, he reminded me that I should only thank myself.
Afterward, he asked if I needed a lift to breakfast. We walked to his place to grab his buggy. Along the way, we said hi to his kangaroos and he showed me his private pond.
None of this was loud or performative.
It was quiet leadership. Showed character.
And now I won’t forget it 🙂
PS: I ended up bringing the staff that worked on their day off some Canadian chocolate. They seem to love their job, and weren’t bothered about the last minute call in.