Anyone who makes an effort at whatever they hope to accomplish can, and will, seriously improve their chances of succeeding.

I'm not the sort of person who fears failure.

I always tell other people to protect against the downside, and not risk roughing on new ventures, but I never stuck to that rule myself.

Whether you are launching a start-up or leading an established company, you should start establishing your social media presence if you haven’t already.

What's the most critical factor in any business decision you'll ever have to make? Basically, it boils down to this question: If this all crashes, will it bring the whole house tumbling down like a pack of cards? One business matra remains embedded in my brain - protect the downside.

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.

By working hard, by making the right moves, you can create your own luck, I think. But certainly luck plays a part.