1. Dhiraj Wohra - October 29th, 2008  

   Could you please teach me to be rich?

2. Peter A. Mello - October 29th, 2008  

   Sir Richard;

   Thanks so much for answering my (and all the other) questions. It is exciting to see a leader use social media to engage their audience/customers. Here again you are that leading edge.

   As always I look forward to following all of your adventures in business and in life.

   Fair Winds and Godspeed,
   Peter A. Mello
   http://weeklyleader.net
   http://sea-fever.org

3. Shiraz Ali - October 30th, 2008  

   Sir Richard,

   I am sending you information regarding my island paradise in Fiji. I am seeking a joint venture with your company. I feel you will be pleased when you see the proposal. I want a necker island in Fiji and I beleive you are the man to make it happen. I am 33 years old and I am just as ambitious as you were when you were 33 and I look up to you as a role model and a business man. I look forward to your respone.

   Regards,

   Shiraz
   Tovu Island, Fiji

4. Bob - October 30th, 2008  

   Hi Shiraz

   thanks for your comment. You can submit business proposals to Virgin here: http://www.virgin.com/Contact/GotABigIdea.aspx

   good luck!

   all the best

   Bob

5. Thinley Wangchuk - November 2nd, 2008  

   Hey Richard,
   Ever since i was sixteen ive always looked up to you. I am 19 now and in college. The thing that fascinates me most about you is the way you see the world and approach situations. I think you have a very positive and great outlook on the world/life. I am happy that you have been successful in your endeavors. My dream is to role model parts of my life after you and to become as smart and successful as you are today.

   In the end, i know that you don’t have time to read blogs. But if you do manage to read this message, please remember that you are inspiring many teenagers around the world.

   Thank You,
   Thinley Wangchuk
   My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them…from the perspective of wanting to live life to the full, I felt that I had to attempt it.

6. stella - November 4th, 2008  

   Hello Richard!
   Want you and your children to wish good luck, fair wind, execution of desire.
   Let the God will kiss, will keep you and will give you force.
   Your smile helps people to overcome itself, in it your force.
   With greater to you respect Stella

7. Teresa - November 14th, 2008  

   Sir Richard,
   Have I got a big idea for you!!!!
   My son needs a job with Virgin in Toronto Canada.
   He graduated from University in May of this year with an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in Entrepeneurship and Small Business Management. He is an intelligent, very hard working young man, with profound work ethics which he has developed from working since he was 14 years old. He is an accomplished martial artist, having obtained his 3rd degree black belt in Tae kon do at the age of 17. He is a genuine, sincere, caring individual who is determined to do good in life. Realizing that the chances of you reading my e-mail are probably next to nil, I thought I would at least try. You see, Sir Richard, I too have goals. My gratest goal in life however, has been to help my children acheive their goals in life. From the moment they were born, I knew my work in life would revolve around them and helping them get to a point in their lives were they would have a decent start in life. So this e-mail is part of my goal. You are part of my goal Sir Richard. If you would be interested in this GREAT BIG IDEA of mine, I am willing to offer it to you at no cost. Imagine, you would not only help a young man join a great empire, but you would also grant a wish to a very caring mother. I look forward to hearing from you. P.S. My son would would not be very happy with me if he knew I have written you. Oh well….doesn’t matter, I don’t care. I just want to help him.
   With the warmest of regards,
   Teresa
   (my kids call me Mother Teresa)

8. Gloria - November 15th, 2008  

   Hi Richard, where can I begin. Firstly i’m totally honoured that you are able to take the time out to speak to ordinary people like us and appreciate that you are a very humble person which counts for a lot in this day and age. Now I hope I can explain everything in this small box. I am writing on behalf of my partner, he has been in business for around 8 years, he has so many ideas that I would love to show someone, but not enough capital to get it off the ground, I’ve never seem anyone with so much enthusiasm and sense and would talk you through exactly what he wants to do with his business. I totally believe in him and I know he believes in himself but we don’t know how to get these ideas across to someone who would listen and take them seriously. My partner has created different types of products and services and different business in their own right which to me look very lucrative if he was able to get them into production. I must sound very cheeky asking yourself for help but we don’t know which direction to go in. I would very much like to discuss these ideas with someone or get someone to call him to discuss them as I believe this would be very big. Many thanks and thank you for listening. Gloria

9. Bob - November 15th, 2008  

   Hi Gloria

   Thanks very much for your comment

   At the moment you can submit business ideas direct to us here at Virgin Management via: http://www.virgin.com/Contact/GotABigIdea.aspx

   good luck!

   all the best
   Bob

10. Dirk - November 17th, 2008  

    About (http://www.virgin.com/Contact/GotABigIdea.aspx)

    Why not have a email address listed? Seems a faster, cheaper, greener, and more efficient means of communication than traditional mail.

    I have a ‘Big Idea’ and would like to submit, and will send in via traditional mail as you request, but wondering if email is a option?

    Best,

    Dirk

11. Bob - November 18th, 2008  

    Hi Dirk

    Thanks for your comment

    At the moment we need an original hard copy of your signed idea submission agreement so it makes sense to have you send your business plan by post.

    However we’re always open to suggestions for improvement to this process…

    all the best

    Bob

12. Cahir O'Doherty - November 19th, 2008  

    Richard,

    Good to hear that all intrepid travellers are on land safely. It is good to see the adventurous bug is still alive and well.

    We at our airport are always happy to keep an eye on an explorer who inadvertently bonded with us from his early adventures with the Virgin Atlantic Flyer Hot-Air Balloon when Richard created a record for crossing the Atlantic in a record time.

    Luckily for us at the airport, 2 pairs of fuel tanks narrowly missed the airport landing just a short distance away. We now have one of the pairs on proud display at the entrance of our airport to mark the feet made by Branson and his team.

    This is the second time an aviation explorer placed our historic city in to the history books as Amelia Earhart was the first when she landed in Derry in 1932 during her solo transatlantic flight.

    Best of luck for any future expeditions Richard

    Regards,
    Cahir

13. Aniruddh Jain,IIT Guwahati,India - December 24th, 2008  

    Dear all,

    With all due respect to Sir Richard,I find it really saddening to see people here seeing themselves as “ordinary people” and Sir Richard as some super human being and hence they’re thankful to him for talking to them.

    Well,people should stop asking for support for their brothers,sisters,sons,friends,themselves etc etc.Sir Richard did not become Sir Richard by taking a shot at asking for help at the drop of a hat.

    My biggest takeaway lesson from Sir Richard is that one should pursue his/her goals persistently without failing/losing hope.Don’t ask for help-for money or otherwise. You’ll become dependant.I strongly believe that most businesses can be started with a little capital that everyone can arrange.Its how you use it that matters.

    Have some self-respect people.Confidence in your goals and a vision !

14. James From BabySpot.com - February 11th, 2009  

    Sir Richard,

    This is my first time on this blog. I just wanted to say this is awesome and I must get your book as I am a big fan! I am trying to make my dreams go come as well with my company BabySpot.com (myspace/facebook for babies). Hopefully one day we will cross paths and I will have the pleasure of meeting you!

    Keep up the great work!

    Thanks
    James Rivera
    Co-Founder of BabySpot.com & BabySpotLatino.com

    p.s you can find me on twitter here http://www.twitter.com/jamesatbabyspot

15. John Michael Hansen - March 9th, 2009  

    Smiley guy with a beard,

    I read through these questions that people post, and well, I hope these posts are not the levity of your day. That includes mine as it’s pretty droll so far. One question, hopefully on the lighter side of things, why on earth do all the teachers and parents in my life say I am like a young Branson? Between you and me I think it’s because I am incredibly handsome. Actually though I am curious as to what you were like at 18, the kind of person you were, the thoughts that frequented your mind, that sort of thing. It is a broad, somewhat ambiguous question that you may not want to answer, but if you do, I promise I will ask you an intriguing question in the next say 3 weeks. And regardless of whether of not I hear back from you do me another favor; you seem to live life with a lot of vigor, always enjoying yourself. I see no reason that you should ever stop making play and work the one in the same. Not that you need these opinions from me, I just love the sound of my own typing, and thought I would throw in my two pence. Thanks for the time.

    Take care,

    JMH

16. Luiz Silva - March 15th, 2009  

    Sir Richard,

    What about your vision on South America and particulary Brazil. When will Virgin brand land here?

    Cheers,

    Luiz

17. jean - May 10th, 2009  

    sir richard,

    hi! Im a fan of yours since i was 20 now im 31 yrs old, your such a humble person, Keep up the good work you inspire a lot of people with your vision in life…God Bless…

    Jean

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