Sue Chan
Founder at Care of Chan
“Slow and steady wins the race. It takes time to build something great and long lasting. „
EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
Don't fear competition. There's enough work to go around. Your competitors only fuel innovation in your industry, which only helps your business. Learn from what they are doing and do it better or do it your own way. Don't keep looking at what others are doing and just keep your eye on the ball and do you, and keep it moving.
I value applicants who haven't jumped around a lot in their career and have really dedicated several years to at least one or two organizations, because it shows their commitment, loyalty and ability to see things through. Applicants who have restaurant experience and/or played competitive sports (team or individual) always stand out as it shows that no job is too small, that they understand teamwork, that they understand sacrifices have to be made to win.
Getting out there and experiencing things – restaurants, hotels, events, new cities – is the best way I find inspiration. Also, researching in IRL -- get off the internet and off Instagram and find your inspiration in art books, cookbooks, and at the library or a museum.
Honestly, I'm still figuring out how to manage burnout and how to turn off my brain! I’ve heard that many short vacations and breaks are better than one long one, so I'm trying to take more frequent smaller trips throughout the year. I exercise and stretch on a regular basis. I play tennis about once a week with my friends. For those two hours, my mind is so focused on tennis that it's extremely meditative.
I'm working on being a better leader this year and I've been reading a lot of management books. The current one I'm reading is Coach K's “Leading with Heart.” I love Scott Galloway and Kara Swisher's podcast "Pivot," Matthew Belloni's podcast "The Town," and Lauren Sherman and Rachel Strugatz's Puck newsletter, Line Sheet. While none of these are about my industry, I find that understanding the business of other industries informs how I do business in food. For pleasure, I love Chris Black and Jason Stewart's podcast "How Long Gone." They are homies and some of the funniest people I know.
Disclaimer: Individuals featured in the Inspirational Career Timelines section have been nominated by peers, colleagues and/or other members of the hospitality industry. It is to the best of our knowledge that each individual has demonstrated leadership and acted as a positive role model for others.
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