Julian Hakim

We are all human beings, we share this planet, we should at a minimum be kind and respectful to one another.

Things that may seem super urgent and a crisis in our industry are really not as serious as we sometimes make them out to be. Having that calmness and being able to react appropriately to these situations is something that can't really be taught and can be very useful.

One key thing for me is attitude. There's a saying, “you hire for attitude and train for skills.” It's very true.

I am on the road two weeks per month constantly stimulating myself with other cultures, restaurants, bars, cafes, etc. It's so enlightening to see how others do things, how they approach things. I go to Japan at least three times per year. Japanese people are so disciplined and focused on their work, it provides a great visual for us in this industry to see these things and learn from them.

I may not have the healthiest balance between life and work. I travel more than I probably should. I feel a great responsibility to everyone at Shōwa Hospitality and I want to be there for them when they want to talk. With this lifestyle it became necessary for me to make sure I carve out time to be with my family. This industry throws things at you all the time, it is important to triage (as in medicine) and realize what is urgent and what can wait. I put my family first, and think that is the healthiest path forward.