Want to get more from business movers?

Subscribe to Wondry Plus for early access to new episodes,

ad-free listening, and exclusive content you can't find anywhere else.

Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.

OneRoury.

Music It's January 1984 at Ilaverde Airport in Puerto Rico.

34-year-old entrepreneur Richard Branson stares upward, counting the tiles on the departure lounge ceiling

in a desperate attempt to pass the time. He's already finished his book, browsed the terminal's

tiny store, and had several coffees, and he's still waiting to board his plane. Richard landed in

Puerto Rico earlier today on his way to join his girlfriend for a much-needed

vacation in the British Virgin Islands. But his connecting flight keeps getting delayed,

and what should have been a two-hour layover has turned into a grueling six hours of boredom.

The sound of grumbling passengers catches Richard's attention. A gray-haired man shakes his head as he walks past.

Richard waves to it. Hey, excuse me, are you on the American Airlines flight to the Virgin Islands?

Well, it was. It's just been canceled. What? You're kidding. And there are no other flights today either.

I don't know what we're meant to do. My wife and I, we were supposed to be celebrating our 40th

wedding anniversary. We've got our kids and our

grandkids with us. It's going to ruin everything. I didn't hear any announcement. No, they just

put it up on the board like cowards. There's a rumor going around. There's some problem with the plane,

but I don't even know if that's true. Is there not someone we can ask? I haven't seen anyone. I guess we're stuck here then.

Until tomorrow, at least, it looks that way. I'm going to have to find a hotel, unless you know

someone with a private jet. Richard smiles at the man's joke, but then a thought occurs to him.

...