As part of my research for my book The Legacy of Anita Roddick, I’ve been re-watching some of her speeches and interviews to get me into her zone. I have a collection of them here if you are interested.

On this Valentines Day, her passion for what she stood for comes through loud and clear. She was a passionate woman and she knew how passion persuades. She was a great storyteller and she used stories to motivate change.

Anita, more so than anyone else I have ever met, recognised the value of pushing through adversity – of doing something for humanity and for having a laugh.

Anita said:

“Love, Labour, community, service, are connective and integrative.  If you consider life you will find you are most fulfilled when you are doing something you love or are in the company of someone you love.”

Here are a few of her words of wisdom.  They apply if you are building a business, a social enterprise or developing a social or environmental campaign.

• If it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing
• if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing badly and learning from it
• Don’ think big, think brilliant, think different,
• Network like mad
• Thank people consistently
• Tell stories – from your perspective – how you feel about things
• Read up about things – but don’t get consumed – know enough to get by.

PS:  Love Valentines Day for its sentiment or loathe it as crass commercialism – here’s an interesting business fact!  Richard Cadbury saw a marketing opportunity and produced the first box of gift chocolates for Valentine’s Day in the late 1800’s.