Red tape will often get in your way. It's one of the reasons I often carry scissors!

If you want to stand out from the crowd, give people a reason not to forget you

I think business leaders all over the world should not just think of how we can make lots of money, which is fine, but to take some of the problems in the world and get out there and tackle them using business. I think that if businesses do that we can get on top of these problems.

I think great businessmen are more likely made than born. I don't know if it's from your upbringing, your parental background, the struggles you go through. In my own particular situation, I left school at 15 and I was struggling to survive in the jungle and that was a great education. So I think just getting out there, hands on, learning to survive teaches you a lot.

Because I don't see Virgin as a company but as a way of life and I fully enjoy it, I don't think I'll ever retire.

I think entrepreneurship is our natural state--a big adult word that probably boils down to something much more obvious like playfulness.

One thing is certain in business: you will make mistakes. When you are pushing the boundaries, mistakes are inevitable-how you react is important.