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Breaking Free: Branson’s Early Years

“I was never, ever interested in becoming a businessman or an entrepreneur,” says Richard Branson. At 56, despite his intentions, Branson has become one of the most successful and eccentric billionaires of the 20th century. He is the man behind one of the most recognizable brands in history and is sitting on an estimated fortune of $3.2 billion.

The Business Virgin: Branson Enters The Game

With his magazine failing him, Branson turned to the idea of setting up a record mail order business in 1970. At just 20 years old, Branson began placing record ads in Student and soon began to realize the high demand. He dropped out of high school and began focusing on his new business, which was now making a profit. This modest success allowed him to rent an empty shop on Oxford Street in London in order to set up a music store. His magazine staff was transferred to the discount record store and the operation began to take off. At a loss for a name, one of the girls suggested ‘Virgin’ since they were “complete virgins at business”. With that, the Virgin Empire was born.

Lesson #1: Be A Good Leader

“Having a personality of caring about people is important,” says Branson. “You can’t be a good leader unless you generally like people. That is how you bring out the best in them.”

Lesson #2: Build A Powerful Brand

In 2005, Branson said his goal was to turn Virgin into “the most respected brand in the world.” Branson is not far off from achieving his goal. Virgin was recently found to be one of the UK’s top three favourite and most respected brand names and both the brand and the man behind it are known throughout the world.

Lesson #3: Keep Flying High

“Business opportunities are like buses, there's always another one coming,” says Branson.

Lesson #4: Break Records

“We’re going where no one has gone before,” says Branson, referring to Virgin Galactic’s partnership with the estate of New Mexico to build the world’s first commercial spaceport. “There’s no model to follow, nothing to copy. That is what makes this so exciting.”

Lesson #5: Have Fun

“I’m still maybe Peter Pan – doesn’t want to grow up,” says Branson.

Losing His Virginity: How Branson Achieved Success

From a dyslexic high school dropout to a thriving billionaire and adventure capitalist knighted by the Queen of England, Branson carved a unique path to success using his personality as his greatest leverage. His career has spanned over thirty years and his brand has become one of the most recognized globally. How did he do it?

Richard Branson Quotes

Richard Branson Quotes

Richard Branson Biography

Much like the public has come to expect the unexpected from this unpredictable British entrepreneur, so too is the Richard Branson biography a story of ups and downs, antics and wild behaviour, and both successes and failures. To learn about this Virgin Knight is to understand more about a man who has refused to follow convention, who has pursued and achieved his dreams his way, and who seems to have had more fun than most along the way.

Richard Branson Virgin

Its name may raise some eyebrows, but there can be no doubt as to the tremendous success of the Richard Branson Virgin Group. Run as a cluster of separate and distinct companies that come together under the Virgin brand, this Group was first established by British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson. With services that range from travel and music to wine, cosmetics, and even bridal wear, Virgin remains one of the most successful privately held corporations in the U.K., and indeed, the world.

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