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" I love Notting Hill and Westbourne Grove - there is so much life and vitality around Portobello and Ladbroke Grove. It has come up a lot since I started Virgin more than 40 years ago, but there is so much character. "

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" The signing of the Sex Pistols was a turning point for Virgin. It put the company on the map and, over the years, attracted bands such as Genesis, the Rolling Stones, Lenny Kravitz, and Janet Jackson. It also attracted Culture Club, who were ground-breaking. "

Richard Branson

Club

Map

Culture

" On one of my last days at school, the headmaster said I would either end up in prison or become a millionaire. That was quite a startling prediction, but in some respects, he was right on both counts! "

" Most people would assume my business success, and the wealth that comes with it, have brought me happiness. But I know I am successful, wealthy, and connected because I am happy. "

Richard Branson

Happiness

Happy

" There's nothing like the endorphins from being fit, and the incredible endorphin rush that goes with that. "

Richard Branson

Goes

Nothing

" I nearly failed when Virgin was in its infancy; I nearly failed in the early 1980s, and, of course, I have nearly died more than once trying to achieve a world record for boating or ballooning. But through a combination of luck and planning, both Virgin and I are still here. "

" I don't think so, in that Virgin is already a global brand. Brands like Amazon have had to spend hundreds of millions of pounds you know, building their brands, whereas Virgin is already well-known around the world. "

" Business opportunities are like buses, there's always another one coming. "

Richard Branson

Business

Opportunities

" To 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

Ideas

Yourself

" I love travelling full stop - so while I've had some harrowing instances, I never look at them negatively. Memories are made when you're travelling - not when you're chained to your desk. "

" Ridiculous yachts and private planes and big limousines won't make people enjoy life more, and it sends out terrible messages to the people who work for them. It would be so much better if that money was spent in Africa - and it's about getting a balance. "

" Especially when you're at a high level in an organization, criticism can be devastating to an employee. I prefer to praise employees for what they're doing right, and it tends to lead to them doing more of the same. Not always, but it's the way I choose to bet. "

" You don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over. "

" I was dyslexic, I had no understanding of schoolwork whatsoever. I certainly would have failed IQ tests. And it was one of the reasons I left school when I was 15 years old. And if I - if I'm not interested in something, I don't grasp it. "

" More businesses should be following Apple's stance in encouraging more investment in sustainability. "

Richard Branson

Investment

Apple

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

" A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts. "

" I always love going on a safari drive whenever I visit Ulusaba Private Game Reserve in South Africa. I've been fortunate to see so many incredible animals over the years, and each time, it's completely different. Following Ulusaba's pack of wild dogs is my highlight. "

" We are going to transform Britain's rail system from the worst in the world to the best. If you can do a few things like that, when the body gives out, you can say you've lived a good life. "

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

" Being a good listener is absolutely critical to being a good leader; you have to listen to the people who are on the front line. "

" When I was a kid, I had a tendency to criticize. But when I did, my mum would whisk me off to the bathroom to stand in front of a mirror. Ten minutes, never less. To think about how criticism is a poor reflection on the one who criticizes. "

Richard Branson

Reflection

Mirror

" We, we - as I say, we go in and shake up other industries and I think, you know, we do it differently and I think that industries are not quite the same as a result of Virgin attacking the market. "

Richard Branson

Know

Result

" I'm a bit like the Queen in that I don't carry much cash. "

Richard Branson

Much

Cash

" Through the right people focusing on the right things, we can, in time, get on top of a lot if not most of the problems of this world. And that's what a number of us are trying to do. "

" Lightning is something which, again, we would rather avoid. "

" My general attitude to life is to enjoy every minute of every day. I never do anything with a feeling of, 'Oh God, I've got to do this today.' "

" Starting your own business isn't just a job - it's a way of life. "

" 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. "

" Treat failure as a lesson on how not to approach achieving a goal, and then use that learning to improve your chances of success when you try again. Failure is only the end if you decide to stop. "

" It's rare for a startup to make money immediately, so you need to make sure that you have enough saved or that you have another income stream that can support you. "