Marko Lamza, Online Education Pioneer, Invited to Sir Richard Branson’s Private Island To Meet Industry-Disrupting Entrepreneurs and Tech Billionaires

Marko Lamza, a 26-year-old Dubai-based entrepreneur was recently invited to Sir Richard Branson’s private island Necker for an exclusive invite-only event with industry leaders, tech billionaires, and influential business figures. 

Lamza has an impressive background, from winning multiple international awards and graduating from a prestigious Ivy League school to publishing a book at 18, working in a London-based hedge fund and creating an online education and consulting company that has impacted over 10 million people by the age of 26. 

On his recent experience, Marko said, “I’m incredibly grateful for having been invited to spend time with Sir Richard Branson and other incredible entrepreneurs at Necker.” Reflecting on the lessons he learned from Branson, he added, “You’d be surprised how many incredibly successful people are very friendly and would love to help young entrepreneurs succeed. Most entrepreneurs just never ask for help or seek mentors!“

Marko shared with us the 3 key lessons he learned from Sir Richard Branson and other tech billionaires during his time at Necker.

Lesson #1: Taking time to “think” every week

Marko said: “Many successful individuals I spoke with mentioned that their greatest personal growth usually came either from learning from mentors or embracing the concept of “thinking time,” as described in Keith J. Cunningham’s book, The Road Less Stupid. In today’s fast-paced world, most people are caught in a routine of constant “doing” and are frequently distracted, leaving little time to truly THINK. And, by scheduling distraction-free time to actually think, a person has time to explore new ideas, recognize opportunities, and avoid costly mistakes. Every young person aspiring to achieve success should start scheduling time to simply THINK, whether that means walking in nature without distractions, like Steve Jobs did, or scheduling time for themselves in a room to ponder the big picture moves. By incorporating “thinking time” into their daily routines, many extremely successful people have managed to make better decisions and elevate their success, proving that the power of a focused mind can truly unlock one’s full potential.”

Lesson #2: Knowing your next 5 moves

Lamza said that one of the most interesting conversations he’s had with a tech billionaire was about the way billionaires think. 

“It’s not about knowing your NEXT move… It’s about knowing your NEXT FIVE moves. In chess, as in business and life, short-term thinking can limit one’s ability to see the bigger picture, anticipate challenges, and capitalize on opportunities.

It’s like a chess game. When a chess player thinks of just their next move, they focus on immediate actions without considering the potential consequences or the opponent’s possible responses. This short-term thinking can lead to tactical errors, missed opportunities, and, ultimately, a weaker position on the board. 

In contrast, when a chess player thinks through their next multiple moves, they take a more strategic and forward-thinking approach. This involves considering not only the immediate action but also the potential outcomes, the opponent’s likely responses, and how to adapt the strategy based on new information. By planning several moves ahead, the player can identify opportunities to put their opponent in a vulnerable position, protect their own pieces, and control the board more effectively. This long-term thinking often leads to a stronger position and a higher likelihood of winning the game.

The same principle applies to business and life. When we focus solely on the immediate next move, we risk making short-sighted decisions that may cause problems in the future or miss out on opportunities for growth and success. By thinking several steps ahead and considering the potential consequences and challenges, we can make more informed decisions, adapt our strategy as needed, and ultimately achieve our goals more effectively.

And, we can only do that if we take time to THINK. Without distractions.”

Lesson #3: Take more “emotional risks”.

Marko said: “After speaking with entrepreneurs at Necker, I noticed a few people made a clear distinction between a “financial risk” (investing money, time etc.) and “emotional risk” (pushing oneself outside of comfort zone, changing habits, changing environment). I realized that most young entrepreneurs are willing to take financial risk, but what is holding many people back is staying within their comfort zone and not taking enough “emotional risks”. While hard work, financial risk and great business strategy are undeniably important, intentionally putting oneself outside of their comfort zone is crucial for entrepreneurial success.”

Other industry leading entrepreneurs joined Marko on Necker Island event: Yasmina Ellinis (UK) of Aboutly, Dane Baker (USA) of Ecocart; Vilde Regine Tellnes (Norway) of Healthy Eats; Jester Schilder (Netherlands) of Benjamin Auctus; Milimo Banji (UK) of TapIn, Timothy Highnam (UK) of Fission Advertising.