Richard's Blog

Virgin Oceanic trials

Very excited that our Virgin Oceanic Sub has started manned shallow sea trials in Newport Beach, CA. This photo was taken during the first open ocean launch and recovery. After four test dives over three days testing the life support, fly by wire and ballast drop systems, everything seems to be in great working order.Chris Welsh, our Chief Test Pilot, explained that the sub's potential for exploration was abundantly clear; battery life during testing was excellent and should yield miles of rang…

In defence of capitalism and entrepreneurs

There are many drawbacks to capitalism. But capitalism and entrepreneurship are proven to still be the best way people around the world can progress forwards. A handful of greedy people (mainly within banks) have fundamentally created the financial mess that we are in. But what people have got to be careful of (and I’m not biased!) is not dismissing every single entrepreneur out there - the restaurant owners, the street vendors, the start-ups, even the airline owners, because of the action…

Prop 29

Livestrong Foundation has flagged for me the upcoming vote on Prop 29 in California on June 5th. It adds a $1 per pack tax to cigarettes there, with the funds going to medical research and tobacco prevention.If you are a Californian, I hope you will vote for it and help hundreds of thousands of people. If you know a Californian or two, have a chat about it. The supporters of Prop 29 include the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association -- the opponents are al…

Why it’s time to say bye to the tie

I often have a pair of scissors in my top pocket to go cutting people’s ties off. It is time to say goodbye to the tie.Why was the tie ever invented? Everyone in business looks the same and dresses the same. I’m sure they only exist because bosses, after being forced to wear ties all their life, are determined to inflict the same fate on the next generation.We received a note from a reader named Steve Mambo in Kenya who shares my frustrations with the tie. He wrote: “Personally…

Words of wisdom

Was sent this wonderful note, which is actually posted up on my assistant's Grandmother-in-law's fridge, and thought we'd share these words of wisdom. There are only two things to worry about.You are either sick, or you are well.If you're well, there's nothing to worry about.If you're sick, there are only two things to worry about.You'll either get well or you'll die.If you get well, there's nothing to worry about.If you die, there are only two things to worry about.You'll either go to heaven…

Businesspersons should dress as human beings

It is great to see Mark Zuckerberg has the confidence to turn up to Wall Street to float his company in the same clothes he normally wears. It’s sad to see that it is still such an issue, with some people on Wall Street complaining about his state of dress. It is easy for business leaders like Mark or I to dress as we feel comfortable, but it would be wonderful if others could take the lead and allow people who work in business to dress as they feel comfortable too.Part of the reason that …

Jamie Oliver caption comp

Caption comp time! Here's Jamie Oliver and me cooking up a storm at our Screw Business As Usual event at Fifteen earlier this week. Tweet me your caption, or post it below. I'll retweet my favourite entry! Have a great weekend.

New ideas for protecting the oceans

Protecting the oceans is one of the most important challenges facing the world today.One prominent example of this is the problem of cod fishing off Newfoundland. In the past, you used to be able to almost walk on water there because every step would be solid cod. Sadly, hardly any cod are left due to overfishing.Without regulation, the cod supplies have not been replenished, and it looks like they will never recover. I am part of the OceanElders, an organisation that serves as a catalyst in the…

I'm Out4Marriage, are you?

At Virgin, we treat everybody the same, whether they are straight or whether they are gay, and the law should too. That's why I'm Out4Marriage, are you? If you want to find out more then you can visit the Out4Marriage website or Facebook page.…

Ask Richard 19

Earlier this week I enjoyed a live Ask Richard Q&A on Google+. Sadly we had some technical problems in the first half of the interview, but lots of you were able to watch the second half live. Below are all the questions and answers you might have missed, and the video too. Thanks to Sherilynn Macale from Identified for hosting the interview and asking some probing questions of her own. Look forward to the next Ask Richard! Dzie Quarshie on Google+: If you were a teenager today, what wo…

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