I was completely shocked at the success I was able to achieve in such a short time. I quickly learned a lot about what guests needed and wanted. I also drew on all my experience in both the hospitality industry and in customer service but also looked at the kind of people I had come across in all my years in Japan and thought about what they would want also. Since the age of 15 I’ve had lots of “customer facing” jobs. Not stuck in an office, but out there with the customers, talking to them and above all, listening. I’ve worked in cafes and bars, as well as retail stores and food service for large chains. I’ve picked up lots of techniques and knowledge for creating a perfect customer experience. It’s incredibly rewarding. And it’s very powerful. After all, people are really buying experiences, not products and services. Following the shocking success of my first little property, I added more. A lot more. Over the next 5 years I grew my business to 23 properties all over Tokyo: Shibuya, Shinjuku, Meguro, Taito, Suginami, Nakano, Chiyoda, Minato and Setagaya. It grew to a 7-figure business employing a team of 6 and kept us running off our feet. What a rush this was. We learned so much. We have now consolidated and focused on profit margins rather than simply revenue. So, I now run 10 key properties in 5 wards of Tokyo and can also consult on how best to grow a business or to close down a property at minimum loss and highest efficiency. I’ve had over 2500 groups at my properties since 2010. Usually 4-5 guests come, but I’ve had groups of up to 16. So, I’ve taken care of at least 12,000 guests over the past 8 years. I’ve had many magical moments as a host, and I’ve solved tons of problems.