An unconventional weekly CEO topic, this week’s theme explored adventure and business, using Richard Branson’s editing of National Post Business as the point of departure. Key findings:

• Self-promotion was a key to Branson’s business success but hard work and other factors were even more important;
  
  
• Among extreme forms of adventure experienced by business leaders, skydiving, water sports, and extreme activities such as bungee jumping and parasailing top the list;
  
  
• Among a list of adventure-type activities presented to respondents, white water rafting tops the list of those they have engaged in, followed by mountain climbing and hot air ballooning;
  
  
• Their likes and dislikes are somewhat in keeping with their actual experiences—rafting and ballooning top the list with bungee jumping near the bottom;
  
  
• As for destinations, South Africa tops the list for its safaris with Mexico (cave diving) at the bottom though nonetheless seen as appealing;
  
  
• Among adventure-reality-type TV shows, a scavenger hunt spanning the globe (Amazing Race) very much captures their imagination;
  
  
• As for team building activities, most of the popular preferences involve the outdoors in some fashion;
  
  
• With respect to adventures they would avoid, the overwhelming view is to avoid the Middle East and related areas (Afghanistan).

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