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boundary=01715570eb751f68ca98c6c7ea7b81ecacd82e7814f10282fdb272c194eb Date: Fri, 01 May 2026 04:46:17 +0000 (UTC) From: Steve Strauss Mime-Version: 1.0 Message-ID: Subject: Branson on the Brink: The Night He Bet His Bentley to Save His Business Reply-To: Notes to an entrepreneur Feedback-ID: =?us-ascii?Q?4f16575b-238e-4ca7-9d07-b1e42bcaf4c1=3Anewsletter=3Abe56f4a0-b5ab-?= =?us-ascii?Q?45f5-af7d-e9fb8c385c45=3A795fb0691ea91b9?= List-Unsubscribe: =?us-ascii?Q?=3Cmailto=3Abe56f4a0-b5ab-45f5-af7d-e9fb8c385c45+e1509d45-2796-417?= =?us-ascii?Q?7-a9d9-f8bde2c6df8b+4f16575b-238e-4ca7-?= =?us-ascii?Q?9d07-b1e42bcaf4c1=40unsub=2Ebeehiiv=2Ecom=3E=2C?= =?us-ascii?Q?_=3Chttps=3A=2F=2Fnews=2Eplanetsmallbusiness=2Ecom=2Funsubscribe=2FeyJ0eXAiOiJK?= =?us-ascii?Q?V1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9=2EeyJzdWJzY3JpYm?= =?us-ascii?Q?VyX2lkIjoiZTE1MDlkNDUtMjc5Ni00MTc3LWE5Z?= =?us-ascii?Q?DktZjhiZGUyYzZkZjhiIiwicG9zdF9pZCI6IjRm?= =?us-ascii?Q?MTY1NzViLTIzOGUtNGNhNy05ZDA3LWIxZTQyYmN?= =?us-ascii?Q?hZjRjMSIsImxhc3RfcmVzb3VyY2VfZ3VpZCI6Il?= =?us-ascii?Q?Bvc3Q6NGYxNjU3NWItMjM4ZS00Y2E3LTlkMDctY?= =?us-ascii?Q?jFlNDJiY2FmNGMxIn0=2EXFrQ9ibAOnXyCTCX=5FAP4?= =?us-ascii?Q?EvzCG1NcWmXPdc7oTsqGUEk=3E?= List-Unsubscribe-Post: List-Unsubscribe=One-Click sId: be56f4a0-b5ab-45f5-af7d-e9fb8c385c45 x-beehiiv-ids: =?us-ascii?Q?{=22account=5Fname=22=3A=22https=3A=2F=2Fnews=2Eplanetsmallbusiness=2Ecom=2F=22=2C=22campa?= =?us-ascii?Q?ign=5Fid=22=3A=224f16575b-238e-4ca7-9d07-b1e42b?= =?us-ascii?Q?caf4c1=22=2C=22category=22=3A=22newsletter=22=2C=22email=5F?= =?us-ascii?Q?generated=5Fat=22=3A1777610771=2C=22user=5Fid=22=3A=22be5?= =?us-ascii?Q?6f4a0-b5ab-45f5-af7d-e9fb8c385c45=22}?= x-beehiiv-type: newsletter x-list-id: be56f4a0-b5ab-45f5-af7d-e9fb8c385c45 x-list-owner: x-newsletter: =?us-ascii?Q?https=3A=2F=2Fnews=2Eplanetsmallbusiness=2Ecom=2Fp=2Fbranson-on-the-brink-th?= =?us-ascii?Q?e-night-he-bet-his-bentley-to-save-his-?= =?us-ascii?Q?business?= x-newsletter-id: https://news.planetsmallbusiness.com/ x-newsletter-signup: https://news.planetsmallbusiness.com/subscribe X-SG-EID: =?us-ascii?Q?u001=2EbW9l0BBhaJRjHcuIgIwpN1rNe4oHXQ=2FdW4L87v1NEdDTOZzkElUHJx6Un?= =?us-ascii?Q?dOmNahVF2CQf67nZVUGzNbuvN=2Fh4Y5EALtlAbw6?= =?us-ascii?Q?KgL11=2FYZ79HbNXDjTmgDWLLkQ3+Klm00fu8Vgzk?= =?us-ascii?Q?sQ2EvkFA0=2FDMCBuh+QQ8nMKdL1kvobDUsQqLsMu?= =?us-ascii?Q?rra0v5E+s8y3d5PtDnnagHGhlYHnGs51bApeXXS?= =?us-ascii?Q?AXbgxqDd3Rdi1dYyAfdFEH0+gD8wkXbFW+Xq1Mp?= =?us-ascii?Q?XGZ13WqGHhJaN6BXmXaECmS2qA=3D=3D?= X-SG-ID: =?us-ascii?Q?u001=2ESdBcvi+Evd=2FbQef8eZF3BpTL9BgbK5wfSJMJGMsmprD1ZcmFObA4po1bG?= =?us-ascii?Q?aUE6gycDuoUB7q13D+=2FrHlPETjfj1Mp6L+863HI?= =?us-ascii?Q?Gl=2F3son9pNs=2FAm7TFtay4v6cZ2EeKxjVys3viK=2F?= =?us-ascii?Q?ql5SF5AphEw4FkDu9zcn6Ux2qE8mgtIrLO8I9Ya?= =?us-ascii?Q?QhYOEo2Y00p3=2FXYVQBS+Oq9uCCROHg2z0IJfS11?= =?us-ascii?Q?4MAr+UworFGatITT5L1c2CaWUVxB42c9a0hWbos?= =?us-ascii?Q?pmrBblO4dbCYKkvpnT8yK22Te8fZ=2FzP46e9U+qV?= =?us-ascii?Q?tOB+ZjoP1XeKg+POIKmv8ORXnmO1UNPM80BVUs9?= =?us-ascii?Q?EZ1ymywEOOqhavYBQ09EiDRsYzP4=2Fw9ZrYbu1D6?= =?us-ascii?Q?hzm3ty4PZrA0iFcrP156S3Jyh0ktroqCsJ+kL2i?= =?us-ascii?Q?IABfbcb0jOybnzAK4xaxIfXsJETFktJ6lSI1LMn?= =?us-ascii?Q?4maz+CmYmWBviy15enGx4CXZ2uFf0YCZnBsFDxY?= =?us-ascii?Q?ZLfJo=3D?= To: "alvarochf@traceseis.com" X-Entity-ID: u001.Gv86RTPl24Ephzd1t/ydVQ== X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.2 X-Spam-Score: 2 X-Spam-Bar: / X-Spam-Flag: NO --01715570eb751f68ca98c6c7ea7b81ecacd82e7814f10282fdb272c194eb Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Mime-Version: 1.0 ---------- _If there is a better example than Richard Branson of entrepreneur derring-= do, I don=E2=80=99t know who it is. And this story - one I had never heard = before - should be Exhibit 1._ -------------------- It was 1973. Richard Branson had just launched Virgin Records. He had no tr= ack record, no real capital, and exactly one artist: Mike Oldfield.=20 Oldfield had recorded an instrumental album called Tubular Bells. It was st= range. It had no lyrics and every major label in London had passed on it, c= alling it unmarketable.=20 Branson - as was his wont apparently - had bet the farm on it.=20 ## =E2=80=9CI Can=E2=80=99t Go On!=E2=80=9D The album=E2=80=99s live debut was to be at Queen Elizabeth Hall. This was = it.=20 The press had all been invited and were assembled. Record execs from across= London gathered. This was the moment that would either put Virgin Records = on the map or send Branson back to selling cut-rate records out of a church= basement.=20 As they pulled up to the venue, Oldfield had a massive panic attack.=20 He refused to leave the car.=20 He told Branson he couldn't do it and wanted to go home. If Oldfield didn't= play, the critics would leave, the buzz would die, and Virgin Records woul= d be over before it started.=20 ## All or Nothing =20 Most managers would have tried a pep talk. They would have pleaded or threa= tened or talked about the =E2=80=9Copportunity.=E2=80=9D Branson did someth= ing else. He looked at his car. It was an old Bentley that Branson had boug= ht on the cheap.=20 But still, it was a Bentley.=20 Branson pulled the keys out of the ignition and told Oldfield that if he go= t out of the car and performed the show, the key were his, the Bentley was = his.=20 ## The Trade=20 Oldfield looked at the car. Looked at the keys. And said yes. =20 He walked into the hall and performed. The set became legendary.=20 Tubular Bells went on to sell over 15 million copies. It became the theme f= or the movie _The Exorcist_. And it ended up funding the launch of Virgin A= tlantic, Virgin Galactic, and indeed, the entire multi-billion dollar Virgi= n empire.=20 ## Postscript: The Bentley Oldfield later admitted it turned out to be a total lemon. It cost him more= in repairs than the car was worth.=20 But no matter.=20 He became a sensation and an acclaimed, very rich, musician because he real= ly had wanted that Bentley. ---------- ---------- ## The Takeaway No, we=E2=80=99re not Richard Branson. He clearly is a risk-taker extraordi= naire. But he is also a reminder that, even when the stakes are high - heck= , especially when the stakes are high - being an entrepreneur means taking = a risk. As my dear old dad and the best entrepreneur I ever knew once told = me, that=E2=80=99s the job description.=20 ---------- =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94 ---------- ## Steal This Strategy =F0=9F=93=96 **Read** =E2=80=93 [Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson](ht= tps://www.amazon.com/Losing-My-Virginity-Survived-Business/dp/0307720748/re= f=3Dsr_1_2?crid=3D2KIYJ256USONZ&dib=3DeyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0fY7c-GW0ajNGpCefn_5EAvw= umlg2sNj9KEAA2vjWvsSpeXeonnhBoqtI7MPK4IIHiusTZo3ZjM0tFsqzJFAV4hhhEZs0e88MYn= AgyWfrM5fpsp3xCCtooySbFVRionVtjkd3rz-X79F6gwZp3NDN_olTKr2Q3jNlMRBCPnlX91itF= J6y2Pmk80QYqfcXMWYpBfgYksq_Ga4-3KVYJZdruGUwg_mfbdABcRUr4Rjwhg.zvSiaQJ0bEzbT= q_PWMvICU3IdMN3zKgoNbog_uOFVOc&dib_tag=3Dse&keywords=3Dlosing+my+virginity&= qid=3D1777609552&s=3Dbooks&sprefix=3Dlosing+my+virginity%2Cstripbooks%2C171= &sr=3D1-2): The ultimate masterclass in entrepreneurial grit and the art of= the pivot. =F0=9F=8E=A5 **Video** =E2=80=93 [How He Bought Necker Island for $180k](ht= tps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DwJHo7qceqwo): Richard=E2=80=99s incredible = negotiation story. =F0=9F=9B=A0=EF=B8=8F **Guide**: [Start Your Own Newsletter in Under an Hou= r, For Free, and Make Money Day One](http://Launch Your First Newsletter in= Under 60 Minutes): My quick, cheap, super simple step-by-step guide to st= arting your own newsletter in under an hour. ---------- =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94 ---------- ## TODAY=E2=80=99S POLL ---------- =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94 ---------- ### About Steve=20 If you are finally ready to claim your place and **launch your newsletter**= or **make a splash on Linkedin**, let=E2=80=99s talk. I offer both =E2=80= =9CDone-With-You=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9CDone-For-You=E2=80=9D options to hel= p you skip the learning curve, jump to the front of the line, and immediate= ly launch the sort of high-impact content that will get you noticed. _[Book= a free call with me here](https://calendly.com/stevestrauss/30min?utm_sour= ce=3Dnews.planetsmallbusiness.com&utm_medium=3Dnewsletter&utm_campaign=3Djo= hn-delorean-built-his-dream-car-in-a-war-zone-then-he-did-something-even-mo= re-insane&_bhlid=3D2159fdb72ddefac99fdf3a761f28200e9f7d1aa8)_ and let=E2=80= =99s get to work! ---------- =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94 =E2=80=9C**=E2=80=9CBe bold! 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} .bodyWrapper { padding:10px 4px 10px 4px !important; } .social-mobile {float:left !important;margin-top:10px !important;} } @media screen and (max-width: 480px) { u + .a .gg { width: 100% !important; width: 100vw !important; } .tok-heart { padding-top:75% !important; } .tok-play { padding-top: 250px !important; } } @media screen and (max-width: 320px) { .tok-heart { padding-top:65% !important; } } .u { border: 1px solid #CACACA !important; border-radius: 2px !important;= background-color: #ffffff !important; padding: 0px 13px 0px 13px !importan= t; font-family:ui-sans-serif,system-ui,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Se= goe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,"Noto Sans",sans-serif !important;fon= t-size: 12px !important; color: #767676 !important; } .u a { text-decoration: none; display: block !important; color: #767676 != important; margin: 0px !important; } .u span, .u img { color: #767676 !important;margin:0px !important; max-he= ight:32px !important;background-color:#ffffff !important; } <= body class=3D"a" style=3D"margin:0px auto;padding:0px;word-wrap:normal;word= -spacing:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">
It wa= s crazy, risky bet  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 0;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&= #160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ̴= 4; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &#= 8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&#= 160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= ; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = 204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 60;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌=  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ R= 04; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &= #8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 0;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&= #160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ̴= 4; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &#= 8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&#= 160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= ; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = 204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 60;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌=  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ R= 04; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &= #8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 0;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&= #160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ̴= 4; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &#= 8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&#= 160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= ; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = 204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
=

May 01, 2026   |  = Read online

=
3D""

Branson on the Brink: The Night He = Bet His Bentley to Save His Business

It was crazy, risky bet

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I= f there is a better example than Richard Branson of entrepreneur derring-do= , I don=E2=80=99t know who it is. And this story - one I had never heard be= fore - should be Exhibit 1.

   <= /td>
 

It was 1973. Richar= d Branson had just launched Virgin Records. He had no track record, no real= capital, and exactly one artist: Mike Oldfield.

Oldfield had recor= ded an instrumental album called Tubular Bells. It was strange. It had no l= yrics and every major label in London had passed on it, calling it unmarket= able.

Branson - as was his wont apparently - had bet the farm on it= .

=E2=80=9CI= Can=E2=80=99t Go On!=E2=80=9D

The album=E2=80=99s live debut was t= o be at Queen Elizabeth Hall. This was it.

The press had all been i= nvited and were assembled. Record execs from across London gathered. This w= as the moment that would either put Virgin Records on the map or send Brans= on back to selling cut-rate records out of a church basement.

As th= ey pulled up to the venue, Oldfield had a massive panic attack.

He = refused to leave the car.

He told Branson he couldn't do it and= wanted to go home. If Oldfield didn't play, the critics would leave, t= he buzz would die, and Virgin Records would be over before it started.

=

All or Nothing <= /h2>

Most managers would have tried a pep talk. They would have pleaded = or threatened or talked about the =E2=80=9Copportunity.=E2=80=9D Branson di= d something else. He looked at his car. It was an old Bentley that Branson = had bought on the cheap.

But still, it was a Bentley.

Bran= son pulled the keys out of the ignition and told Oldfield that if he got ou= t of the car and performed the show, the key were his, the Bentley was his.=

The Trade <= /h2>

Oldfield looked at the car. Looked at the keys. And said yes.

<= /td>

He walked into the hall and performed.

The set became legendary.=

Tubular Bells went on to sell over 15 million copies. It became th= e theme for the movie The Exorcist. And it ended up funding the laun= ch of Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Galactic, and indeed, the entire multi-billio= n dollar Virgin empire.

Postscript: The Bentley

Oldfield later admitted it turn= ed out to be a total lemon. It cost him more in repairs than the car was wo= rth.

But no matter.

He became a sensation and an acclaimed,= very rich, musician because he really had wanted that Bentley.

The Takeaway

No, we=E2=80=99re n= ot Richard Branson. He clearly is a risk-taker extraordinaire. But he is al= so a reminder that, even when the stakes are high - heck, especially when t= he stakes are high - being an entrepreneur means taking a risk. As my dear = old dad and the best entrepreneur I ever knew once told me, that=E2=80=99s = the job description.

 

Steal This Strategy

=F0=9F=93=96=C2=A0R= ead =E2=80=93 Losing My Virg= inity by Richard Branson: The ultimate masterclass in entreprene= urial grit and the art of the pivot.

=F0=9F=8E=A5=C2=A0Video= =E2=80=93 How He Bought Necker Island for $180k: Richard=E2=80=99s incredible negotiation story.

=F0=9F= =9B=A0=EF=B8=8F Guide: Start Your Own Newsletter in Under an Hour, For Fre= e, and Make Money Day One: My quick, cheap, super simple step-by= -step guide to starting your own newsletter in under an hour.

<= /table>
 

TODAY= =E2=80=99S POLL

If you could wave a m= agic wand and make one thing happen in your business, what would it be?

Land my first (or next)= high-paying client

Turn my expertise into a product or program

Create content that converts into clients

<= /a>

Build my own "1-Pe= rson Empire"

<= /table>
 

  =
 

About Steve

= If you are finally ready to claim your place= and launch your newsletter or make a splash on Linkedin, l= et=E2=80=99s talk. I offer both =E2=80=9CDone-With-You=E2=80=9D and =E2=80= =9CDone-For-You=E2=80=9D options to help you skip the learning curve, jump = to the front of the line, and immediately launch the sort of high-impact co= ntent that will get you noticed. Book a free call with me here and let=E2=80=99s get to work!

  
=
 

&nb= sp;

=E2=80=9CBe bold! For boldness has genius, magic, an= d power in it.=E2=80=9D

 
- Goethe
3D"fb"3D"tk"= 3D"in"<= /span>
 

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