01c. 1966 ADto be successful, you have to be out there, you have to hit the ground runningRichard Branson / quote ↗
02c. 1966 ADThe first thing that has to be recognized is that one cannot train someone to be passionate--it's either in their DNA or it's not.Richard Branson / quote ↗
03c. 1966 ADI can honestly say that I have never gone into any business purely to make money. If that is the sole motive then I believe you are better off not doing it. A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.Richard Branson / quote ↗
04c. 1966 ADA business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.Richard Branson / quote ↗
05c. 1966 ADGood brands reflect the histories of the time and the group of people that made them. They can not be copied. They can not be recycled.Richard Branson / quote ↗
06c. 1966 ADFun is at the core of the way I like to do business and it has been key to everything I've done from the outset. More than any other element, fun is the secret of Virgin's success. I am aware that the ideas of business as being fun and creative goes right against the grain of convention, and it's certainly not how the they teach it at some of those business schools, where business means hard grind and lots of 'discounted cash flows' and net' present values'.Richard Branson / quote ↗
07c. 1966 ADI don’t believe it can be taught as if it were a recipe. There aren’t ingredients and techniques that will guarantee success. Parameters exist that, if followed, will ensure a business can continue, but you cannot clearly define our business success and then bottle it as you would a perfume. It’s not that simple: to be successful, you have to be out there, you have to hit the ground running; and, if you have a good team round you and more than your fair share of luck, you might make something happen. But you certainly can’t guarantee it just by following someone else’s formula. Business is a fluid, changing substance.Richard Branson / quote ↗
08c. 1966 ADThere is no greater thing you can do with your life and your work than follow your passions – in a way that serves the world and you.Richard Branson / quote ↗
09c. 1966 ADDo not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.Richard Branson / quote ↗
10c. 1966 ADIf somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!Richard Branson / quote ↗
11c. 1966 ADSteve did not have a death wish. He had the exact opposite. His appetite for life was so strong, it outweighed all fear. So what if his choices shortened his life? His choices filled his life, and enriched the lives of those around him.Richard Branson / quote ↗
13c. 1966 ADIt is only by being bold that you get anywhere. If you are a risk-taker, then the art is to protect the downside.Richard Branson / quote ↗
14c. 1966 ADWhat we are trying to do at Virgin is not to have one enormous company in one sector under one banner, but to have two hundred or even three hundred separate companies. Each company can stand on its own feet and, in that way, although we've got a brand that links them, if we were to have another tragedy such as that of 11 September - which hurt the airline industry - it would not bring the whole group crashing down.Richard Branson / quote ↗
15c. 1966 ADA passionate belief in your business and personal objectives can make all the difference between success and failure. If you aren't proud of what you're doing, why should anybody else be?Richard Branson / quote ↗
16c. 1966 ADFrom my very first day as an entrepreneur, I've felt the only mission worth pursuing in business is to make people's lives better.Richard Branson / quote ↗
17c. 1966 ADAll you have in business is your reputation - so it's very important that you keep your word.Richard Branson / quote ↗
18c. 1966 ADStarting your own business isn't just a job - it's a way of life.Richard Branson / quote ↗
19c. 1966 ADTo me, business isn't about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It's about being true to yourself, your ideas and focusing on the essentials.Richard Branson / quote ↗
20c. 1966 ADWhen 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.Richard Branson / quote ↗
21c. 1966 ADIf you want to be more productive, then start at the start: get there on time. Whether it is a meeting, a flight, an appointment or a date, it's important to ensure you are there when you say you will be there. This may feel like an old-fashioned tip to give, but it has served me well for five decades in business.Richard Branson / quote ↗
22c. 1966 ADOne thing is certain in business. You and everyone around you will make mistakes.Richard Branson / quote ↗
23c. 1966 ADOvercoming fear is the first step to success for entrepreneurs. The winners all exemplify that, and the hard work and commitment they have shown underlines what is needed to set up a business.Richard Branson / quote ↗
24c. 1966 ADI've never gone into business to make money. Every Virgin product and service has been made into a reality to make a positive difference in people's lives. And by focusing on the happiness of our customers, we have been able to build a successful group of companies.Richard Branson / quote ↗
