The Dilemma of Saying Yes:
Reflections on Richard Branson's Famous Quote

Welcome back to detective day 1256 of my entrepreneurial journey with Runpreneur. Today, I want to delve into a topic that's been on my mind: Sir Richard Branson and his famous motto, "When an opportunity presents itself, just say yes and learn the rest later." Now, before we go further, let me clarify— no, I don't literally hate Richard Branson; quite the opposite, actually. However, I have some mixed feelings about his advice, especially through the lens of a small business owner.

Sir Richard Branson, as we all know, is a billionaire with a multitude of successful businesses under his belt. When he says "just say yes," he has the luxury of an extensive team and abundant resources to bring new opportunities to fruition. The infrastructure at his disposal allows him to dive into new ventures with a safety net that many of us just don't have.

Compare that to a micro-entrepreneur like John Smith, a freelance painter and decorator. Unlike Branson, John has no staff and manages everything on his own. Let's say John stumbles upon a significant contract that promises great returns but with less favorable payment terms—delays, red tape, the usual hassles. If John adopts Branson's philosophy and says yes without proper consideration, he risks canceling smaller, more reliable jobs to focus on this big opportunity. The cash flow issues start to creep in as payments are delayed, and snagging becomes a challenging process. All of a sudden, John's business is on the brink of collapse due to just one poorly timed decision.

This brings me to a real-life application of Branson's advice that my team and I are currently grappling with. We recently launched a new café, and it's doing quite well for its first week. Out of nowhere, another premises has become available. My gut instinct, especially with Branson's voice echoing in the back of my mind, tells me to seize this new opportunity—to say yes and figure out the details later.

But here's the catch: Is it wise to consider expanding so rapidly, just one week into our new venture? Do we even have the necessary infrastructure to support this kind of growth? These are questions I must seriously ponder.

We're planning to explore this new property, see its potential, and weigh our options. It's a risky move, one that I'm cautiously optimistic about. Sometimes you get thrown into the deep end, and while that's exhilarating, it can be terrifying too. The essence here is to balance the excitement of new opportunities with the practicality of our current capabilities.

In summary, "say yes and learn the rest later" is advice that might work wonderfully for someone like Richard Branson with a vast support system. But for smaller businesses, it necessitates a higher degree of caution. Every decision has significant stakes, and there isn't always a safety net to fall back on.

Always bear in mind: the excitement of a new opportunity should never overshadow the importance of thoughtful consideration and realistic assessment. Thanks for tuning in, and I'll keep you updated on how my exploration of this new café premises goes. Fingers crossed, it turns out to be a venture worth pursuing!

Stay tuned, and as always, remember to like, share, and leave your comments below. Your

support and insights are greatly appreciated!

Kevin Brittain