Richard Branson
Richard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Bransonis an English business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is best known as the founder of Virgin Group, which comprises more than 400 companies...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionEntrepreneur
Date of Birth18 July 1950
CityLondon, England
mean frustration hands
And ever since then [I] have set up businesses basically out of frustration. I mean, I set up Virgin Atlantic with one second-hand 747 because I hated the experience of flying on other people's airlines. And I thought, you know, I could try to create the kind of airline that I'd like to fly on. And people liked it.
feelings kind spending-time
In the '80's my gut feeling was that airlines were crap. I hated spending time on planes. I thought we could create the kind of airline I'd like. So we got a secondhand 747 and gave it a go.
perfect trying appreciated
In a sense, when we started Virgin Atlantic, I was trying to create an airline for myself. If you try to build the perfect airline for yourself, it will be appreciated by others.
world want well-known
I want Virgin to be as well-known around the world as Coca-Cola.
war order years
My very first venture was a national student magazine to try to campaign against the [Vietnam] War. And so I wanted to be an editor. I wanted to bring the magazine out. And in order for the magazine to survive I had to worry about the printing and the paper manufacturing and the distribution. And, you know, I had to try to, at the end of the year, have more money coming in than going out.
fun adventure thinking
Customers shouldn't just think of your business as a place to buy a product or use a service - it should be a fun place to be.
fun adventure firsts
First and foremost, any business proposal I like must sound fun.
fun adventure wit
I prefer to have a great time and to keep my wits about me.
order editors creating
I was interested in creating things that I could be proud of and so, you know, I was interested in being an editor of a magazine, things that I could be proud of, and so, you know, I was interested in being an editor of a magazine, but in order to be an editor of a magazine I had to become a publisher as well. I had to pay the bills. I had to worry about the printing and the paper manufacturing and the distribution of that magazine.
technology people trying
We've definitely cracked the technology. Now we're just trying to be able to produce the amount of fuels that we need to satisfy our own needs and then other people's needs.
trying want firsts
First of all, if you're setting up a new company, you want to try to find a brand that can work on a global basis.
hard-work passion indulge-in
Look, if you can indulge in your passion, life will be far more interesting than if you're just working. You'll work harder at it, and you'll know more about it. But first you must go out and educate yourself on whatever it is that you've decided to do - know more about kite-surfing than anyone else. That's where the work comes in. But if you're doing things you're passionate about, that will come naturally.
business thinking way
Because I don't see Virgin as a company but as a way of life and I fully enjoy it, I don't think I'll ever retire.
hurt thinking appreciate
Most of our businesses do succeed, but if something completely fails, then as long as we bow out gracefully and pay off all our debts, and nobody gets hurt, then I don't think people disrespect Virgin for trying. The public appreciates someone having a go; it appreciates the attempt. Who's been a success in life who hasn't failed?