Ray Tawil is the founder of PREPT by Ray T, a hospitality business based out of Brooklyn specializing in high-end catering, events, and food delivery.

In this episode, Ray opens up about what it's really like to run a hospitality company–and it's not what you think.

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SPONSORS:

• Yazdi Entertainment, New York's premiere event production company. https://www.instagram.com/yazdi_entertainment/

yazdientertainment@gmail.com or (646) 765-5643

• Kosher Media, the #1 advertising network for Jewish communities worldwide: https://koshermedia.com

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GEAR:

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(0:00 ) Coming up...

(1:29 ) Ray T's catering/cooking accomplishments

(1:54 ) Starting a BBQing business at age 12

(3:42 ) Working at a restaurant

(4:24 ) Going to the #1 culinary school in the country

(6:35 ) State-of-the-art equipment in college

(7:48 ) What's culinary school like as a religious jew?

(9:51 ) Dealing with the prohibition of mixing meat and milk

(10:28 ) Were you concerned you wouldn't make money as a chef?

(12:30 ) What motivated you to start a business at 12 years old?

(13:54 ) Being different

(15:47 ) "Love what you do"

(17:30 ) Studying in culinary school for 4 years instead of 2

(18:50 ) Why pursue a 2nd degree in food science?

(20:14 ) Ray's parents' nuanced approach to education

(20:31 ) Yazdi Entertainment

(21:31 ) Expanding his business after college

(23:11 ) How to grow past the 1-man-band stage

(24:27 ) What it's really like to grow a business: skipping parties, sleepless nights

(26:18 ) "I was 2 weeks away from closing my doors"

(28:01 ) Being goal-oriented

(28:34 ) Turning himself into a high-line brand

(30:14 ) How do you scale a brand that requires YOU?

(32:28 ) Ray T's daily routine

(34:28 ) The 3 arms of Ray T's business

(35:49 ) Catering an event with Donald Trump

(41:54 ) Kosher Media

(42:41 ) Getting into catering trips (i.e. Passover, vacations)

(45:50 ) BBQing his 1st trip

(48:55 ) Opening up about how his business almost went bankrupt

(49:52 ) Ray T's marketing

(50:41 ) Increasing customer awareness through marketing

(51:24 ) The origins of "ooh ooh ooh"

(52:35 ) The moment he realized he may have to shut down the business

(55:28 ) Balancing business and family

(57:10 ) Work-life balance on vacation

(58:34 ) Advice to teenagers reluctant to pursue their passion

(1:00:00 ) Should people chase their passion?

(1:01:40 ) Momentum Moment

(1:03:29 ) Takeaway #1: say yes now, figure it out later

(1:04:09 ) Takeaway #2: be smart about following your passion

(1:04:31 ) Takeaway #3: diversify your income streams

(1:04:50 ) Outro