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.
I think because I have great difficulty saying the word, ‘no,’ almost every day’s a different adventure.
Find somebody else to run your business on a day-to-day basis.
The Earth cannot wait 60 years. I want a future for my children and my children’s children. The clock is ticking.
And if after all this you eventually fail; don’t take it personal. Don’t be ashamed to start all over again.
Seek out strategic alliances; they are essential to growth and provide resistance to bigger competition.
Don’t hesitate to seek external help or advice where need be. Sometimes, it takes an external, emotionally unattached individual to detect your business flaws and render unbiased advice.
Listen to the customer’s complaint and act fast.
Grow internally first. Strengthen your bottom line first before considering external growth.
For a successful entrepreneur it can mean extreme wealth. But with extreme wealth comes extreme responsibility.
Remain focused on fulfilling your business mission. Never allow adversity divert your attention and efforts.
I have fun running all the Virgin businesses, so a setback is never a bad experience, just a learning curve.
I enjoy the company of other people. That’s where I get most of my satisfaction from.
Fun 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.
What matters is working with a few close friends, people you respect, knowing that if times did turn bad these people would hold together.
We spend most of our lives working. So why do so few people have a good time doing it?
To have created one of the most respected companies in the world. Not necessarily the biggest.
There isn’t a flight goes by when I don’t stare out of the window and thank my stars for what I’m seeing and feeling.
Unless you dream, you’re not going to achieve anything.
A business can be started with very little money.