1,075 Quotes by Richard Branson

I like to take chances on people, and whenever possible, promote from within – it sends a great message to everyone in the company when someone demonstrates a passion for the job and leadership skills at every step along the way and is rewarded with a leadership role.

You shouldn’t be looking for people slipping up, you should be looking for all the good things people do and praising those.

New York to Tokyo could be less than an hour. You could be traveling at 19,000 miles per hour orbitally. After we’ve done the space program, we will be producing supersonic planes, which will go far, far, faster than Concorde.

I love stirring the pot. I love giving big companies a run for their money – especially if they’re offering expensive, poor-quality products.

There’s no better satisfaction than watching the people around you, who have worked day and night to get something right, realising the dream.

When I was young, every time I criticized someone, my mother would stand me in front of the mirror and say: ‘The flaws you see in others are actually a reflection of yourself.’ That taught me to pay close attention when I looked at others.

We’re going where no one has gone before. There’s no model to follow, nothing to copy. That is what makes this so exciting.

Good people have always been at the heart of the Virgin business, and that’s largely because we have tried to keep our business small, and our management teams tight-knit. I feel that small, compact companies, are better run. That is partly because people feel more connected in small companies.

A good leader leads from the front. Don’t get stuck in the office. Get out, meet people and listen to their stories.