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The Young and Old Man

Guest post by: Alfred Ade-Ijimakinwa

Article Overview: Be inspired. Be motivated. Recognise the power of mentorship.

The Young and Old Man

The Young and Old Man

I love biographies, most especially of those who started with nothing, and later became influential and successful. Like Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish boy who worked at the steel company and later bought it. Or like that of Napoleon Hill, a struggling journalist who met Andrew Carnegie, the Steel magnate. Carnegie mentored the poor journalist until he became very successful for writing a book titled "The Law of Success" which later gave birth to Think and Grow Rich,

Anyway, I realized one thing about successful people; the young men took the old men as mentors and they later became friends. Now, I want you to enjoy this classic story of another young and old man. Maybe through it, you will understand the power of mentorship and find one for yourself. Enjoy reading.

He was a teenager struggling to start a music business, but he ended up in jail. He would later decide to legally become successful at whatever he does. He took Sir Freddie Laker who was a royal air force in World War II, as a personal hero and distant mentor.

After the war and peace was restored, Sir Freddie bought the old bombers and started an airline. He launched a low-cost airline with the launch of Laker Sky-train in 1977. It was the first low- fare airline flying from London to New York and people were queuing overnight for ticket until he developed some archenemies-PAM, AM, TWA and BA.

After 5 years, the archenemies (PAM, AM, TWA and BA) forced Freddie Lakers out of business. But in 1984, the teenager-turned-music entrepreneur has been watching the life of his mentor. He showed up at Sir Freddie's door and bargained to take over Laker's and so began an airline business.

At this point the young man found Freddie Laker as a charming, modest and courageous mentor and as his airline business grow bigger, he named one of his jumbos "the Spirit of Sir Freddie."

Sir Freddie gave the young entrepreneur a good advice. He warned him to defend his business against monopolist and protectionist governments. He told him to beat his competitors by capitalizing on quality of service as well as price. And he gave him a master piece advice any mentor can give a mentee. He said "when British Airways (BA) come after you, which they inevitably will, shout long, shout hard and then sue the bastards!

And within 6 years, all Lakers' predictions came to past. But the young man was ready. He shouted long, he shouted hard, sued British Airways and won.

Today the young man, Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group has over four hundred companies. But I bet he will never forget the role his mentor, Sir Freddie Lakers, played in his life and business.

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Article Tags: British Airways, entrepreneur, partership, Richard Branson, Sir Freddie lakers, success
Referred by: http://www.parisandjoanne.com/



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