Like a Virgin

INDEX

RB indicates Richard Branson.

A-B-C-D (connecting the dots) 253-6

adapt quickly, ability to 28, 65-6, 81, 105, 160, 199, 249

advertising 26-7, 34, 225-6, 237, 246, 250, 286, 288

jugular marketing and 35-6

open and frank 288

social media and 253, 254, 255

use of RB in 26-7, 35, 39, 287, 300

Virgin Atlantic 34-5, 36, 255

Virgin Media 246

Virgin Mobile 37

word-of-mouth as 218

advice:

CEO and 103, 107, 108, 110

don’t be afraid of asking for 140

getting a second or third opinion 120-3

RB’s best received 26-7

RB’s to young entrepreneurs 27-8

RB’s to newly unemployed 171

RB’s worst received 27

see also mentors

Afghanistan 80

Africa 5, 16, 80, 175-7, 179, 218-19, 224, 271, 307, 308, 312, 317

ageing, benefits of 93-7

aggression, leadership and 18-19, 20

Alcock, John 48

Al-Qaeda 80

American Airlines 136

American Express Open Forum 204

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) 251-2

Annan, Kofi 80, 312, 328

Ansett 16

ANZ Bank 61

Apple 10-11, 32-3, 70, 75-8, 133-4, 168, 200-1, 233-4

Aunt Joyce 132

Australia 3, 15-16, 65-6, 71-2, 73, 74, 129-30, 164, 196-7, 229-30

aviation, sustainable 115-19 see also Virgin Galactic and under individual airline name

bad news, dealing with 221-4

Bader, Douglas 143

banking 30, 39-40, 41, 42, 61-2, 77, 131-2, 200-1, 207, 243-4, 256, 281, 319, 321 see also Virgin Money

BBC 138

Berkett, Neil 250

biofuels 44, 116, 117, 118, 275

Black, Iain 139

BlackBerry 107

Blackwell, Chris 129

Blair, Tony 202, 323, 324

Bodislav, Alex 128

Boeing 35, 46, 99, 158, 159

Bolt, Usain 246

Bosco, Emily 192

boss 212-15

Boss, Lee 257

bouncing back 61, 62, 300

brainstorming 55

brand:

accountability 187

awareness 59, 67-70

business name, logo and 99, 100-1, 245

employees as ambassadors for 64, 91, 303 see also employees

from the outside in 57

if you don’t define what it is, your competitors will 70

new business damaging 44-5

rebranding 39, 201, 207, 243-7, 281

values 65, 99, 231, 256, 293-6

Virgin see Virgin Group

Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship 271, 298, 329

Branson, Eve (mother) 26, 75, 131, 185, 206, 212, 270, 329

Branson, Holly (daughter) 121, 308-9

Branson, Joan (wife) 3, 6, 121-3, 182, 315

Branson, Richard:

anybody of whom you are still in awe? 8

anything left for you to achieve? 8

anything you still want? 6

anything you’d like to change about yourself? 5

are you stressed? 6

are you ticklish? 6

best country ever visited? 3

business philosophy: five quick questions 26-9

childhood 1, 212-15, 270, 307, 328-9

curiosity 178

did running in the London Marathon hurt you as much as it did me? 8

dyslexia 1, 163, 212, 299, 328

education 1, 184, 185, 212-15, 327-30

ever thought of running for political office? 7

first record brought 3

hammock, view from 178

has anyone ever mistaken you for someone else? 4

has there ever been an event that changed your life? 7

how do you spoil yourself/guilty pleasures? 182

if you could do it all over again 128-32

if you could meet a legend, dead or alive, who would it be? 4

if you were given $60 to start a business, how would you do it? 5

if you were not you, who would you want to be and why? 7-8

is there anything you’d have done differently? 8

is there anything you’d like to change about yourself? 5

kite-surfing 4, 8, 94, 182, 307, 308, 309

lifestyle 178-82

marathon running 8, 94, 121, 308-9

motivation 6, 178, 309

regrets 36, 29, 236, 270

teenage businesses 17, 57, 158, 184-5

the key to your success in three words 6

three most adventurous things you have done so far? 4

what advice would you give to young entrepreneurs on how best to start? 27-8

what’s contributed most to your success? 5

what do you love and hate? 5

what drives you crazy? 6

what is the best advice you ever got? 26-7

what is the greatest piece of wisdom you’ve ever heard? 4

what is the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done? 7

what keeps you awake at night? 6

what makes you cry? 5

what makes you laugh? 5

what motivates you to carry on? 6

what single word gets you out of bed in the morning? 3

what’s the first thing you think of when you wake up? 3

what’s your favourite song? 4

what’s your favourite sport? 8

which is your favourite band? 3

which one of the seven dwarves would you be? 7

which single word gets you out of bed in the morning? 3

who is you mentor? 4

who or what inspires? 180-1

who would play you in the movie of your life? 7

whom do I admire personally and professionally? 179-80

world records 28-9, 287

worst advice you have received? 27

Branson, Sam (son) 121, 182, 308-9

breaking up a business partnership 124-7

BRIC countries 318

British Airways:

biofuel testing 116

customer service 22-3

Millennium Wheel and 37

size as a disadvantage 34

Virgin rivalry with 22, 23, 27, 34, 36, 37

British Virgin Islands 3, 4, 85, 87, 111, 114, 181

broadening services you offer 186

Brown, Arthur Whitten 48

Brown, Gordon 207

Bryn, Sergey 175

Bucknall, Matthew 16, 227

Buffett, Warren 164

bureaucracy 28, 106, 109, 320

business philosophy: five quick questions 26-9

business schools 1, 67, 295

buzz, creating 11, 262

Cahling, Hans 239

Camelot 29

Cameron, James 85

‘Capitalism 24902’ 210-11

carbon emissions 116-19, 146, 210, 211, 276

Carbon War Room 29, 210

Cardoso, Fernando 80

Carter, Jimmy 312

CEO 71, 114

channels of communication 304-5

gauging the mood of your workforce 303-4

goodbye to a company, know when to say 288-9

leading by example 91, 231-2

mistakes 196-9

nurturing ‘intrapreneurs’ 91-2

so, you want to be? 102-5

stepping down as 264-5

volunteering to coach young entrepreneurs 297-8

walkabout 134-6, 166-8, 202

change for good 208-11

charity 175-7, 187, 312

Charles, Jacques 144

climate change 29, 49-50, 108, 146, 175, 210, 271, 275, 311, 312, 328

carbon emissions 116-19, 146, 210, 211, 276

energy efficiency and 115, 118, 145-8, 152, 172, 210, 211, 274-6, 320

fuels and 44, 115-19, 172, 275, 320

Clinton, Hilary 37

Coca-Cola 61, 67

Collins, Tony 138, 304

Columbus, Christopher 4, 111

Commonwealth Bank of Australia 61

communication 53, 54, 104-5, 106-10, 133-6, 139, 140, 167-8, 214, 217-18, 231, 240, 248-52, 262, 267-8, 287, 288, 303, 304, 324, 326

community spirit 136

compact discs 235

competitors:

cumbersome 30, 31, 32

defining your brand 70

differentiation from 11, 227, 286-8

forming alliances with 74, 141

complaints 53, 110, 189, 216, 217, 222, 232, 259

Crandall, Robert 136

criticising other people 12, 26, 104

Culture Club 17, 194

culture, establishing a 17, 19, 31, 72, 82, 91, 153-6, 189, 217, 219, 244, 246, 258, 259, 260, 267, 303, 304

curiosity 51, 109, 178

Cush, David 217, 231, 251

customers:

brand and 244-7, 256, 287, 293-6 see also brand

cannot tell what they want 65

coming first 301-5

complaints 53, 110, 189, 216, 217, 222, 232, 259

earning their trust 285-8

employees and see employees/people

empowerment and appreciation 257-60

first impression of/point of contact 75-8

helplines 57, 76-7, 78

hotel industry and 78

is always right, except when he’s wrong 63-6

maintaining your connection with 221-4, 228

problem 56

research to find your most likely 186

resistance to change 65-8

retention of 230

second impression of 76

selling customers is easy 157-1

service 11, 12, 22-5, 31, 39, 41, 72, 154-5, 156, 190, 209, 216-20, 257-60

social media and 248-2

staff and see employees/people

websites and 77-8

word-of-mouth and 229

De Freitas, Randall 285

deep-sea exploration 44, 84-8, 150, 151

Deepsea Challenger 85

delegating 19, 72-3, 74, 103, 106-10, 109, 291, 315, 328

details, keep an eye on 112, 266-8

differentiation 11, 227, 286-8

digital downloading 236-7

Disease Control Hub, South Africa 312

diversification 67, 68, 95, 106, 156, 253-6, 302

downturn, surviving a 169-72

Drake, Sir Francis 4, 87

Draper, Simon 125, 126

dress 160, 200-3

drugs, war on 79-83

dumb idea, no such thing as a 57-8

Dynamotive Energy Systems and Renewable Oil 118

early endeavours 183-7

economy, kick-start the: ten tips 318-22

abandon student warehouses 321

adopt ‘talent without borders’ 320

improve the infrastructure 319

keep it simple 320

look overseas for investors 319

offer flexitime as well as full-time 321

restore stability 321-2

show us the money 319

teach people to make things 320-1

zoom past fossil fuels 320

education 1, 183, 184, 212-15, 327-30

Elders 8, 29, 181, 312

Ellis, Richard 142

email 55, 91, 106-8, 110, 133-4, 162, 181, 223, 249, 250, 267, 287, 289, 309

emergency planning 137-40

EMI 236

Emissions Trading Scheme, European Union (ETS) 116

employees/people 14-17

being visible and approachable to 91

blaming the rules 258

‘catch employees doing something right’ 25, 224, 260, 326

empower to come up with ideas 222-3

empower to make mistakes 60, 90

empower to use common sense 89-92, 258

establishing a culture and 17

‘first to know, first to handle’ 258

flexible guidelines for 239-42

gauging mood of 303

getting them to talk to each other 55

hire the people you need, not the people you like 264

investing in 229-33

keeping happy during launch stage 192-5

leadership and see leadership

make sure they have the tools they need to succeed 232-3, 239-40

mistakes 17, 90, 104, 109, 139-40, 154, 184, 196, 198, 199, 204, 206

retirement 241

rulebook 257-60

‘sorry, but we’re really busy today’ 268

talent without borders 320

training 239-42

transfers 241-2

‘we’ and ‘they’ 52-5

work-life balance 96, 241, 289-92, 306, 308, 314-17

see also under individual company name

empowerment 60, 89, 154, 155, 189, 211, 244, 257-60, 302, 304

energy efficiency 115, 118, 145-8, 152, 172, 210, 211, 274-6, 320

English Channel, fastest amphibious vehicle crossing of 94, 173, 309

Entrepreneur 204

entrepreneurs:

bouncing back 61, 62, 300

change for good 208-11

exercise and fitness 306-9, 316

how to bake an 111-14

investors and see investors

lonely 269-72

mentors 297-300

mistakes, common 261-5

overcoming adversity 161

ruthlessness of 20

success as 162-5

support systems 269-72

teaching 297-300

term 1, 112

what’s the plan? Keep your team informed 324

work-life balance 96, 241, 289-92, 306, 308, 314-17

young 27-8, 183-7

ethanol plants 117

exercise and fitness 306-9, 316

Facebook 10-11, 160, 218, 222, 237, 248-9, 251

face-to-face meetings 134

failure:

bouncing back, ability to 61, 62, 196-9, 300

learning from 32-3, 61, 62, 65-6, 196-9, 300

family:

and friends, borrowing money from 131-2, 186

making time for 292, 308, 314-17

RB’s life and 5, 6, 120-3, 138, 179, 180

Virgin 17, 100, 241, 244, 281-2, 284

feedback 27, 54, 65, 123, 160, 218, 223, 259, 262-3, 316

Ferry, Joe 113

first impressions are huge 75-8

flexibility 149, 162, 193, 240-1, 258, 263, 289-90, 317

flexible working 193, 289-92, 290, 317

Fossett, Steve 180

Four Ps 34

Freakonomics (Dubner/Levitt) 79

fuels, renewable 44, 115-19, 172, 275, 320

fun, importance of 8, 10, 20, 21, 27-8, 34-8, 195

funding, finding 130-2, 157-61, 225-8 see also investors

Gabriel, Peter 179-80, 181

Gaming Zone 271

gap in the market 46, 130, 206

Gates, Bill 164

Gems, Jonny 131

General Electric: ‘Ecomagination’ 211

Genesis 3

Gevo Inc. 117

Godfrey, Brett 15-16, 103

Google 10-11, 160, 174-5, 218, 249, 265

Haiti 310-11

handshake 277-80

‘harm-reduction’ strategies 81

Henson, William 143

Herriges, Felipe 327

HMV 235-6

holidays/time off 96, 150, 289-92, 314-17

home and/or office 314-17

hot-air ballooning 4, 7, 29, 35, 37, 84, 143, 151-2, 173, 180, 287

hotel industry 78

humour 35, 36, 37, 41, 69-70, 187, 245, 251, 288

IBM 74

innovation 8, 10-11, 41, 42, 60, 61, 65, 66, 71, 73, 90, 99, 113, 116-17, 119, 139, 143, 176, 190, 197, 199, 200, 208, 229, 255, 256, 259, 261, 274, 290, 320, 327

instincts, trust your 45, 152, 183, 204-5

Interface Global 210-11

International Energy Agency 274

International Space Station 50

intrapreneurs 90, 91-2, 112-14

investors/investment:

choosing a partner 225-8

finding funding 130-2, 157-61, 225-8

looking overseas for 319

pitch, the perfect 39-43, 157-61

iPad 71, 72 130, 266

iPhone 71, 72, 74, 130

iPod 71, 72, 129, 196-7, 199, 238

iTunes 72, 129, 197

Jamaica 271, 298, 299

Japan 145, 275

Jetblue 263-4

Jobs, Steve 32-3, 71-4, 129-30, 164

Kagwe, Winfred 277

Kasbah Tamadot, Morocco 317

Kelleher, Herb 64

KISS strategy 158, 282-3, 320

kite-surfing 4, 8, 94, 182, 307, 308, 309

Laker Airways 179

Laker, Sir Freddie 26-7, 31, 35, 155, 179, 287, 300

LanzaTech 117

launch stage of business 102-5

be realistic about costs 263-4

four mistakes 261-5

hire the people you need, not the people you like 264

know when to step down as CEO 264-5

managing 192-5

stay on target 262-3

lawyers 279-80

lay-offs 171

leadership 15, 18-21

aggression and 18-19, 20

bad 15

be a leader not a boss 212-15

by example 91

delegating see delegating

getting people to talk to each other 55

listening and 11-12

mentors and see mentors

negotiation and 19-20

ruthless 20

Steve Jobs and 71-4

see also CEO

Liebenberg, David 219

Lindbergh, Charles 48, 143

Lindstrand, Per 143

listening 11-12, 19, 20, 53, 66, 91, 109, 120-3, 135-6, 154, 155, 168, 194-5, 218

London Array 147

London Fashion Week 298

London Marathon 8, 121, 308-9

London Triathlon 309

Malatsi, Lesego 298

mallee 118

management:

communication and see communication

delegation and see delegation

restructuring and 188-91

staff and see employees/people

structure, decentralised 60, 89-92

surrounding yourself with great 19

teams 19

walkabout 134-6, 166-8, 202

manager see CEO and leadership

Mandela, Nelson 7, 16, 179, 181, 328

Manor, The 132

Maphongwane, Musa 271

marketing 35-8, 54, 65-6, 100, 151, 154, 218, 229, 237, 244, 249, 250, 286, 287, 288, 294, 295, 300

Marks & Spencer ‘Plan A’ 211

Mars, colonising 175, 328

Masson, Margaret 137, 138

McAuliffe, Christa 48

McKinsey & Co. 276

mentor 105, 163, 179, 270-1, 272, 276, 297-300

a good coach tells it straight 299

build a mentoring team 299

get the message out 300

make the introductions 300

persistence is the key 300

teach them to be bold 299

who is RB’s? 4

micromanaging 89, 192-5, 325

Microsoft 10-11, 67, 74, 164

mistakes:

CEO 196-9

common 265-9

learning from 17, 60-2, 90, 104, 109, 139-40, 154, 184, 198-9, 200-1, 204, 206

staff 17, 90, 104, 109, 139-40, 154, 184, 196, 198, 199, 204, 206

Mitchell, Debbie 187

money, importance of 15, 162, 164, 178-9

Montalto di Castro Photovoltaic Power Station, Italy 147

Morgan, Sally 323

motivation 66, 93, 178, 301-5

Mowlam, Mo 180

Mtsolongo, Amos 271

‘Music Box’ 129

music industry 76, 102, 129, 159, 167-8, 234-8

Music Week 129

Musk, Elon 50

NASA 142, 174

National Australia Bank 61

National Lottery, UK 29

natural disasters 310-11

Necker 8, 15, 85, 86, 87, 100, 108, 207, 292, 307, 323

belongers and nonbelongers 111-12, 114

entrepreneur meetings on 112

typical day on 181-2

name and discovery of 111

Necker Nymph 85-6

negotiation 19-20, 65-6, 194

new ventures, which to pick? 149-52

nice guys can finish first 18-21

Nike 67

Noriega, General Manuel 36

Northern Rock 39, 200-1, 207, 243-4, 281

notepad, keep a 266-7

NTL-Telewest 189, 246, 250, 294

nuclear power 145-6, 275

Obama, Barack 202, 319

Odersun 147

office:

home or 314-17

layout 213-14

relationships 281-4

oil 148, 274-5, 320

Oldfield, Mike 3, 132, 150, 279

one-on-one meetings 55

opinion, second and third 120-3

Page, Larry 175, 265

Palm 197

paralysis by analysis 150

partner, choosing a 225-8

partnership, breaking up a business 124-7

passion, pursue your 45-6, 72-4

Payne, Les 90

Pendolino train 137

Perfect 10 56-9

Peterson, Jack 142

phone, why is it so hard to pick up the? 133, 134, 181

pitch, the perfect 39-42, 157-61

attention to detail 158, 159-60

be concrete 41

be unapologetically disruptive 41

demonstrate bench strength 42-3

dress 160

listening 160

pick three points 160

practice run 159-60

prove that growth is sustainable 42

Virgin Atlantic and 158-9

what’s in it for them? 40

Pixar 69

planet’s problems, opportunities in 273-6

Planta Solar 20 solar farm, Spain 147

Polanco, Isaac 149

Portugal 81

Powell, Nik 125, 184, 279

press/media 35, 37, 82, 101, 139-40, 164

pricing 185-6

pride of association works wonders 11

profits, focus on 45, 155, 164

protecting the downside 28, 46, 47

Pterodactyl Ascender 142

publicity ‘stunts’ 143, 250

Puerto Rican Trench 87

Qantas 16

raising money see investors

Reach for the Skies (Branson) 143

reach for the skies, it’s closer than you think 141-4

rebranding 39, 201, 207, 243-7, 281

recession 68, 125, 169-72, 235, 311

red tape 28, 320

Reed, Frank 16

regrets 26, 29, 236, 270

removing yourself from business’s day-to-day functions 108

reputation, protecting 140, 217, 240, 250, 277, 280

restructuring 188-91

Richard, Cliff 3

risks, taking 27, 28, 37, 41, 44-7, 58-9, 68, 78, 89, 102, 142, 152, 184, 194, 237, 264, 269, 279, 294

Rivera, Billy Loaiza 248

Robinson, Mary 312, 328

Rolling Stones 32, 287

Roscoe Wind Farm, Texas 147

Roy, Tanga 243

rulebook 257-60

rules of business, the 67

rules of the road 323-6

celebrate your successes 326

champion your people’s ideas 326

define the 324-5

focus, focus, focus 325

what’s the plan? Keep your team informed 324

when mistakes happen, learn from them and move on 326

who’s in charge? It’s up to you 325

Rutan, Burt 142, 170, 180, 328

ruthlessness 20

Sampson, Anthony 34

Scaled Composites 48-9

Screw Business as Usual (Branson) 211

sea science 84-8

Selfridge, Henry Gordon 63, 66

semantic business problems 112, 213

Seven Seas Water 275

Sex Pistols 3, 194, 285

sign every check and examine every invoice every six weeks 103

small and lean business, keeping a 12, 28, 30-3, 109, 153-6, 165, 170, 171-2, 189, 190-1, 193, 195, 237

social media 222, 229, 250-1

Sojka, Christian 216

Solana, Javier 80

solar power 49-50, 145, 147, 209, 275

Solazyme 117

Somalia 86-7, 175

South Africa 16, 179, 218-19, 271, 308, 312

Southwest Airlines 64

Space Shuttle Challenger 48

space travel/tourism 32, 48-51, 84, 86, 142, 143, 144, 151, 170, 173-7

cost barrier 49

Mars, colonising 175, 328

off-planet solar panels 49-50

re-entry problem 142-5

satellites, launching 49, 176

Virgin focus on 173-7

Space X 50

SpaceShipOne 142, 180

speedboating 4, 7, 28-9, 35, 173

Spitzer, Eliot 37

staff see employees/people

starting a business/start-up 128-32

be innovative – create something different 10-11

be visible 12-13

five secrets to 9-13

if you don’t enjoy it don’t do it 9-10

launch stage of business 102-5, 192-5, 261-5

lead by listening 11-12

pride of association works wonders 11

Stowe School 1, 212-13

Stoyanova, Pavlina 130-1

Stringfellow, John 143

Student 45-6, 112, 113, 129, 144, 158, 185, 193, 225-6, 307, 329

success:

celebrating 326

handling 155

what is? 162-5

Sununu, John 35

sustainable/renewable energy 115-19, 145-9

Switzerland 81-2, 138

Taliban 80

Tan, Victor 204

Thames Estuary 147

third-person problems 52-5

ties 200-3

time management 106-10

T-Mobile 151

training, staff 239-42

trust 15, 16, 41, 69, 104, 109, 124, 140, 231, 277-80, 282, 284, 285-8, 292, 294, 297, 316

tsunami, Japan, 2011 145, 275

Tubular Bells (Oldfield) 132, 150, 279

Tutu, Archbishop Desmond 8, 179, 312

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (Verne) 84, 88

Twitter 160, 218, 222, 248-9, 251

Ulusaba Private Game Reserve 303, 308, 317

uncertain times, best time to set up a business 273

United Nations Global Commission on Drug Policy 80

University of Lausanne 81-2

US Drug Enforcement Agency 80

Virgin see Virgin Group

Virgin Active 16, 19, 96, 218-19, 224, 227-8

Virgin America 15, 19, 96, 217, 230, 231-2, 251-2, 258

Virgin Atlantic 19, 96, 254, 266-7

bank attempts to cut off credit of 39

birth of 11, 73-4, 282, 292

cabins 113

complaints 223

customer service 23-5

expansion of 284

first airline with personal movies 58, 65

fun and 34-7

intrapreneurs 113

investment, securing 158-9

renewable fuels test flight 116, 117, 118

safety of 138

social media and 250

staff/service 15

Upper Class 23-5, 31, 388

Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer 180

Virgin Australia 15-16, 67-8, 73-4, 90-2, 96, 100-1, 118, 284

Virgin Blue see Virgin Australia

Virgin Cola 61

Virgin Express 284

Virgin Galactic 23, 32, 48-9, 50, 86, 100, 142, 143, 151, 170, 173-5, 176, 328

Virgin Green Fund 117, 147, 152, 275

Virgin Group 19, 39, 44

birth of 9-10

brand 8, 44-5, 65, 69-70, 256, 293-6

chief executives 91

culture of 17, 19, 31, 72, 82, 91, 153-6, 189, 217, 219, 244, 246, 258, 259, 260, 267, 303, 304

diversification 67, 68, 95, 106, 156, 253-6, 302

older people, employing 93-7

focus on green sector 116, 274

focus of 68

management structure, decentralised 60, 156

name 13

rationale behind approach of 44

Stars of the Year dinner 90, 259

‘stick to what you know’ and 68

vertical disintegration 156, 253-4

see also under individual company/subsidiary name

Virgin Limited Edition 317

Virgin Media 189, 190, 246, 250, 294

Virgin Megastores 58-9, 206, 235-6

Virgin Mobile 37, 68, 151, 189, 210, 246, 250, 255

Virgin Money 23, 39, 61-2, 100, 201, 207, 210, 243-4, 281, 308

credit card 61-2, 293

Giving 210

London Marathon and 308

Northern Rock and see Northern Rock

Virgin Saver 62

Virgin Music 56, 58-9, 125, 206, 235-6, 291-2 see also Virgin Records

Virgin Pulse 197-8

Virgin Rail 137

Virgin Records 236, 237, 254, 29, 320

birth of 150, 226, 302

communication and 167-8

delegation in 72-3

first shop 57

handshake deals 278-9

sale of 284

small size as an advantage 32

staff 16-17

Virgin Retail 235

Virgin Trains 19, 138, 139, 245

Virgin Unite 29, 179, 209-10, 307, 312, 328

Virji, Shezad 106

visible, be 12-13, 27, 91, 316

Voyager 180

walkabout, manager/CEO 134-6, 166-8, 202

Walsh, Willie 116

Warner Brothers Records 129

Warren, Doug 206

water 147, 211, 274, 275-6, 310

Wax, Ruby 7

‘we’ and ‘they’ 52-5

weakest link, the 22-5

web-based businesses 129-33

websites 76-8, 129, 248, 249

West Coast Main Line 137, 304

Westpac Banking Corporation 61

work-life balance 96, 241, 289-92, 306, 308, 314-17

Williamson, Phil 259-60

wind energy 147, 275

Zuckerberg, Mark 164