--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always tell other people to protect…" description: "\"I always tell other people to protect against the downside, and not risk roughing on new ventures, but I never stuck to that rule myself.\" — Richard Br..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/richard-branson-256_new-ventures_i-always-tell-other-people-to-protect-ag_1569553.jpg" --- # I always tell other people to protect against the… ![“I always tell other people to protect against the downside, and not risk roughing on new ventures, but I never stuck to that rule myself.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/richard-branson-256_new-ventures_i-always-tell-other-people-to-protect-ag_1569553.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/richard-branson-256_new-ventures_i-always-tell-other-people-to-protect-ag_1569553.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/richard-branson-256_new-ventures_i-always-tell-other-people-to-protect-ag_1569553.jpg) > “I always tell other people to protect against the downside, and not risk roughing on new ventures, but I never stuck to that rule myself.” [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker advises caution in ventures but fails to follow his own advice, exposing personal inconsistency. **In simple terms:** Advice can be contradictory. Key Takeaway Align actions with words. Themes integrity risk advice Mood honest self‑critical Type advice personal When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - personal finance - leadership - goal setting Key Concepts cognitive dissonance self‑contradiction Questions to Reflect On - When have you contradicted yourself? - How can you hold yourself accountable? A Different Perspective Even successful people slip into hypocrisy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [New ventures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-ventures/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) ## Related quotes > [It is only by being bold that you get anywhere. If you are a risk-taker, then the art is to protect the downside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/it-is-only-by-being-bold-that-you-get-anywhere-if-you-are-a-risk/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [When we start a new venture, we base it on hard research and analysis. Typically, we review the industry and put ourselves in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/when-we-start-a-new-venture-we-base-it-on-hard-research-and-analysis/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [When contemplating the pursuit of a dream or the start of a new venture, too many people are hesitant to begin because they can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/when-contemplating-the-pursuit-of-a-dream-or-the-start-of-a-new/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The more successful the unit, the more difficult it is to make sure that the large company doesn't put the same expectations on it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-more-successful-the-unit-the-more-difficult-it-is-to-make-sure/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The sure ways to create new ventures of discovery are to keep an open mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/the-sure-ways-to-create-new-ventures-of-discovery-are-to-keep-an-open/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [So one way to create an attractive risk/reward situation is to limit downside risk severely by investing in situations that have a large margin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-greenblatt/so-one-way-to-create-an-attractive-risk-reward-situation-is-to-limit/) [Joel Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-greenblatt/) > [It is way less certain to be a wonderful business in the future. The threat is alternative mediums of information. Every newspaper is scrambling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/it-is-way-less-certain-to-be-a-wonderful-business-in-the-future-the/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [My philosophy is that if I have any money I invest it in new ventures and not have it sitting around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/my-philosophy-is-that-if-i-have-any-money-i-invest-it-in-new-ventures/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Protect the downside. Worry about the margin of safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/protect-the-downside-worry-about-the-margin-of-safety/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [“Cover the downside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/cover-the-downside/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“As a company gets big and complex, you can’t just organize around people who create innovation; you need to organize around people who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/as-a-company-gets-big-and-complex-you-can-t-just-organize-around/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [I spoke to a bunch of University of Houston students and said, 'One of the beauties of the free enterprise system we have in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-luck/i-spoke-to-a-bunch-of-university-of-houston-students-and-said-one-of/) [Oliver Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-luck/) > [“In a study of business launches in 108 companies, we found that 86% of those new ventures were line extensions—incremental improvements to existing industry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-chan-kim/in-a-study-of-business-launches-in-108-companies-we-found-that-86-of/) [W. Chan Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-chan-kim/) > [I've witnessed first hand the impact the Benchmark team has had on new ventures, and I believe their commitment to the entrepreneur and dedication…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-lasky/i-ve-witnessed-first-hand-the-impact-the-benchmark-team-has-had-on/) [Mitch Lasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-lasky/) ## More by Richard Branson > [Lavish praise on people and people will flourish; criticize people and they'll shrivel up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lavish-praise-on-people-and-people-will-flourish-criticize-people-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Fantasizing about the future is one of my favorite pastimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/fantasizing-about-the-future-is-one-of-my-favorite-pastimes/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I will work day and night to avoid failure, but if I can't, I'll pick myself up the next day. The most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-will-work-day-and-night-to-avoid-failure-but-if-i-can-t-i-ll-pick/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Tough times are inevitable in life and in business. But how you compose yourself during those times defines your spirit and will define your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/tough-times-are-inevitable-in-life-and-in-business-but-how-you/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [All successful people - not just entrepreneurs - have got things wrong over and over again before finding the right solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/all-successful-people-not-just-entrepreneurs-have-got-things-wrong/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [We have the enormous opportunity in our hands to make a positive difference for business, people, and the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/we-have-the-enormous-opportunity-in-our-hands-to-make-a-positive/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I'm a great believer in life to saying yes and not saying no, and hopefully making people smile and just having fun in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-m-a-great-believer-in-life-to-saying-yes-and-not-saying-no-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Money is a poor indicator of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/money-is-a-poor-indicator-of-success/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Business leaders take things far too seriously, and forget that most of the time people spend in their lives is at work, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/business-leaders-take-things-far-too-seriously-and-forget-that-most/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I love the freedom of movement that my phone gives me. That has definitely transformed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-love-the-freedom-of-movement-that-my-phone-gives-me-that-has/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Everything in your business can be outsourced... if you're not emotionally attached to doing it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/everything-in-your-business-can-be-outsourced-if-you-re-not/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [People have to decide on priorities if they want to get anywhere. The best lessons I learned was to just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/people-have-to-decide-on-priorities-if-they-want-to-get-anywhere-the/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [There isn't a flight goes by when I don't stare out of the window and thank my stars for what I'm seeing and feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/there-isn-t-a-flight-goes-by-when-i-don-t-stare-out-of-the-window-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) [Explore all 805 Richard Branson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) ## More Downside quotes > [I remember the early 1980s, when I first got one of these fabulous film critic jobs. The downside was sitting through 'Splatteria III: The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hunter/i-remember-the-early-1980s-when-i-first-got-one-of-these-fabulous/) [Stephen Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hunter/) > [I'm a complete addict of The 'X Factor,' so I can see why everyone gets so inspired. But there's a downside to celebrity: your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-quick/i-m-a-complete-addict-of-the-x-factor-so-i-can-see-why-everyone-gets/) [Diana Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-quick/) > [I can't think of a single downside to motherhood now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-can-t-think-of-a-single-downside-to-motherhood-now/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“That’s the downside to San Diego. Once you live here, you never want to live anywhere else. Unfortunately everyone else already lives here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/that-s-the-downside-to-san-diego-once-you-live-here-you-never-want-to/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [Photography ruins marriages, and I've been married three times - so there's a downside to it as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welpott/photography-ruins-marriages-and-i-ve-been-married-three-times-so/) [Jack Welpott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welpott/) > [It may part of a one way evolution... or it may be we are currently on the downside of an innocence cycle where one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-knight/it-may-part-of-a-one-way-evolution-or-it-may-be-we-are-currently-on/) [Christopher Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-knight/) > [A downside to being a successful novelist? Wow - I can't imagine one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sean-greer/a-downside-to-being-a-successful-novelist-wow-i-can-t-imagine-one/) [Andrew Sean Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sean-greer/) > [As I have found out, recognition has its upside, its downside and – you may say – its backside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pippa-middleton/as-i-have-found-out-recognition-has-its-upside-its-downside-and-you/) [Pippa Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pippa-middleton/) > [If we take all this actions and if it turns out not be true, we have reduced pollution and have better ways to live,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/if-we-take-all-this-actions-and-if-it-turns-out-not-be-true-we-have/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [On the downside, to paraphrase Thom Yorke talking about the music business, we're still having to deal with the stench of the last fart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/on-the-downside-to-paraphrase-thom-yorke-talking-about-the-music/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Graham liked the idea of protection on the downside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/graham-liked-the-idea-of-protection-on-the-downside/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [Being negative is easy. There will always be a downside to everything good, a hurdle to everything desirable, a con to every pro. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-hax/being-negative-is-easy-there-will-always-be-a-downside-to-everything/) [Carolyn Hax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-hax/) > [Manage the downside; the upside will take care of itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/manage-the-downside-the-upside-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The downside of word processing - it's quite possible to never end a work-in-progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/the-downside-of-word-processing-it-s-quite-possible-to-never-end-a/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) > [It’s the downside of a family business: anything good is because I’m somebody’s son; otherwise, I’m a schmuck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-bronfman-jr/it-s-the-downside-of-a-family-business-anything-good-is-because-i-m/) [Edgar Bronfman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-bronfman-jr/) Browse all 84 Downside quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always tell other people to protect against the downside, and not risk roughing on new ventures, but I never stuck to that rule myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Branson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-always-tell-other-people-to-protect-against-the-downside-and-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Downside" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-always-tell-other-people-to-protect-against-the-downside-and-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/richard-branson-256_new-ventures_i-always-tell-other-people-to-protect-ag_1569553.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/richard-branson-256_new-ventures_i-always-tell-other-people-to-protect-ag_1569553.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/richard-branson-256_new-ventures_i-always-tell-other-people-to-protect-ag_1569553.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always tell other people to protect against the downside, and not risk roughing on new ventures, but I…” — Richard Branson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Branson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I always tell other people to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-always-tell-other-people-to-protect-against-the-downside-and-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-always-tell-other-people-to-protect-against-the-downside-and-not/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```