Don't ever let your business get ahead of the financial side of your business. Accounting, accounting, accounting. Know your numbers.
There's a lot of administrator and ex-administrators and board of regents from Baylor that say that Art Briles was a scapegoat at Baylor. I've had calls from ex-chairmen of the board of regents there, current big booster there, lawyers that represent Baylor. I have not had one negative call about Art Briles.
I just don't understand the Big 12 not wanting to own Houston, Texas, which is soon to be the third-largest populous in the United States. To me, it's a no-brainer. I'm just kind of disappointed and shocked it's not an automatic.
I like dealing with a peer so I can bully them. Because then, it's not bullying. It's just warfare.
I don't care what business it is. I have the greatest respect in the world for that guy that can take an engine apart of a car and put it back together, or the house painter that can paint a perfect line, or the cameraman who can shoot the best shot. We're all talented in our own ways - just some of us make more money than others. That's all.
I'm not on a special diet, but I do try to stay away from a lot of fried foods and from a lot of carbs. Yes, I eat a little bit of all of it.
I run in a local park two or three times a week. I probably should do more than I do, but I also do weight-lifting along with that cardio.
I could not pass up the opportunity to build and operate a casino next door to my hometown. This casino will be where Louisiana locals and Texans will want to play, stay, and enjoy themselves.
We don't use consultants at Landry's. We're our consultants.
If anything, I'd say my family was entrepreneurial - my grandfather and father. It was in our blood. But I didn't have this one mentor that was super successful.
I know all three facets of the business: the development side, the operations side, and I know how to borrow the money and how to put the deal together. If it was easy, everybody would do it.
I must have a God-given talent, which is the ability to multitask, plus I have great retention. I'm not the smartest guy, but I know how to do what I know how to do. I can handle things, and I don't have a lot of highs and lows. Sure, I might do some things for drama, but I'm not really upset. If you get hit across the head, you must move on.
You don't see a lot of super-high-end hotels being built in Houston because it's so expensive to build, unless you're in New York and can charge $1,000 a night.
As the economy improves, there aren't as many opportunities.
People throw in the towel because they don't know how to fight. You'd be surprised how much fight you have in you if you just do it.
I can't draw a stick person. I can't play a musical instrument. But I've always had a knack for making money.
The biggest thing I want to see is that people have the drive to succeed. If they can 'take it or leave it,' I don't do business with them. I enjoy mentoring. I like people who want to learn.
I have no issue with raising minimum wage, but then the customer can't say to us, 'Why are you raising your prices?'
Everybody notices if you're the last one in in the morning and the first one to go in the evening. Always remember that as an employee.
As much as you need to know your operations, if you don't understand the finance side and how to do the business, you're never going to be successful. So you might be the best operator or visionary, but if you don't understand the finance side... I'm successful because I know the finance side, but I also know operations; it's not an accident.
