Quotes from Richard Branson

The music industry is a strange combination of having real and intangible assets: pop bands are brand names in themselves, and at a given stage in their careers their name alone can practically gaurantee hit records.

One thing is certain in business. You and everyone around you will make mistakes.

When I was four, my mother insisted I get out of the car and find my own way home. Although I got lost, I did find my way home. It taught me the value of independence at an early age.

Devon holds a special place in my heart. As a child, I normally went on holiday to Bantham and have lots of happy memories from my time there. I used to catch sand eels in the early morning and go fishing for bass throughout the day. I remember a gull taking my bait.

Business leaders take things far too seriously, and forget that most of the time people spend in their lives is at work, and it should be fun.

In business, as in life, all that matters is that you do something positive.

Explore this next great frontier where the boundaries between work and higher purpose are merging into one, where doing good really is good for business.

Allowing my people to have a good work-life balance by working flexibly is very important to me.

I have never had an office that I work out of and work has become intertwined with my personal life.

Put your passions to work to make this world a better place.

Be authentic and organic. It can't be forced or it won't work. And most importantly, have fun.

I think a lot of becoming an entrepreneur is something which people have to learn just from getting out there and giving it a go, and having to learn the art of survival.

Fun is one of the most important - and underrated - ingredients in any successful venture. If you're not having fun, then it's probably time to call it quits and try something else.

If you do something for fun and create the best possible product, then the profit will come.

My people are at the core of everything I do, and I recognize the importance of giving them the flexibility to balance work around their personal lives.

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.

We've got an engaging, edgy, vibrant, fun product, ... It may or may not work, but we're going to give it our best shot.

Leading by fear is a lot of companies' approach, and a horrible way for people to exist in their lives, when most of your life is spent at work.

I do believe the harder you work, the luckier you get.

Overcoming 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.

The 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.

A good leader doesn't get stuck behind a desk.

The best advice I ever received? Simple: Have no regrets.

Develop the business around the people; build it, don't buy it; and, then, be the best.