The last couple of posts have been centered around the quote, "Do what you love and the money will follow." I was just reminded of on old acquaintence of mine who proves this beyond any human reason.
Let me set this scenario up for you... and you tell me if you think there's any way this guy could possibly make it:
A Korean man opens up a sushi bar in a strip mall in a poor predominantly hispanic neighborhood on the far outskirts of town. He wears an afro wig and a polyester suit and smacks girls on the butt when they walk in the door. He's rude, foul-mouthed and obnoxious. Oh yeah....and, there is no sign out front.
Prosperous or not prosperous? Well I'm here as living breathing proof that DK Lee turned out to be one prosperous man!
What inspired me to write this is because I just got through watching a whole story about him and his retaraunt on TV. I was loungin' on the couch flippin' through the channels and lo and behold there was DK!
I met DK Lee probably 10 years ago not long after he opened his little sushi bar. My best friend and I used to be regulars. The more dirty jokes we'd tell DK the more free sushi he'd give us! But honestly... even then you could just tell DK just genuinely loved what he did.. including telling dirty jokes.
DK eventually combined his love for creating incredible sushi for people with his love for making people laugh ... and so was born The Sushi Pimp. Every Monday night DK has disco karaoke night. He dons his white polyester suit, platform shoes and afro wig and transforms into the most obnoxious, foul-mouthed, socially unacceptable crude this side of the Rio Grande... and people now literally flock to his little sushi bar. His business continues to grow by word of mouth and now there's not even sign out front and his business still continues to grow!
In an article in the Austin American Statesman, DK says: "The first three years, I was hungry."
But Lee, whose brother taught him how to do sushi, never gave up on the restaurant even though he says it's in "the worst location in the world" for a sushi bar: a nondescript strip center ....
Now, at 13 years, Seoul is the third oldest surviving sushi bar in Austin, Lee says. "We made it," he says, "because Austinites are so grateful." They return to places they like.
Do you see how DK's story is such a perfect example of doing what you love and the money will follow? DK just did what he loved even though it appeared on the surface that there was no way he could ever possibley make it... and never gave up even when he was failing.
I would also like to point out the giving nature of DK... that what he does is not for himself it's for the betterment of those around him. He has only his customers in mind when he creates his sushi or other menu items... he genuinely wants to please them. He wants people to laugh and walk away feeling a little bit better than they did when they came in. He does it for the people... he gives of himself.
And do you see how evident that is in his last quote, "We made it," he says, "because Austinites are so grateful." They return to places they like." What that statement says is that people are thankful to him for for what he gives to them and they return for more.
Thanks, Sushi Pimp, for your wonderful lessons in prosperity. Sake Bomb!!!!!
If you're ever in Austin you'll have to drop by and see DK on a Monday night (or any time for that matter). His restaruant is located in far South Austin at:
6400 South First Street (512) 326-5807
Center Suite C
Austin, Texas 78745
