Richard Branson

“When I started Virgin from a basement in west London, there was no great plan or strategy. I didn't set out to build a business empire... For me, building a business is all about doing something to be proud of, bringing talented people together and creating something that's going to make a real difference to other people's lives.”

“I love creating hideaways. My idea is to go to the most beautiful, unspoilt places, buy the land, and make sure it is never damaged. I've always admired John D. Rockefeller, who bought up tracts of land to ensure they were left wild in perpetuity.”

“Treat failure as a lesson on how not to approach achieving a goal, and then use that learning to improve your chances of success when you try again. Failure is only the end if you decide to stop.”

“A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.”

“to be successful, you have to be out there, you have to hit the ground running”

“I believe in benevolent dictatorship provided I am the dictator.”

“Starting your own business isn't just a job - it's a way of life.”

“I wanted to be an editor or a journalist, I wasn't really interested in being an entrepreneur, but I soon found I had to become an entrepreneur in order to keep my magazine going.”

“Taking bold action on climate change simply makes good business sense. It's also the right thing to do for people and the planet. Setting a net-zero GHG emissions target by 2050 will drive innovation, grow jobs, build prosperity, and secure a better world for what will soon be 9 billion people.”

“The jet stream is a very strong force and pushing a balloon into it is like pushing up against a brick wall, but once we got into it, we found that, remarkably, the balloon went whatever speed the wind went.”

“All you have in business is your reputation - so it's very important that you keep your word.”

“החיים הרבה יותר מהנים כשאומרים 'כן'! מדהים עד כמה מילה אחת קטנה יכולה להוביל אותנו להרפתקה מדהימה.”

“אף פעם אל תראה את השוני כפגם או תחשוב שמשהו בך לא בסדר. להיות שונה זה הנכס הגדול ביותר והוא יעזור לך להצליח.”

“כמות הזמן שאנשים מבזבזים על התעסקות בכשלונות במקום להשקיע את האנרגיה הזאת בפרויקט חדש תמיד מדהימה אותי.”

“אני מאמין גדול בכך שאנשים יעבדו מהבית. אני מעודד את העובדים שלנו, אם הם רוצים, לעבוד מהבית.”

“הדבר החשוב ביותר, בסופו של דבר בחיים, הוא המשפחה והחברים שלך.”

“אל תביטו לאחור – התקדמו אל עבר הדבר הבא.”

“Entrepreneurs are natural problem-solvers, which means that we always have ideas for new businesses popping into our heads. Having a lot of options is great, but sometimes it can be hard to focus on one when you are keen to move onto the next.”

“We believe that within five years, 96 percent of British consumers will have access to the Internet, whether it be through a personal computer, a set-top box or a mobile phone.”

“Ridiculous yachts and private planes and big limousines won't make people enjoy life more, and it sends out terrible messages to the people who work for them. It would be so much better if that money was spent in Africa - and it's about getting a balance.”