It’s often been said that you need to have money to make money, and that those of us who don’t have any money to our name have no chance of ever having money to our name.
It’s sad to think about, but it’s also not always a sentence to failure -- lot of major celebrities started with pretty humble means.
Take, for example, Richard Branson. The Virgin Group founder started his first venture as a teenager! In fact, he writes in a recent blog post, most people who come to him for business advice lament: "I need x amount of money to get started” -- and it’s simply not true, says Branson.
"There's no doubt it can be easier to achieve lofty ambitions if you already have financial backing," he writes, "but in many cases, you don't need lots of money to start a business."
Branson is dyslexic and dropped out of school as a teenager. But that didn’t stop teenage-Branson from starting Student Magazine, his first business. His publication, launched in 1966, was an alternative to other interschool magazines and covered topics school magazines generally wouldn’t cover, like music and the Vietnam war.
He got started with a simple business plan, and in fact he kept track of advertisers and costs in his school notebook, and ran his magazine out of his parents’ basement. "I was just 16 years old when I founded the magazine, and had no money to put toward it," writes Branson.
Funding came from a surprising place. Branson's mother found a necklace on the ground near their home and gave it to the police. No one claimed the necklace, so police returned it and they sold the necklace for £100 and that became the launch money for Branson’s business. (£100, which equates to about £1,500 in today's money or just about $1,900 USD).
Branson used the money to pay for magazine's electricity and postage bills. "Without it, the business would have collapsed," Branson writes.
That magazine was the start of Branson’s massive empire. He went on to create a mail-order record business, and that became Virgin Records. That brand now includes airlines, a music label and space travel.
Branson says that nowadays, success is even more reachable because unlike teenage him, we live in the digital age. He says technology has "dramatically" has decreased the costs involved in selling products or services and you don't even need an office, you can work from your home computer. "Rather than commit to pricey premises you can set up online with no technical expertise using a website builder, and start selling from your kitchen table," says Branson.
Funding is easier, too. "Raising finance to start a business from a bank has gained a reputation for being difficult, but today you can bypass this altogether with schemes that are dedicated to helping entrepreneurs launch, such as crowdfunding or Start Up Loans."
"We didn't need lots of money to start our first business and that's even truer today than it was back then."
Branson is tremendously wealthy right now, but he started out with nothing. That means we can, too. Never give up on your dream because of your current circumstances.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.