维珍创始人布兰森追忆曼德拉

    今天，理查德•布兰森爵士的脑海里一定不断地闪现纳尔逊•曼德拉的身影。曼德拉这位世界领袖无论到哪儿都会主动和当地人民打成一片。他还以放声高歌闻名，不过据布兰森说，他的唱功不算太好。

    布兰森这位身家亿万的实业家今天也和无数哀悼者一样，思绪大部分被曼德拉占据。上周四，这位曾经身陷囹圄、而后却当选总统的南非杰出政治人物抱憾离世，享年95岁。

    维珍集团（Virgin Group）创始人布兰森在接受《财富》杂志（Fortune）专访时回忆了曼德拉尽管历经无数艰难困苦，但却始终积极乐观的坚强个性。布兰森还畅谈了曼德拉通过外国投资推动南非经济发展的经历。以下是编辑后的采访摘录：

    请说说您对曼德拉的印象。

    他和我父亲同岁，都生于1918年。他们本来就是好友，而通过长者会组织（The Elders，一个由布兰森和曼德拉创立的独立机构，致力于和平和全球权利）他们的关系变得更紧密了。在共同度过的时光里，他们总能一起开怀大笑，曼德拉非常幽默。

    他总是很愿意参加跳舞活动，而且还喜欢领舞。他唱歌不怎么样，但总会亮亮嗓子。

    是什么让曼德拉成为一个出色的商人，他又是怎么帮助南非经济脱困的？

    他曾经差点成为一个共产主义者，但后来认识到这不解决问题。他后来信奉的是慈善资本主义，相信商业领袖必须是一股追求善的力量，同时也认为南非需要资本主义，需要人民广泛创业。

    有一天我接到他的一个电话，他让我马上飞往南非帮他，因为有一家大型连锁健身俱乐部需要救助，否则就会有成千上万的人失业。他虽然是总统，却会操心这种事。他会拿起电话打给国外的投资人，让他们到南非来投资。他努力确保像我这样的人和其他人能够放心到南非投资，借此让南非的经济获得了稳定的发展。

    您在网上写道，跟曼德拉打交道可“没有免费的午餐”。这句话什么意思？

    他深信富人都是些很幸运的人，所以（应该回报社会），对此我深表赞同。富人们喜欢和他打交道，而他总能把他们的家底摸透，把他们的钱袋掏空，然后还要再翻出他们的信用卡。他在非洲有太多事业需要经营，有太多需求需要满足了。不过跟其他非洲领导人不一样的是，人们很愿意对他慷慨解囊。

    现在曼德拉逝世了，南非的经济如何才能继续保持增长并继续改善呢？

    （曼德拉）是第一个有资格说（南非）百废待兴，但已今非昔比、大有改观的人。

    人们需要向非洲投资。目前非洲经济的年增长率大概是6%，因此存在大量的商机。有了投资，非洲的经济就能发展起来，人们也能摆脱贫困的桎梏。这是解决各种问题最好的办法，我认为这种投资的回报也会很可观。我们目前在非洲的公司可能会是我们集团最赚钱的企业。（财富中文网）

    译者：清远

    Sir Richard Branson's head today is filled with images of Nelson Mandela dancing. The world leader was always spontaneously swirling with people wherever he went. He was also known to break out in song, but according to Branson his singing wasn't the best.

    The billionaire industrialist is among countless mourners around the world today that can't think about much else other than Mandela. The South African political prisoner-turned-president died Thursday at the age of 95.

    In an interview with Fortune, the founder of Virgin Group recounted Mandela's lighthearted nature in spite of living through immeasurable tragedy. Branson also shared his thoughts on how Mandela was able to bolster the South African economy through foreign investment. Edited excerpts:

    Tell me what you remember about Mandela.

    He was the same age as my father, both born in 1918, and they were good friends and became good friends through The Elders [An independent organization working toward peace and global rights that Branson and Mandela established]. Spending time together they would often have a big laugh together, and he had a wonderful sense of humor.

    He was always willing to do his best to join in the dancing and start at the dancing. His singing wasn't the best, but he would give it a go.

    What was it about Mandela that made him a good businessman, and how did he help South Africa's economy?

    He went from being something close to a communist to realizing that that wasn't the answer. What he believed in was benevolent capitalism and believed that business leaders must be a force for good and thought that the country needed capitalism and needed people setting up businesses everywhere.

    I received a call one day, and he was on the phone telling me to come to take the next plane down to Africa because his principal health club chain needed rescuing and thousands of jobs would be lost. That is the kind of thing he would do as president. He would just pick up the phone and get foreign people to invest in his economy in South Africa. Through trying to make sure that people like myself and others feeling comfortable dealing with South Africa ... that stabilized it.

    You wrote on your website that with Mandela there was "no such thing as a free lunch." What did you mean by that?

    He was a great believer that wealthy people are fortunate people and [should do their part], and I would agree with him on that. Wealthy people loved to meet him, and he made sure that he turned them upside down and stripped them of any money in their pockets and then figure out where their credit card was. He had so many causes with so much need in Africa. Unlike some other African leaders, people were willing to give generously to him.

    Now that Mandela is gone what does South Africa need to continue to grow and improve?

    [Mandela] would be the first one to say that there is a lot to be done but it [South Africa] is a lot better now than it was before.

    People need to invest in Africa. Africa is growing at something like 6% a year. The opportunities are enormous. With investment, Africa can become a great economy, and that will pull people out of the poverty trap. That is the best way of addressing the problems, and I think that the returns can be very good. We have companies in Africa that can be some of our most profitable.