''Sir Richard Branson~Virgin Company''

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English businessman and investor.He is best known as the founder of Virgin Group, which comprises more than 400 companies.He has a distinctive style in every aspect of leadership.Branson was born in Blackheath, London, the eldest of three children born to barrister Edward James Branson and Eve Branson, a former ballet dancer and air hostess.Branson was educated at Scaitcliffe School, a prep school in Berkshire, before briefly attending Cliff View House School in Sussex.Branson attended Stowe School, an independent schoolin Buckinghamshire until the age of sixteen.Branson has dyslexia and had poor academic performance as a student, and on his last day at school, his headmaster, Robert Drayson, told him he would either end up in prison or become a millionaire.


He is married and have two children.He says his interest in life comes from setting himself huge,apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them.From the perspective of wanting to live life to the full, he felt that he had to attempt it.We can clearly understand the ambition of him.When he was sixteen years old, he dropped out of school to move to London and launch Student Magazine, which did relatively more success.At nineteen founded the Virgin mail order record company.Success in selling mail order records, opening of a record shop then launched own record label, Virgin Records.On May,1973, the Richard Branson biography took on a whole new dimension with the release of Mike Oldfields-the first release for Virgin Records, which quickly became a best-seller throughout England that was great success.


In 1980s Virgin Records became International.Virgin Atlantic Airways and Virgin cargo are launched.After these Virgin Group included record labels, retail outlets, exported music publishing, broadcasting, satellite television and film & video distribution.Then last they launched Virgin Airship & Balloon Company.In 1990s Virgin Megastores arrived in Japan.Virgin Publishing is formed.After sometime Virgin Records is sold to Thorn EMI.Then we met with the Virgin Vodka & Cola,Virgin Express and Virgin Mobile.Finally in 2000s they launched the Virgin Blue,Virgin Galactic(Space Travel For People),Virgin Media and Virgin Fuel 400 million Dollars in Virgin Atlantic jet flight on biofuels and in renewable energy.Virgin Group had 50.000 employees & 15 billion pounds sterling value in 2002.


Richard Branson was knighted in 1999 for his''services to entrepreneurship''.He appears to be at No.85 on the 2002 list of 100 Greatest Britons.He also ranked in 2007's Time Magazine''Top 100 Most Influential People in the World''.On 7 December 2007, United Nations Secretary presented Branson with the United Citizen Of The World Award for his support for environmental and humanitarian causes.According to Forbes'2008 list of billionaires he is the 236th richest person with an estimated net worth of approximately 4.4 billion dollars.He is also well-known for his personal adventures.In 1986 he smashed the world record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic.In 1987/1991 Branson crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the ''Virgin Atlantic Flyer'', which was the first and the largest hot air balloon to cross the ocean.In March 2004, Branson set a record by crossing the english channel between Britain and France on an amphibious vessel-in record time in 1 hour, 40 minutes, and 6 seconds.Then in September 2008 Branson and his children made an unsuccessful attempt crossing of the Atlantic ocean.After 2 days a 'Monster Wave' destroyed the spinnaker.


He is a perfect transformational leader.These two sentences of him would support my idea of him.He says''If a flower is watered, it flourishes. If not It shrivels up and dies. It's much more fun looking for the best in people''.Also this one''Employee should be given the opportunity to do well in a different Virgin Group job.Firing is seldom an option''.He listens everyone,respects everyone and enjoys every moment of his life.Of course, he made mistakes like tax evasion or different kind of mistakes.But he accepts it and says''Forget the rules, and learn from first-hand experience instead. There’s so much more to be gained from not knowing how to do things the ‘correct’ way, and learning to do them your own way''.Success comes with the great deal of effort.He did not jump out on the money directly.He experinced them and produced new innovations to the problems in a funny and successful way.Especially, he knew to how to respect and treat well to the people.I found him very valuable to follow and tried to write in my humble way.Thanks for reading...