Richard Branson founded Virgin Records in 1972 in the UK. It grew rapidly to become one of the top six record companies worldwide. Branson later expanded Virgin into an international brand across industries such as airlines, telecommunications, and financial services. As a dyslexic and high school dropout, Branson overcame difficulties through courage, perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit. He took risks and learned from failures and successes to build the Virgin empire. Branson continues to pursue adventurous challenges and grow new businesses through innovative approaches like "branded venture capitalism."

1. Richard Branson
The year 1972 wasserene until it witnessed the vivacious Virgin Empire launching its ecstatic recording
Studio in Oxfordshire England.Then, started the spread of enchanting Virgin Music that took the world
in its fold and within no time Virgin brand grewrapidly and ‘Virgin Music’ thus became one of the top
six record companies in the world. The success of the Virgin Music was really fascinating as it came
subsequent to the mail order record company’s success of Virgin group.The man behind such amazingly
fabulous successwas Sir Richard Branson. Breaking all records,taking business risks, sharing hisluck of
calamities and embarking on foolhardy adventures,Branson was able to achieve successat every critical
juncture of his life and remaining unfazed fromsuch experiences, and taking lessons from them, he took
virgin brand asfaras he could and diversified it into myriad independent businesses. The fabulous and
mysterious journey of Branson is something unusual as the kind of success he achieved in spite of his
weaknesses is just astonishing.
If you think success is the cup of tea of only those who excel in studies with a complex set of skills, then
your concept of success will be at serious take and you would be compelled to change your stand as this
gentleman’s life history is, for sure, going to defy your claim. Overcoming difficulties to become
successful is a normal phenomenon, but overcoming inborn inability to become successful is something
beyond imagination – that’s what Sir Richard Branson’s mysterious life is all about: a dyslexic, a school
dropout and ultimately a successful entrepreneur. Though Richard Branson remains a successful
entrepreneur for all, his transmogrification from dyslexia to an entrepreneur is something which is hidden
from all. The piece of information here is an attempt to unravel the hidden truths that highlight the
prominent aspects of his life and lifestyle that have made him a legendary businessman, humanitarian and
adventurer.
Early childhood learning difficulties were not allowing him to continue school as other boys of his age
were performing exceptionally well. As the atmosphere was constrained, utterly difficult, and was
compounding by every passing moment, little Branson was sustaining life with sheer courage and was
incessantly strengthening his spirit of entrepreneurial and courageous independence with his childish
determination. As the courageous, fearless and confident Richard was struggling with his own challenges
and developing his undeterred spirit to face all intricacies of life – that were augmenting every passing
moment, his life was showing its manifestation and the difficulties were surmounting and the word
success was still a distant dream for him to achieve. Out of such difficulties his rekindled spirit, instead
of bogging him down, allowed him to connect judiciously with the people and taught him to trust his
instincts.
The Journey
17 years old Branson remained wittingly undeterred by his weaknesses and shortcomings, his bold spirit
with entrepreneurial passion gradually started connecting with the people and encouraged him to begin
his entrepreneurial journey, and then Branson chose the crypt of a church to launch his first business
venture ‘The Student Magazine’. Very soon the magazine venture witnessed the unusual in the form of
cash crunch, and to avoid it, he attempted to avert an excise tax on sale in Britain and was jailed for a
night. Luckily, his mother rescued him and secured him a bail by pledging her home as collateral.
Thought he averted imprisonment and emerged absolved and courageous, he repented on this act. The
lesson that he learned from this incidence did in fact, made him promise to himself that he would neither
get imprisoned, any more, nor do any type of business that would hurt him.

2. He wittingly says: “My Parents had always drummed into me that all you have in life is yourreputation:
You may be very rich, but if you lose your good name, then you’ll never be happy.”
He narrowly escaped a criminal record that would have curtailed his entrepreneurial ambitions and
gradually started believing in himself. Motivated by his instincts, Sir Richard Branson chose the name of
the company as‘Virgin’ that he started in 1970 to sell discounted and import records via mail order.
‘Virgin’ helped him expand his venture and he was able to build a recording studio in 1972, in
Oxfordshire, England. And then, he never looked back. Branson’s Virgin brand grew rapidly and ‘Virgin
Music’ later became one of the top six record companies in the world. With the success of the Virgin
Music he started taking daredevil business decisions.
Taking Flight was a big challenge for Branson as he was aware of it
Richard Branson took a plunge into airline business with a bit of courage and risk because Virgin Atlantic
was the underdog in the hugely British Airways dominated transatlantic market. Branson, being
insightful and courageous businessman, was aware of the shortcomings of big players and he took those
to his advantage and by knowing the customers’ needs he started offering affordable and enjoyable flying
experience with a leased jumbo jet for a year in 1984.
Branson got the first jolt when the unexpected bird incident exploded the uninsured engine of his plane,
and the subsequent jolt came as the plane was not fully functional. As the new engine cost more than $
1million, he raised the cash from overseas subsidiaries, upon the bank’s denial to back up the costs.
Shortly after this, he brought in financial specialists and restructured his company’s financial structure by
finding new banking partners. This incident didn’t jolt his grit. Despite the setback, the Virgin Atlantic
filled with journalists took off with a renewed spirit.
As he was recuperating from the initial flight’s jolt, the seemingly tough and financially debilitating
British Airways’ competition and a lengthy court battle was hindering his progress. Amidst such tensions,
he agreed to a settlement with a healthy payment to him and to his firm. The global economic woes of the
1990s brought more challenges and tensions for Richard Branson, and after facing the toughest decision
of his life, on the advice of his wife, he sold Virgin Music group in 1992 to Thorn EMI. The financial
crunch didn’t allow him to record the Rolling Stones, a lifelong dream Branson would never realize.
The inflow of cash amounting to about $ 1 billion allowed him to own Virgin Atlantic and to pay off his
loans. Furthermore, the sale of his beloved music company gave him new life as he was freed from the
debilitating indebtedness. Then after, he never looked back and expanded his business empire throughout
the world and established Virgin America, wireless company Virgin Mobile and international health club
Virgin Active. With an estimated net worth of US $ 4.6 billion, Branson is the 4th
richest UK citizen.
Amidst Challenges and Hurdles he realized a novel approach: the branded venture capitalism, as
Branson calls it, and with this approach he controls a very large number of companies with minimal
financial risk. With such an amazingly superb strategy, the Virgin group has 400 diverse companies that
run independently with different shareholders and boards by sharing resources, expertise and knowledge
of others, but the same brand name.
Courageous Branson sustained the transformation of his life as bravely as a soldier
As age seems less likely to hinder his ever evolving mind, spirit, imagination, insight and perseverance,
so is his composure. His imagination, courage, and perseverance are as strong as ever before and Richard
Branson is sustaining the transmogrification of his life out of his family nurtured independence and

3. entrepreneurial spirit. The shiny golden locks of Branson seemingly unlock the utter courage,
perseverance and imagination as exuberantly as ever before. A billionaire and one of the world’s richest
Branson took virgin brand as far as he could and diversified it into myriad independent businesses like
airline, hospitality, space, travel and financial services. No matter where the golden phenomenon of life
takes him, he simplifies the intricacies of life, accepts the challenges, and nurtures confidence,
imagination, perseverance and courage as wittingly as ever before. He is a champion in compensating the
weaknesses with his strengths as he has demonstrated this time and again.
Branson’s Message for Entrepreneurs
According to Richard Branson, “Entrepreneurship is business’s beating heart. Entrepreneurship isn’t
about capital; it’s about ideas. Entrepreneurship is also about excellence. Not excellence measured in
awards or other people’s approval,but the sort that one achievesfor oneself by exploring what the world
has to offer.”
Furthermore, Branson believes that there are no specifically set rules for business as every business has its
own rules. The business should not run following a set of rules, but run by doing because there are many
ways to run a successfulcompany. What works once may never work again. The best you can do for your
entrepreneurial success is to get a bunch of talented people around and make them believe in you and
your idea.
For the budding entrepreneurs who struggle to tackle negativity, in today’s economy, Richard Branson
has this advice:
“I do a lot by gut feeling and a lot by personal experience,”
“The challenge is to follow through on a great idea. I think if [you’ve] got a great idea, you need to
just give it a try,” he tells SUCCESS. “And if you fall flat on your face, pick yourself up and try
again. Learn from your mistakes. And, remember, you’ve got to go make a real difference in
People’s lives if you’re going to be successful.”
“Obstacles and challenges are healthy for everyone, not just entrepreneurs. They force you to think
outside the box, so to speak—to be creative.”
Branson Once said this: “There is no point starting your own business unless you do it out of a sense of
frustration”.
Branson wrote in his biography of the decision to start an airline: “My interest in life comes from setting
myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them …
From the perspective of wanting to live life to the full, I felt that I had to attempt it”.
Branson’s Message for Managers
Richard Branson believes in empowering talent, offering freedom and fostering creativity as he says that
people who are fun loving, friendly, caring and love helping others are the winners in their respective
roles and jobs.

4. His message for the hiring managers is this: the vital attribute while considering whether to hire someone
is personality because according to Branson the rest of the job can be taught. Furthermore, he also says
judging someone in one interview is not fair owing to the levels of stress an interviewee experiences
during interviews. He advices managers to make an effort to really observe a person’s personality and
don’t follow hiring liberties and actions because sometimes the best people didn’t seem to fit in at first,
but proved to be valuable over time.
Branson’s Message for All
Branson says this for all:
“The brave may not live forever – but the cautious do not live at all.”
“If you get a great opportunity, but aren’t sure how to do it, just say yes, then learn how later.”
“Forget qualifications, value and experience, but focus on personality.”