The jet stream is a very strong force and pushing a balloon into it is like pushing up against a brick wall, but once we got into it, we found that, remarkably, the balloon went whatever speed the wind went.

Can you afford to ignore China? It's like saying you can afford to ignore the internet. I don't think so.

Choose great people and shine in their shadows

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

Business leaders take things far too seriously, and forget that most of the time people spend in their lives is at work, and it should be fun.

You see, it's essential that one of us stays awake during the flight [ballon]. So, rather than using the comfortable Virgin seats which we used to cross the Atlantic, we've asked British Airways for two of theirs.

The idea that business is strictly a numbers affair has always struck me as preposterous. For one thing, I've never been particularly good at numbers, but I think I've done a reasonable job with feelings. And I'm convinced that it is feelings - and feelings alone - that account for the success of the Virgin brand in all of its myriad forms.