Connect The Dots

by Rashmi Bansal

ADVICE TO YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS Income minus expenditure = profit. It’s one simple line which you should never forget! I always say - “Do your homework.” And we have a policy - “Measure twice, cut once. Don’t measure at all, and you keep cutting, cutting.” So if I am developing affordable teppanyaki, I must know how much is the duty to import sake (rice wine). You have to know what you are doing; if not, join hands with someone who does. And you have to have that fire, I don’t accept defeat. If you get into the food business, remember the main thing is hygiene, which you cannot compromise. When I brief my chefs in 116 restaurants and bakeries in 16 countries, I say, “These are not my assets. My assets are my son and daughter, who are sitting there. If they can eat, then Mrs Ambani can come and eat here as well.” Buy by the day and sell by night. Don’t stock up much, don’t give stale food. The customer will always come back to you if he or she feels, “I had my fill, my money was well spent.” You have to build a relationship. And remember, never get complacent. In this line, ten times the customer gets a good meal. The 11th meal, the kebabs are not good. But you will only talk about the 11th meal, you will forget the first ten good meals. That is human nature. So never let down your guard, never compromise!