Business Advice ...

Almost a year ago at the annual competition of the Hudson Valley Home Brewers I bumped into a kid (meaning someone who is younger than me), who was thinking about opening a brewpub in Arlington, VA (just across the river from Washington DC).

Ever since I have been thinking about (off and on) what I would have told him, had he asked me what advice I could give him for opening a restaurant. Of course we aren't even open yet (although last year around this time, we were hoping to open by Labor Day, and that time we really meant it).

Nevertheless, here is some of the advice I have to spare:

• the day you decide to start a business, go and buy yourself a brand-new car
• if you partner up with someone, go and climb Kilimanjaro together
• for a month, get up at 6:00am, wear the same clothes, and only eat ramen noodles
  

OK, I admit, I made up the ramen noodles, I get up at 6:30am, and I have worn the same clothes for two years now.

I didn't buy a new car either, but it isn't about the car, in fact, why spend a lot of money on a new car when you need the money for the business. It is about the amount of money you are going to spend at the drop of a hat, and not always because you want to, but because you have to.

I also have never climbed Kilimanjaro, although I'd love to do that sometime, I've never even been to Africa (the closest I ever got to Africa was most likely Gargano, Italy, and that's still pretty far away). And again, it isn't about climbing a mountain, it is about being and working together with your partners in a stressful environment.

I have to stop, here come my ramen noodles ... ;-)

Tomorrow is more plastering on the menu.

Dirk