Richard Branson

Ask anyone in the world to name an entrepreneur, and Sir Richard Branson is almost certainly the name that would be uttered. Iconic, driven, successful and loved by many, Branson is the very definition of the business icon. With a career spanning decades, a business worth billions, an instantly recognisable brand and a near-perfect track record, we thought his advice would be invaluable to our readership. We caught up with him to discuss his early start in business, his status as a business icon, and of course his new book “Screw It – Let’s Do It!” – part of the new Quick Reads initiative.

Sir Richard Branson started his entrepreneurial career whilst studying at Stowe School, in Buckinghamshire. He set up Student Magazine – aimed towards his peers in the school he studied at, and others, he worked hard and sold advertising space to keep the magazine afloat. Keeping his business interests close to his heart, Branson then used his business instinct once more, and at 17 set up a Student Advisory Service. This was aimed to help students with all matter of problems, which proved to be a well needed feature in the school. It was also the first of Sir Richard’s many charity moves. In 1970, he elected to start selling records via mail order through his magazine. The mail order business was, at the time, a highly innovative, profitable market that was finding its feet. Branson’s choice, thus, was considerably successful and led him to set up his first Virgin record shop in Oxford Street shortly after the company was set up.

However, Branson didn’t want to stop at just the record shops – his passion for music led him to set up an affiliated record label, also under the name of Virgin Records. A recording studio was built in Oxfordshire, and the label’s first release was Mike Oldfield’s legendary best seller “Tubular Bells”. Branson also courted controversy by signing the Sex Pistols at the height of the punk movement – a group deemed unsuitable to work with by almost every other record company in the country at the time. The company later acquired many household names, including amongst others Genesis, Simple Minds, Culture Club and The Rolling Stones.

Since then Virgin has expanded into air and rail travel, mobile phones, finance, retail, internet, radio, drinks, hotels and leisure, with around 200 companies in over 30 countries, making it one of the biggest international household names. However, business isn’t the only field making Branson such an iconic figure. His notorious interest in hot air ballooning has led to many attempts to cross the Atlantic ocean – one of which nearly ended in a horrible disaster. But these disasters haven’t swayed Branson – bold and determined as he is with business, there’s never a doubt that he will reach his final goals.

So what is left for Richard Branson to conquer? The next step, as announced by Branson himself, is to go where no other corporation has been before – into space. On September 25, 2004 he announced the signing of a deal under which a new space tourism company, Virgin Galactic, will license the technology behind SpaceShipOne to take paying passengers into suborbital space. The group plans to make flights available to the public by late 2007 with tickets priced at $200,000, which hardly puts it in the same league as most other day trips!

It’s a short, concise read – why did you decide to write a “quick read” book?
12 million adults have the literacy skills at or below those of a 13 year old. “Screw It, Let’s Do It!” is my contribution to the major new literacy initiative launched in March this year called Quick Reads. Quick Reads are straightforward, plain talking books aimed at adults who are too busy to read books or who struggle to finish a book. I have a love for reading, which I developed as an adult. I believe everyone should live life to the full and have an open mind and books can help you do that. It is incredibly exciting to be part of this project, which aims to make reading a habit for people who don’t normally read. I think it will open new doors for a lot of people.


Just do it! Think yes, not no. Challenge yourself. Have goals. Have fun. Make a difference. Stand on your own two feet. Be loyal. And most importantly – live life to the full