--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea that business is strictly a…" description: "\"The idea that business is strictly a numbers affair has always struck me as preposterous. For one thing, I've never been particularly good at numbers, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/richard-branson-256_accounts_the-idea-that-business-is-strictly-a-num_1314464.jpg" --- # The idea that business is strictly a numbers affair has… ![“The idea that business is strictly a numbers affair has always struck me as preposterous. For one thing, I've never been particularly good at numbers, but I think I've done a reasonable job with feelings. And I'm convinced that it is feelings - and feelings alone - that account for the success of…” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/richard-branson-256_accounts_the-idea-that-business-is-strictly-a-num_1314464.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/richard-branson-256_accounts_the-idea-that-business-is-strictly-a-num_1314464.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/richard-branson-256_accounts_the-idea-that-business-is-strictly-a-num_1314464.jpg) > “The idea that business is strictly a numbers affair has always struck me as preposterous. For one thing, I've never been particularly good at numbers, but I think I've done a reasonable job with feelings. And I'm convinced that it is feelings - and feelings alone - that account for the success of the Virgin brand in all of its myriad forms.” [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. Success depends more on intuition and emotional intelligence than on raw numbers alone. **In simple terms:** Feelings drive business success. Key Takeaway Trust your gut and balance data with emotion. Themes entrepreneurship intuition branding Mood inspirational pragmatic Type business motivational When to use this quote - startup leadership - marketing strategy - product development - team building Key Concepts emotional intelligence brand identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance data and intuition? - When should feelings guide decisions? A Different Perspective Overreliance on feelings can ignore critical metrics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accounts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accounts/) [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brands/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convinced/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Feeling alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-alone/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Numbers Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers-affair-4359613/) [Numbers Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers-think-1767043/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Reasonable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasonable/) [Success Virgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-virgin-4359612/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Virgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virgin/) [Virgin Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virgin-brand-3868532/) [Virgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virgins/) ## Related quotes > [The Virgin brand is not a product like Coca-Cola or Famous Grouse whisky; it's an attitude and a way of life to many. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-virgin-brand-is-not-a-product-like-coca-cola-or-famous-grouse/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [The way that I approached numbers, think about them, the same as for language as well-acquiring vocabulary, understanding the grammar, the structures of languages,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tammet/the-way-that-i-approached-numbers-think-about-them-the-same-as-for/) [Daniel Tammet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tammet/) > [I've never been one to look at numbers or think about stuff like that. The only numbers I worry about are wins and losses-that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delmon-young/i-ve-never-been-one-to-look-at-numbers-or-think-about-stuff-like-that/) [Delmon Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delmon-young/) > [Obviously a lot of people will look at numbers, I think numbers can sway both ways. I think they can show too much, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordy-nelson/obviously-a-lot-of-people-will-look-at-numbers-i-think-numbers-can/) [Jordy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordy-nelson/) > [I don't think about numbers. I think more about what I can give back to the club for the faith they have invested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisson/i-don-t-think-about-numbers-i-think-more-about-what-i-can-give-back/) [Alisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisson/) > [I keep thinking they’re gonna call me. I keep thinking they’re gonna crunch the numbers and think, oh, we can make money with this!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-keep-thinking-they-re-gonna-call-me-i-keep-thinking-they-re-gonna/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I'm sure if Brawn GP keep plying me with champagne and putting gorgeous Virgin girls either side of me, you never know!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-m-sure-if-brawn-gp-keep-plying-me-with-champagne-and-putting/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Virgin could never have grown into the group of more than 200 companies it is now, were it not for a steady stream of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/virgin-could-never-have-grown-into-the-group-of-more-than-200/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I've never gone into business to make money. Every Virgin product and service has been made into a reality to make a positive difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-never-gone-into-business-to-make-money-every-virgin-product-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [As more airlines consolidated and grew larger and more focused on the bottom line, flying in the U.S. became an awful experience. Despite moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-more-airlines-consolidated-and-grew-larger-and-more-focused-on-the/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [What we are trying to do at Virgin is not to have one enormous company in one sector under one banner, but to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/what-we-are-trying-to-do-at-virgin-is-not-to-have-one-enormous/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I nearly failed when Virgin was in its infancy; I nearly failed in the early 1980s, and, of course, I have nearly died more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-nearly-failed-when-virgin-was-in-its-infancy-i-nearly-failed-in-the/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [And you know, I've had great fun turning quite a lot of different industries on their head and making sure those industries will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/and-you-know-i-ve-had-great-fun-turning-quite-a-lot-of-different/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [In a sense, when we started Virgin Atlantic, I was trying to create an airline for myself. If you try to build the perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/in-a-sense-when-we-started-virgin-atlantic-i-was-trying-to-create-an/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [One night, I was chatting with a group of 16-year-old girls over a few drinks about a name for the record store ... A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/one-night-i-was-chatting-with-a-group-of-16-year-old-girls-over-a-few/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) ## 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 Accounts quotes > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge; it has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-suppression-of-uncomfortable-ideas-may-be-common-in-religion-or/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [You've got to exercise. Your health account, your bank account, they're the same thing. The more you put in, the more you can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/you-ve-got-to-exercise-your-health-account-your-bank-account-they-re/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) > [Stop trying to treat music like it's a tennis shoe, something to be branded. 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