Screw business as usual - Richard Branson

RICHARD BRANSON, one of the world's most famous and admired
business leaders, argues that it's time to turn capitalism upside down-to
shift our values from an exclusive focus on profit to also caring for
people, communities and the planet.

As he writes:
"It's a vibrant and definite sea change from the way business was always
done, when financial profit was a driving force. Today, people aren't
afraid to say, Screw business as usual!-and show they mean it.

"It's amazing how I keep coming across the same message, from bustling
global cities to the townships of South Africa to small villages in India
to G8 climate conferences.

"It's no coincidence that so many people are talking about the same
thing. There's a real buzz in the air. Change is happening.

"People often associate me with challenges, with trying to break
records while sailing the Atlantic or flying in a jet stream in a balloon
or going into space with Virgin Galactic. But this book isn't just about
fun and adventure and exceeding one's wildest dreams. It's a different
kind of business book. It's about revolution. My message is a simple one:
business as usual isn't working. In fact, business as usual is wrecking
this planet. Resources are being used up; the air, the sea, the land are
all heavily polluted. The poor are getting poorer. Many are dying of
starvation or because they can't afford a dollar a day for lifesaving
medicine.

"But my message is not all doom and gloom. I will describe how I think
business can help fix things and create a more prosperous world for
everyone. I happen to believe in business because I believe that business
is a force for good. By that I mean that doing good is good for
business.

"Doing the right thing can be profitable. I will show how this works
step by step in the following pages. It's the core message of this book.
I often say, 'Have fun and the money will come.' I still believe that,
but now I am saying, 'Do good, have fun and the money will come.'"

Sir Richard Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group. With around 200 companies in more than 30 countries, the Virgin Group has now expanded into leisure, travel, tourism, mobile, broadband, TV, radio, music festivals, finance, health, and renewable energy. Branson's autobiography, Losing My Virginity, and his books on business, Screw It, Let's Do It and Business Stripped Bare, are all international bestsellers.