As an entrepreneur I believe there's two main parts we need to constantly and continuously to improve.
One part is ‘mentality’, the other is ‘knowledge and skills’.
For me, the first is the most important part because if you have the first, the second part will come. In other words, if you have the right ‘mentality’, you will keep improving yourself, keep taking action for your business, keep learning, keep trying to talk to your staff, as well as try to understand the customers - what they want, how to do the marketing and the HR, how to do the accounting, how to get a new shop, etc.
But, to do all that, it starts from the right mindset, ‘mentality’.
1. Stay Positive
Staying positive is really important as a restauranteur, let alone any entrepreneur. Every day when we wake up, there are a lot of problems that we have to solve. Immediately you start getting endless phone calls, from managers, suppliers, landlord, and so on. You may even have problems with your building, but you have to stay very positive, especially when you first open your business.
The first 6 months of opening for every single restaurant is the most crucial. The business needs a leader – someone to guide them through difficulties, and this leader must be positive.
Let me ask you a question.
Do you prefer positive or negative people working for you?
Of course you would choose the positive people, right? So when we look at it the other way round, from your staff’s point of you, they would want the same thing – to have an owner or leader that is positive.
And to make sure your team stays positive, YOU have to be positive first.
It may sound easy, but you will find that it is really difficult. But keep it in mind, that it is extremely essential.
Let me give you an example.. Last year I received a phone call from my friend who opened a restaurant with a business partner. Her partner was an equal shareholder (50/50) and was also a chef at their restaurant.
When she called, she said, “Wing, can you come and have a look at my restaurant? I have a problem.” I agreed, and went to visit her restaurant.
The restaurant was beautifully designed, the location was great, the food was tasty, and the service was good.. So what was the problem?
My friend explained that her partner was basically in a panic. They needed to pay rent in 3 weeks. It was December and the busiest time for all restaurants, but her partner was panicking and couldn’t stay positive about paying the rent. His hand were shaking non-stop while I was talking to him. This lead to them having to close down their business, which for me was really a wasted opportunity. They planned to open the restaurant, came up with a concept, spend so much time, money and effort into a beautiful place, then ended up closing down after only running for 3-4 months, just because one of the owners couldn’t stay positive.
2. Be Brave, Take Action
When you start telling people that you plan to open your own restaurant, many of them will say, “Don’t do it. It’s going to be suicide, blah blah blah..”
Well, 95% of the people believe this, and never even think of becoming a business owner or opening their own restaurant.
So, Be Brave! Take action!
Taking action is one of the most important parts as an entrepreneur.
For instance, with my YouTube channel, many people ask me, “Wing, you speak horrible English so why are you making YouTube videos?”
Yes, I admit, my English isn’t the best. Do you think I’m not scared to speak in front of the camera? I am. But, as the same time I know that only if I take action, things will get better.
By making videos, I am not only improving my English, but I’m becoming more comfortable talking in front of the camera, becoming more confident, fulfilling my goals in spreading my knowledge, inspiring others, and so on.
Be brave.
A lot of people won’t make the move to become a business owner. But, once you have an idea.. grab the opportunity, focus, be brave, and just jump!
There are people that will be really negative around you; don’t listen to them.
Believe in yourself! Be brave! Take Action!
3. The Business is Bigger Than You
Whether you’re a business owner, entrepreneur or restaurateur, you have to understand that the business is bigger than you. It’s not about you anymore. Businesses involve 20, 50, 100 people, etc, not just you. So it’s about the business, the company.
Why I have to explain that the business is bigger than you is because I’ve noticed that many CEOs or company owners can’t and won’t take advice from experts. By experts I mean professionals - people that are better, stronger, more experienced, more knowledgeable than you.
When these experts give you advice, try take a step back. Listen to what they’ve got to say and their point of view. You must have confidence in them, and yourself.
To be honest, I realised that you need some confidence in yourself in order to take a step back. If you’re not confident, you will try protect yourself by throwing endless excuses and list everything that you’ve done to try look powerful.
So, as a business owner, remember that the business is bigger than you.
When you talk to your business partner or an expert, and they have a better idea, try take it.
Because as a leader, the business relies on you to choose what is best for the company.
Be more mature. Be more confident.
Have the mindset that the Business is bigger than yourself.
4. Keep Learning
Every Entrepreneurial YouTube video you watch or blog you read will say the same thing; learning is a very important element for entrepreneurs.
It is true! That’s why everyone is saying it, right?
I love the catering industry, and at the same time, I love business.
The reason I love it is because I learn different things in different areas all the time.
For example, I learnt what a ‘product’ is, the product line, improving service, linking product and service together, marketing, HR, copywriting, branding, hiring people more effectively, training new staff, making them part of your company, company culture, and so on.
Learning is endless, no matter what age, experience or position you have.
I really enjoy it.
As a leader, you must keep learning as you will get a lot of different elements for your business, while inspiring people around you. They will come to see that you always have ideas, will feel inspired, and will love to work for you even more.
But where do your ideas come from? Of course, from all the learning, reading and listening you do.
For me - I read books, listen to podcasts, watch videos, talk to others, attend English classes, and I do these every day, or at least every week.
I feel more positive when I am constantly learning something new.
So as you can tell, basically it’s a circle.
This is why I say that entrepreneurs must continuously focus and improve in 2 parts – ‘mentality’ and ‘knowledge and skill’.
If you don’t have the mentality, you will not have sufficient skill and knowledge.
Today I have kept it short to 4 points regarding ‘mentality’. Next time, I will share more with you.
Wing Chang
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