YO! Sushi Founder: At 47 I Was Lost, Then Built a Global Empire | Simon Woodroffe
Thriving Minds with Alberto ZandiShow Notes
Most people believe they should have figured their life out by 30.
Simon Woodroffe says he was lost, nearly out of money and 47 when he opened YO! Sushi. He explains why boldness matters more than following the perfect plan, and why some of the greatest opportunities appear when you ignore how an industry tells you things should be done.
Simon Woodroffe is an entrepreneur, the founder of YO! Sushi and YOTEL, one of the original Dragons on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, and the author of Yo! Man. YO! Sushi grew from one unconventional Soho restaurant into an international brand, while YOTEL expanded from a small airport hotel prototype into a global hospitality business.
He explains: Why starting YO! Sushi at 47 proves that you are never too late to build something significant How he opened a £1 million restaurant with only a fraction of the money he needed and had queues within one week Why being bold, different and occasionally outrageous can become your greatest competitive advantage Why founders must eventually give up control and trust other people if they want the business to scale Why he believes businesses should be built with an eventual sale in mind How childhood loneliness, prison at 17, imposter syndrome and an “I’ll show them” mentality fuelled his success
The views expressed are those of the guest, and this conversation is intended for general informational purposes only. This podcast and its associated materials should not be used as a substitute for professional financial, legal, business, health or other specialist advice.
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Buy Simon’s book: Yo! Man
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