If you offer people a decent service, if you give them you know Internet access, if their phones are not cut off on the trains, you know if you have plugs where they can plug in their computers, and if you have a smiling, cheerful staff; and if you can travel really quickly, then you can make a success out of the rail business.

Most of our businesses do succeed, but if something completely fails, then as long as we bow out gracefully and pay off all our debts, and nobody gets hurt, then I don't think people disrespect Virgin for trying. The public appreciates someone having a go; it appreciates the attempt. Who's been a success in life who hasn't failed?

I have had fun running all of the Virgin businesses, so I never see a setback as a bad experience; it is just a learning curve.

Develop the business around the people; build it, don't buy it; and, then, be the best.

If young people do see me as an example (I'm very flattered if they do!) I hope it is as someone who will go out there and live life to the full.

Irreverence ran on both sides of our family...my parents brought me up to think we could all change the world.

Life is a helluva lot more fun if you say yes rather than no