Recruit great brains, especially financial ones
I am not exceptionally intelligent.
Add to that no academic training and a tendency toward laziness if I’m not enjoying it, and it does not add up to a lot. But over a period of time I have built up an instinct as to what works, what will and won’t happen, and often I can spot opportunities and I’m willing to run with them.
Designing stages for rock bands exposed me to working with brands, which they are, every bit as much as YO! or Coca-Cola are.
Having small companies taught me that there is really only one rule that leads to potential success and that is “Don’t run out of cash… especially near payday.”
Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art of all.
Andy Warhol
The dictionary defines intelligence as the ability to grasp concepts. A great brain for me is one that can see the way ahead and puts values on what is important and what is not. It collects all that myriad information and sifts it into a cohesive plan.
Access to great financial information is paramount. You can have a very popular well-known product and make zilch out of it or you can make fortunes out of a corner shop. Controlling your margins is everything.