Desperation

Pre YO!, first in the lighting business, and then as a stage designer, I got to know my way around keeping a small business alive, working hard, finding the right people and bringing clients in.

There were some big highs for my little company, like doing the Nelson Mandela and Amnesty concerts and eventually Live Aid. But some projects crashed and burned too.

After a run of mishaps, I had no qualifications and nothing to fall back on, and things looked bleak. But I had gotten used to feeling insecure so when the chance to make YO! Sushi came along I was ready to fight or die. And no alternative.

Fortune sides with him who dares .

Virgil

Although I wanted the world’s respect, underneath the bravado I was annoyingly insecure. As it turned out, that was the burning ember of an internal formula, so I was primed, my antennae were up. Desperation is a useful motive.

  • Take Away

    Those who have tasted failure are better prepared to succeed

  • Julian Richer, the Sounds entrepreneur, always said he’d rather be rich and under the radar.

  • Duncan Bannatyne told me when Dragons Den came out that they recognised him on the street. “I fucking love it!” he said.

  • Walt Disney talked about the way to get started as being to stop talking and start doing.

  • You never learn from success, only failure, was James Dyson’s experience and mine too, so grow a thick skin.

  • 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration was Thomas Edison’s take, and he was right.