I’ve just finished reading Richard Branson’s book. And I have butterflies in my stomach. I’m grateful that I’ve always loved that feeling – it usually means I’m about to do something wonderful. I had this exact feeling (minus the rage) when Lindsay first told me about Warner Brothers sending her that ghastly email that started PotterWar. The butterflies came back when I met Alan Shaheen – then the CEO of ArsDigita – but at the moment I did not know that in the following months I’d drive myself mad leading yet another legal campaign against his company. This time the feeling is sweet because there is no righteous indignation; just hope. The butterflies go swirling around and I feel confident in my plan again. In the epilogue, Richard Branson told me exactly what I need to say and how to say it. I’m no longer going into this blind. Details have expressed themselves and I know that I will be able to compose the business opus of my life. If he accepts it, my life will never be the same. A University will be built unlike any other and thousands of lives will be enhanced through education. If he refuses, I will have grown and learned from this experience. The butterflies will have had their exercise and I’ll only feel all the more empowered to create even more ideas.
I’m thrilled, but not in the sense that I’ll spend the rest of the night dancing around my room. This sounds strange, but it’s almost like I have tears waiting to flood my eyes, but I don’t know why. That’s never accompanied butterflies before.
The day was rather fittingly mild until now. I spent most of my time reading, but when I sensed my attention wandering I sat alone in the basement and watched a movie. Then I picked my book back up and kept reading. I’ve been so engrossed in it all day that I’ve only managed to eat one meal (so *that’s* why I’m so hungry!) At least it was a large bowl of Cap’n Crunch – an appropriately childlike meal to counteract all the thoughts of finance, real estate, and development that are flying around my head.
Everything’s fitting into place. I’ve learned about aspects of Virgin that I didn’t even know existed, and yet it continues to connect. For instance, I had a feeling a few days ago that there needed to be a campus outside Johannesburg, South Africa. I couldn’t determine exactly why. I knew there was a reason, but it just hasn’t hit me. I still don’t understand it, but now I know South Africa is the front for several of Virgin Group’s businesses. South Africa was one of the launching points for Virgin Cola, and now Virgin Atlantic flies directly to Johannesburg from London. My major worry about a campus in South Africa – transportation – has been abated. So many gut feelings have proven essential to this plan; I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Despite my enthusiasm, I think I might wait until tomorrow morning to write the proposal. My mind has gone frantic with excitement and I’m finding it hard to collect my thoughts. I’m also really hungry. 🙂 It’s a bit late for dinner, so maybe I’ll just arrange another date with the Cap’n.
And to add to the surreal fantasy of today, it should start snowing at any minute. 🙂