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Richard Branson: By 33 I Had 50 Companies. That Broke Every Rule in Business School.

By Richard Branson · Strategy · 1 min read

By the age of 33, I had 50 different companies. This is not what they told me about the need for focus in business school. They said focus. I kind of broke that law.

Key Points

He never thought of himself as a business person — he was interested in creating things he could be proud of
If Virgin had stayed focused on record stores, they wouldn't have a business — the iPod killed them
Diversification saved them during COVID — they sold Virgin Galactic shares to save Virgin Atlantic

If we'd stayed still and only focused on one business — let's say record stores — we wouldn't have a business today.

50 Companies by 33

Branson: By the age of 33 I had 50 different companies. This is not what they told me about the need for focus in business school. They said focus. I kind of break that law.

I've never really thought of myself as a business person. I've never been interested in the bottom line. I've been interested in creating things I can be proud of. A lot of those things come out of personal frustration. And I must have been frustrated quite a lot when I was young.

Never thought of myself as a business person. I've been interested in creating things I'm proud of.

If We'd Only Done Record Stores

Branson: I found it great fun. If we'd stayed still and only focused on one business — let's say record stores — we wouldn't have a business today. Because the iPod and free music really put them out of business.

By actually going against the rules of what you learn in business school, we're still going strong 55 years later.

If we'd only done record stores, we wouldn't have a business. The iPod killed them.

Diversification Saved Us During COVID

Branson: Diversification actually saved us during COVID. Virgin Atlantic and our very badly hit companies were saved by being able to sell Virgin Galactic shares.

Diversification is far more exciting. You learn a hell of a lot more. And it can be useful in times of crisis.

During COVID, we sold Galactic shares to save Atlantic. Diversification saved us.