Speaker: Traci Consoli, CEO of the Rainbow Zoo Restaurant Group

Topic: Building your own business—Creating the Pink Cow community

Traci explained that the ups and downs of starting a new business in Japan are not very different from starting one in any other country. You've got to be resourceful. Read books about running businesses. Get advice from other people in your industry. You've got to take advantage of your assets.
For her, that means making the most of relationships.

She truly believes that life is better if you can work with others. At the Cow, she barters with other small businesses. They do things like trade advertising --which the Pink Cow needs and they have -- for a party -- which they want and the Pink Cow can do.

Traci higly recommended a book called 'The Diamond Cutter' by Geshe Michael Roach. Roach is a Buddhist monk who was ordered by his teacher to 'go underground' and apply the teachings of Buddhism inside an American business without letting anyone else know that he was actually a monk. So he worked in the diamond industry for twenty years and made millions.

When she read 'The Diamond Cutter' she realized that businesses should be for 'the good'. Money in and of itself is not bad, but it's what one does with the money that is good or bad. She believes that more people should get involved in positive businesses, and that's what's going to make the world a better place.
This belief has steered her business plan and its involvement in the community.

She learned a few lessons about running a business, especially a restaurant. For example, she believes one should never let musicians play without first listening to their demo tapes. Japan is a karaoke society, everyone thinks they can sing, but she didn't find that to be true.

She also found that the people who invest in her business (aside from Traci, herself) are friends and family.

She stressed that it is crucial that you find a good partner, someone that you work well with... that doesn't necessary mean the person you love. Her advice was to tread lightly when it comes to the people you love.

She first met her partner in the studio. They were both artists and shared a studio for 9 years before they began managing the Pink Cow together. Neither of them had any experience running a restaurant, but they didn't see any reason why they couldn't do it.

On the night they opened the Pink Cow, Traci found out that her partner had never drunk a cocktail... and he was the bartender on opening night! After putting three shots of whisky in every drink they had a lot of return customers!

Traci finished her presentation by sharing her recipe for starting a business: list all of the things that need to happen and then, everyday, no matter what, do one thing on that list. In six months, you'll be amazed at how far you've come. As time goes on, you'll start believing in yourself and your goals.

And believe it or not, other people will start believing in you too.

For more advice on starting your business in Japan, visit Traci Consoli, FEW Member, and experience the good vibes at the Pink Cow in Shibuya.

Also, see July's great event line-up at: www.thepinkcow.com