Get All Access for $5/mo

Richard Branson: The Key to Success Is Intention You won't be successful without explicitly knowing what your intentions are every day. The Virgin founder shares five tips.

By Rose Leadem

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Phil Stafford | Shutterstock
Richard Branson

The key to success, according to Richard Branson, is not only productivity and motivation -- but intention.

"A day without intention is a day wasted," the Virgin Group CEO writes in a recent blog post. "Without intention, there can be no productivity, and in turn no success."

Related: Watch Legendary Entrepreneur Richard Branson Share His Secrets to Startup Success

Whether you're simply going on a morning jog or starting a business, Branson writes that intention is the driving force. And take it from this billionaire entrepreneur -- he definitely knows a thing or two about success.

For all you budding entrepreneurs, it's important to spend your 24 hours wisely. Branson has some tips on how you can get started:

1. Start every day fresh.

If you "get caught up in the challenges of yesterday or focus too much on the past, it can be hard to move on and achieve future goals," he writes. For Branson, that means getting outdoors and being active -- but you should do your own thing. Meditation, reading, a quick crossword puzzle -- there are plenty of ways to get your mind ready for the day.

2. Write your intentions down.

By writing your ideas and thoughts down, it's "easier to turn your intentions into actionable and measurable goals," Branson writes.

3. Use your time wisely.

As busy entrepreneurs, time is valuable. Branson uses all of his extra minutes while traveling -- he even interviewed Virgin Group CEO Josh Bayliss in the back of a car during a traffic jam. So if you're on an airplane, waiting for an appointment or stuck in traffic -- use your time wisely.

Related: Career Advice for Young People From Tony Robbins, Richard Branson and 28 Other Successful People

4. Think ahead.

"Intention in its very essence is a futuristic act," Branson writes. "We cannot change the past, so there's no point of dwelling on it. The key to being productive is thinking ahead."

Get your wheels turning. Always think up ideas and find new contacts and other resources.

5. Have fun.

"As the saying goes, time flies when you're having fun," Branson writes. "Just don't get side-tracked by having too much fun. Wait. is too much fun even possible?"

Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Side Hustle

This Former Starbucks Employee Started a Side Hustle That's Making More Than $70,000 a Month — and He's Not Done Yet

When Tom Saar moved to New York City, he spotted a lucrative business opportunity.

Business News

Is One Company to Blame for Soaring Rental Prices in the U.S.?

The FBI recently raided a major corporate landlord while investigating a rent price-fixing scheme. Here's what we know.

Business News

Amazon Has a Blank Book Problem: Buyers Report Receiving Fakes of Bestselling UFO Book

The book looked fine on the outside, but the inside was out-of-this-world.

Business News

Paramount Leadership Alludes to Layoffs If Merger Does Not Go Through

Paramount is awaiting approval on its merger with Skydance Media from majority shareholder Shari Redstone.

Business News

Microsoft Reportedly Lays Off Over 1,500 Employees in Cloud Sector as Partnership with OpenAI Strengthens

Alphabet also reportedly laid off employees from several teams in Google's cloud unit last week.

Side Hustle

10 Online Side Hustles Proven to Boost Your Bank Account

Even the busiest schedules can accommodate finding a precious few hours to create a profitable online venture — something that many are already mastering.