Richard Branson

We got word back that he would be willing to leave and go and live in Libya for the rest of his life with his family if we could find an elder or two to fly out with him of the stature of somebody like Nelson Mandela so he could fly out with his head held high. And so I then contacted Mandela. I didn't know very well, but he agreed to go.

We got word back that he would be willing to leave and go and live in Libya for the rest of his life with his family if we could find an elder or two to fly out with him of the stature of somebody like Nelson Mandela so he could fly out with his head held high. And so I then contacted Mandela. I didn't know very well, but he agreed to go.

But he also wanted Kofi Annan, who was Secretary General of the United Nations, to come with him. Contacted Kofi Annan. Again, I didn't know him at that time. but after about a few days managed to talk to him directly. He agreed to go with Mandela. We got a plane to South Africa. The flight was about to take place. Very sadly, the bombing started and it never happened.

But he also wanted Kofi Annan, who was Secretary General of the United Nations, to come with him. Contacted Kofi Annan. Again, I didn't know him at that time. but after about a few days managed to talk to him directly. He agreed to go with Mandela. We got a plane to South Africa. The flight was about to take place. Very sadly, the bombing started and it never happened.

What it did teach us was if an elder or two could stop a war, then maybe we should form a group of elders to try to stop future conflicts. Mandela agreed to be the founding elder of the elders, Kofi Annan agreed to join, Archbishop Tutu joined, Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon subsequently joined, and anyway, wonderful group of 12 men and women.

What it did teach us was if an elder or two could stop a war, then maybe we should form a group of elders to try to stop future conflicts. Mandela agreed to be the founding elder of the elders, Kofi Annan agreed to join, Archbishop Tutu joined, Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon subsequently joined, and anyway, wonderful group of 12 men and women.

And they have done wonderful work since forming and have stopped some conflicts and are still working very, very hard, obviously, on things like Israel-Palestine and other conflicts that are going on around the world, like the Congo. So it was an interesting time.

And they have done wonderful work since forming and have stopped some conflicts and are still working very, very hard, obviously, on things like Israel-Palestine and other conflicts that are going on around the world, like the Congo. So it was an interesting time.

We have this bike ride on the island next to us on Necker. It's actually steeper than a Tour de France ride.

We have this bike ride on the island next to us on Necker. It's actually steeper than a Tour de France ride.

Yeah, sorry. And people get into hysterics just like that. What I tell people just before they go is, Your brain will tell you as you're halfway up the hill, enough, absolutely enough. I'm not going to go any further. At the same time that your body is definitely capable of going further. So don't listen to the brain. Look at the floor 10 feet ahead.

Yeah, sorry. And people get into hysterics just like that. What I tell people just before they go is, Your brain will tell you as you're halfway up the hill, enough, absolutely enough. I'm not going to go any further. At the same time that your body is definitely capable of going further. So don't listen to the brain. Look at the floor 10 feet ahead.

Don't look up because if you look up, you're going to see this steep hill ahead of you. It'll look pretty flat if you look just 10 feet ahead and keep plowing on. And I think that's a pretty good metaphor for life as well. we're all going to have moments where we're down.

Don't look up because if you look up, you're going to see this steep hill ahead of you. It'll look pretty flat if you look just 10 feet ahead and keep plowing on. And I think that's a pretty good metaphor for life as well. we're all going to have moments where we're down.

I think the important thing to remember on those moments when you're down is that two or three days after that horrible moment where you really feel bad, that you'll wonder why you were having a sleepless night three or four nights earlier. Was it really worth a sleepless night over? And by and large, most things

I think the important thing to remember on those moments when you're down is that two or three days after that horrible moment where you really feel bad, that you'll wonder why you were having a sleepless night three or four nights earlier. Was it really worth a sleepless night over? And by and large, most things

pale into insignificance when you wake up and see the sun coming up and what a beautiful world we live in. And so I think we've all got to be as positive as possible. I think I'm at an age where being fit is really important and I enjoy getting fit. I mean, I love playing tennis early in the mornings and I love playing tennis in the evenings. I love going kiting. I love riding bikes.

pale into insignificance when you wake up and see the sun coming up and what a beautiful world we live in. And so I think we've all got to be as positive as possible. I think I'm at an age where being fit is really important and I enjoy getting fit. I mean, I love playing tennis early in the mornings and I love playing tennis in the evenings. I love going kiting. I love riding bikes.

If I go to the gym, I'll go with somebody who's fun and we'll crack dirty jokes for a half an hour. It's certainly worthwhile trying to keep oneself in shape if one can. Life's the funner for it.

If I go to the gym, I'll go with somebody who's fun and we'll crack dirty jokes for a half an hour. It's certainly worthwhile trying to keep oneself in shape if one can. Life's the funner for it.