When you're starting a new business, you don't need to know much about it. A lot of the work is blocking and tackling - it's the same type of stuff no matter what sector you're in.
Business? It's quite simple; it's other people's money.
I started at GM knowing very little about that particular business. Not being an expert means you have to learn everything, starting from the basics.
Second, we have to make the most of the strengths we have, the amenities that many of our competitors cannot replicate. But again, those advantages won't mean much if we don't do a great job with the basics of our business.
When someone asks about a career in fashion, I say start at the bottom. If you want to start a business, you have to know it from the ground up.
My business life is really simple. It's like, get check. Put check in bank. Pay rent. I've never bought a stock in my life. I never got caught up in that trip. And the truth is, I don't obsess about money ever.
Keeping a bar clean is basic in this business. Having a staff that speaks adequate English is basic.
It's all about having a product that you're proud of and coming to work every day. Those basic building blocks are the same in any business.
