Wisdom in fragments

You need to work like someone's trying to take it all away from you, because they are.

Billionaire Investor, Shark Tank Investor & Dallas Mavericks Owner

Taking that first step is your biggest competitive advantage; most people won't do it.

Billionaire Investor, Shark Tank Investor & Dallas Mavericks Owner

As an entrepreneur, I got my education out in the world – real life learning is the way forward for young entrepreneurs. And this is what we must encourage and support.

Founder of Virgin Group & British Billionaire Entrepreneur

True success in life can only be gauged by something which is priceless; how much love you have in your life – I am truly fortunate to be surrounded by extremely loving and fun family and friends and nothing beats spending time with the people I love.

Founder of Virgin Group & British Billionaire Entrepreneur

Money is not my first priority – I have always pursued what I am passionate about whether that will make me money or not, my fascination is learning and discovery more than being rich and powerful.

Founder of Virgin Group & British Billionaire Entrepreneur

The key is just to treat your staff how you would like to be treated yourself. You should treat your employees like the smart and capable adults they are. Give them the choice to make informed decisions and you will cultivate an environment in which everyone can flourish.

Founder of Virgin Group & British Billionaire Entrepreneur

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!

Founder of Virgin Group & British Billionaire Entrepreneur

You are going to have to get out there and sell yourself. Make a fool of yourself – whatever it takes. Make sure you appear on the front page and not the back pages.

Founder of Virgin Group & British Billionaire Entrepreneur

The area under the curve over time is greater if you keep your prices low than if you jack them up to maximise revenue. I'd get kicked out of a business school for saying something like that, but it's true.

Co-Founder of Square & Mobile Payment Pioneer

Most people don't know why an airplane stays in the air, but they'll still get on and fly to another continent.

Co-Founder of Square & Mobile Payment Pioneer

You should try and copy everything you possibly can! It's just that if you run out of alternatives, if you run out of options to copy, you will realise that your entire life has conditioned you to not only be a great copier, but to hesitate when copying is no longer an option.

Co-Founder of Square & Mobile Payment Pioneer

Most people I would consider world-class, successful entrepreneurs never volunteered for the job. They were kicked out like the guy who offended the king and was kicked out of the city walls.

Co-Founder of Square & Mobile Payment Pioneer

I also want to dispel the hero-myth of entrepreneurs, that they're somehow super-gifted individuals who are better than me or the people I know. I don't know any like that – my friends sleep late, smell funny, do stupid stuff and have weird joint problems. I don't know any superhumans.

Co-Founder of Square & Mobile Payment Pioneer

Doing something that has never been done before is terrifying… all the people who love you will tell you not to do it… not because they're jealous, but because they're genuinely scared for you… they're worried for your wellbeing. If you venture outside that wall, you are really somebody who has traded security and certainty for freedom and risk.

Co-Founder of Square & Mobile Payment Pioneer

While many investors were caught in this crisis, the leading economists in the world saw it coming.

The past 10 days have been 'the most dramatic in Wall Street's 216-year history' seeing Lehman Brothers collapse, AIG fall into critical distress, and the US Federal Reserve creating a c. US$1 Trillion rescue plan to 'save the world'.