--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virgin could never have grown into the…" description: "\"Virgin could never have grown into the group of more than 200 companies it is now, were it not for a steady stream of intrapreneurs who looked for and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/richard-branson-256_company_virgin-could-never-have-grown-into-the-g_697474.jpg" --- # Virgin could never have grown into the group of more than… ![“Virgin could never have grown into the group of more than 200 companies it is now, were it not for a steady stream of intrapreneurs who looked for and developed opportunities, often leading efforts that went against the grain.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/richard-branson-256_company_virgin-could-never-have-grown-into-the-g_697474.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/richard-branson-256_company_virgin-could-never-have-grown-into-the-g_697474.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/richard-branson-256_company_virgin-could-never-have-grown-into-the-g_697474.jpg) > “Virgin could never have grown into the group of more than 200 companies it is now, were it not for a steady stream of intrapreneurs who looked for and developed opportunities, often leading efforts that went against the grain.” [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. Intrapreneurs drive innovation and expansion, enabling a small entity to become a large, diversified conglomerate. **In simple terms:** Intrapreneurs fuel growth. Key Takeaway Support internal innovators. Themes innovation entrepreneurship growth Mood energetic visionary Type business motivational When to use this quote - startup scaling - corporate diversification - product development - cultural change Key Concepts business strategy leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture intrapreneurship? - What safeguards prevent disruptive outcomes? A Different Perspective Risk of internal conflict and resource strain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [200 Companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/200-companies-5528569/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Grain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grain/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Intrapreneurs Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intrapreneurs-looked-5528567/) [Opportunities Leading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunities-leading-5528570/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Steady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steady/) [Stream Intrapreneurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stream-intrapreneurs-5528568/) [Streams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streams/) [Virgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virgin/) [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/) > [I have had fun running all of the Virgin businesses, so I never see a setback as a bad experience; it is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-have-had-fun-running-all-of-the-virgin-businesses-so-i-never-see-a/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [India is an incredibly vibrant market, which Virgin already, through Virgin Atlantic, has the pleasure of working in. I am delighted that Virgin Comics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/india-is-an-incredibly-vibrant-market-which-virgin-already-through/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-idea-that-business-is-strictly-a-numbers-affair-has-always-struck/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision and change. A company that stands still will soon be forgotten. Trying to provoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/every-success-story-is-a-tale-of-constant-adaption-revision-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [The Virgin filled so enormous a space in the life and thought of the time that one stands now helpless before the mass of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-virgin-filled-so-enormous-a-space-in-the-life-and-thought-of-the/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The problem in this case was you can't be a middle-aged virgin in America without something being wrong with you. People can't conceive of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/the-problem-in-this-case-was-you-can-t-be-a-middle-aged-virgin-in/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I had met a lady there by the name of Laura Ziffren.She heard that I got signed to Virgin and reached out to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quindon-tarver/i-had-met-a-lady-there-by-the-name-of-laura-ziffren-she-heard-that-i/) [Quindon Tarver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quindon-tarver/) > [I'm one, too," he said. "What?" He spit a wad of blood and mucus into the dirt. "A virgin." What a shock. "What makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-m-one-too-he-said-what-he-spit-a-wad-of-blood-and-mucus-into-the/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [There is a word we haven't used yet: virginity... To make a photograph, the plate must be virgin, but your eye as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/there-is-a-word-we-haven-t-used-yet-virginity-to-make-a-photograph/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [I used to be a virgin, but I gave it up because there was no money in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-warfield/i-used-to-be-a-virgin-but-i-gave-it-up-because-there-was-no-money-in/) [Marsha Warfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-warfield/) ## 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 Company quotes > [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Subsequent to the original Quicken, the whole idea that we, as a consumer products company, could actually make business products, that was a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/subsequent-to-the-original-quicken-the-whole-idea-that-we-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The system in Germany is different, as you sign up with a company for two or three years, and you work exclusively with them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wlaschiha/the-system-in-germany-is-different-as-you-sign-up-with-a-company-for/) [Tom Wlaschiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wlaschiha/) > [I've discovered special makeup by a company called M.A.C. You could wear it on the surface of the sun and it wouldn't move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-smith/i-ve-discovered-special-makeup-by-a-company-called-m-a-c-you-could/) [Robert Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-smith/) > [I'm also the chairman of the board of Symantec, which is the world's largest cybersecurity - software cybersecurity company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schulman/i-m-also-the-chairman-of-the-board-of-symantec-which-is-the-world-s/) [Dan Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schulman/) > [If you choose to work at a larger company over a smaller company, you are more likely to be higher paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/if-you-choose-to-work-at-a-larger-company-over-a-smaller-company-you/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [The undisciplined child enters into discipline by working in the company of others; not being told he is naughty.” “Discipline is, therefore, primarily a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-undisciplined-child-enters-into-discipline-by-working-in-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Many companies have long contended that stress in the home causes productivity loss in the market place.. and it does. But research now reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-companies-have-long-contended-that-stress-in-the-home-causes/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [I won contest after contest until finally I realized, "Ok, I am the best in the world, but now what?" So I opened my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-hosoi/i-won-contest-after-contest-until-finally-i-realized-ok-i-am-the-best/) [Christian Hosoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-hosoi/) > [To become a classical ballerina, you have to move to New York when you're 12 or 11 and that becomes your life. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/to-become-a-classical-ballerina-you-have-to-move-to-new-york-when-you/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [Companies are not charitable enterprises: They hire workers to make profits. In the United States, this logic still works. In Europe, it hardly does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/companies-are-not-charitable-enterprises-they-hire-workers-to-make/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [I don't think that a company should own a studio and the network, and program for their own network. It hurts the creativity -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bakula/i-don-t-think-that-a-company-should-own-a-studio-and-the-network-and/) [Scott Bakula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bakula/) > [Antidepressants are the biggest fraud in the world. Number one, Prozac gives you a royal soft-on like you wouldn't believe, and number two you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-evans/antidepressants-are-the-biggest-fraud-in-the-world-number-one-prozac/) [Robert Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-evans/) > [Live always in the best company when you read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/live-always-in-the-best-company-when-you-read/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) [Browse all 8,710 Company quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Virgin could never have grown into the group of more than 200 companies it is now, were it not for a steady stream of intrapreneurs who looked for and developed opportunities, often leading efforts that went against the grain.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Branson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/virgin-could-never-have-grown-into-the-group-of-more-than-200/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Company" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/virgin-could-never-have-grown-into-the-group-of-more-than-200/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/richard-branson-256_company_virgin-could-never-have-grown-into-the-g_697474.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/richard-branson-256_company_virgin-could-never-have-grown-into-the-g_697474.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/richard-branson-256_company_virgin-could-never-have-grown-into-the-g_697474.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Virgin could never have grown into the group of more than 200 companies it is now, were it not for a steady…” — 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": "Virgin could never have grown into...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/virgin-could-never-have-grown-into-the-group-of-more-than-200/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/virgin-could-never-have-grown-into-the-group-of-more-than-200/#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 } } ] } ```