The success of Bebo was the result of a long process of trial and error for Michael Birch.
Michael was always entrepreneurial, knowing from an early age that he wanted to own and run his own business. However being entrepreneurial and working in an insurance firm turned out to be very frustrating for Michael.
The arrival of the internet provided the platform that Michael needed to succeed. All of his previous businesses had been online, yet social media was a relatively new phenomenon at the time. Michael knew he needed to stand out from the crowd with a unique business proposition that gave people something that they wanted.
Bebo was Michael’s sixth venture - three had failed and two where a moderate success. Bebo of course turned out to be a total winner.
Just because something fails it isn’t necessarily a complete waste, it’s important to learn what you can from it. Michael was able to take the elements that had worked in his previous businesses and leverage those in his new business.
Michael’s rise might seem like the ultimate success story, but he is quick to point out that quitting his job felt like a very real risk. Michael also insists he wouldn’t have got to where he is if it wasn’t for his determination. It took three years of trying before three years of success.
Failure goes hand in hand with success. There can be no real success without failure.