Branson: "A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts."

Branson: "Fun is one of the most important - and underrated - ingredients in any successful venture. If you're not having fun, then it's probably time to call it quits and try something else."

Branson: "Business opportunities are like buses, there's always another one coming."

Branson: "I've never gone into business to make money. Every Virgin product and service has been made into a reality to make a positive difference in people's lives. And by focusing on the happiness of our customers, we have been able to build a successful group of companies."

Branson: "If you want to be a Millionaire, start with a billion dollars and launch a new airline."

Branson: "From a young age, I learned to focus on the things I was good at and delegate to others what I was not good at. That's how Virgin is run. Fantastic people throughout the Virgin Group run our businesses, allowing me to think creatively and strategically."

Branson: "My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them."

Branson: "Especially when you're at a high level in an organization, criticism can be devastating to an employee. I prefer to praise employees for what they're doing right, and it tends to lead to them doing more of the same. Not always, but it's the way I choose to bet."

Branson: "All you have in business is your reputation - so it's very important that you keep your word."

Branson: "I was dyslexic, I had no understanding of schoolwork whatsoever. I certainly would have failed IQ tests. And it was one of the reasons I left school when I was 15 years old. And if I - if I'm not interested in something, I don't grasp it."

Branson: "The art of delegation is one of the key skills any entrepreneur must master."

Branson: "On one of my last days at school, the headmaster said I would either end up in prison or become a millionaire. That was quite a startling prediction, but in some respects, he was right on both counts!"

Branson: "Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again."

Branson: "To me, business isn't about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It's about being true to yourself, your ideas and focusing on the essentials."

Branson: "There's nothing like the endorphins from being fit, and the incredible endorphin rush that goes with that."

Branson: "By putting the employee first, the customer effectively comes first by default, and in the end, the shareholder comes first by default as well."

Branson: "You don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over."

Branson: "Too many people measure how successful they are by how much money they make or the people that they associate with. In my opinion, true success should be measured by how happy you are."

Branson: "My attitude has always been, if you fall flat on your face, at least you're moving forward. All you have to do is get back up and try again."

Branson: "Overcoming fear is the first step to success for entrepreneurs. The winners all exemplify that, and the hard work and commitment they have shown underlines what is needed to set up a business."

Branson: "Being a good listener is absolutely critical to being a good leader; you have to listen to the people who are on the front line."

Branson: "Taking bold action on climate change simply makes good business sense. It's also the right thing to do for people and the planet. Setting a net-zero GHG emissions target by 2050 will drive innovation, grow jobs, build prosperity, and secure a better world for what will soon be 9 billion people."

Branson: "A good leader doesn't get stuck behind a desk."