Posts tagged Its a Jungle in There
The 5 P’s of Entrepreneurial Success
Jan 10th
In any economy, in any job market, whatever the size of the initial budget you just can’t keep a good entrepreneur down. No one knows that better than Steven Schussler, the man behind the Rainforest Cafe and a host of other wildly successful projects.
Learn more about the 5 P’s of Entrepreneurial Success in his book “It’s A Jungle In There” Personality: The Role of Risk-Taking in Entrepreneurial Success: Many people prefer to play it safe when it comes to business matters. Are you willing to take risks in the pursuit of entrepreneurial success? Steven Schussler
CCIM Speaking Engagement Success
Jan 7th
The CCIM Presentation last night was a huge success – what a great group! Thank you Carol Ebert, and Brad Pfaff for hosting this event and thank you Robert, Wendy, Brad, Gene, Carol and others for all your great questions! Thank you for your support of buying my book “It’s A Jungle In There” 100% of the sale of my book go to Smile Network International, a Minnesota-based humanitarian organization that provides reconstructive surgeries to impoverished children and young adults around the world.
Enjoy the read and the rollercoaster ride. Remember, “Sweat the Small Stuff”, “No is a Yes waiting to happen!” Steven Schussler
Minnesota Business Back Talk Issue – Steven Schussler Interviews Dan Lowe, Managering Partner of Red Development
Jan 6th
The Business of Shopping [Centers] by Steven Schussler
The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes (Maple Grove) and Woodbury Lakes are among the more forward-thinking Twin Cities shopping destinations. Dan Lowe is managing partner and one of the founding partners of the developer behind both: RED Development, LLC, which develops, leases and manages a total of 30 shopping centers nationwide. The company primarily focuses on open-air lifestyle centers and destination retail and entertainment developments. Lowe’s development responsibilities include project coordination, financing, budgeting, equity structure, due diligence, governmental relations, lease review and legal aspects for each project.
Visit Schussler Creative Website to read the full article
Happy New Year from the Schussler Creative Team
Dec 30th
As I mention in my book, “It’s A Jungle In There” No One Creates In a Vacuum and we’d like to take a moment to thank all of you for your continued support, camaraderie, and friendship.
As we move forward into the New Year 2011, let’s keep giving back, keep trying; keep inspired; never stop dreaming, and never, ever give up! Remember Passion + Ambition Yields Success (It P.A.Y.S.)
Wishing you all a very Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Steven Schussler and the team at Schussler Creative, Inc.
ROI Leader Forum Announcement for January 14, 2011
Dec 23rd
ROI Leader Forum Announcement for January 14, 2011
Topic: “A Guide to Entrepreneurial Success”
Speaker: Steven Schussler, Founder and CEO of Schussler Creative, Inc.
Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker and Author of the National Bestseller “It’s A Jungle In There” Inspiring Lessons, Hard-Won Insights and Other Acts of Entrepreneural Daring.
Time:
7:30 a.m. – 7: 45 a.m. Continental Breakfast
7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Presentation and Networking
Location: Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company LLP
2501 Wayzata Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55405
COST: Free!
To reserve your place at one of these seminars, please contact Jean LaPlante.
Passion and imagination—two of the most powerful engines of success—combined with persistence and an unwavering belief in his dreams, has compelled Steven Schussler for decades. Well-known as the creator of the Rainforest Cafe ®, A Wild Place To Shop and Eat™ launched at the Mall of America in 1994, Schussler and his team have built 45 Rainforest Cafes in seven years on three continents winning more than 40 awards in the process! A premier branding expert™, he founded Schussler Creative in 2000 and has recently published his inspiring lessons, hard-won insights, and other acts of entrepreneurial daring in a national bestseller, “It’s a Jungle in There.” Come listen to his tales about being a restaurateur, branding expert and creative consultant, as well as a speaker and author. Leave with insights into the Five P’s for Business Success: Personality, Product, Persistence, People and Philanthropy.
STEVEN SCHUSSLER, started his entrepreneurial career at age 9 with a paper route. He became a television and radio executive, and eventually embraced his passion for conceiving theatrical environments that appeal to the masses—in his restaurants, retail attractions, and entertainment venues worldwide. A living example of entrepreneurial social responsibility, Schussler is dedicating 100% of the authors sales benefit Smile Network International, a non-profit organization and their mission of surgically repairing cleft lips and palates of impoverished children and young adults worldwide. In addition, he teaches an entrepreneurial class at the UMN Carlson School of Business Management, and writes a monthly column, “Back Talk,” for Minnesota Business Magazine. For further information, visit www.schusslercreative.com.
It’s a Jungle in There – Steven Schussler on Entrepreneurship Hosted By: MOJO Minnesota and MHTA
Dec 19th
MOJO Minnesota, with co-host MHTA, invites you to the Target Performance Hall on January 12th for a look inside the imaginative mind of Steven Schussler, a Minnesota entrepreneurial superstar. Schussler, the creator of Rainforest Cafe and Galaxy Drive-In and now author of #1 national bestseller It’s a Jungle in There, will talk about his story of innovation, risk and wild success – with Q&A to follow. Schussler donates all profits from his book to Smile Network International.
50 lucky attendees will win a free copy of It’s a Jungle in There.
Thank Eide Bailly for the generous sponsorship that made this event possible.
Date: Wed., January 12th
Time: 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Location:
Open Book – Target Performance Hall
1011 Washington Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Admission is free but space limited (so act fast!). Refreshments provided.
For more information, contact Brad Lehrman blehrman@lommen.com.
http://mojominnesota.com/
To view Steven Schussler Speaking Schedule visit http://www.schusslercreative.com/schussler_author.html
Schussler Creative donates Toys to Neighborhood House for needy children this Holiday Season
Dec 15th
Steven Schussler and his team at Schussler Creative donated a 45 ft. semi-trailer brimming with over 700 toys to Neighborhood House, a multi-service agency that helps low-income families. A group of executive volunteers from U.S. Bank joined the team to transfer the gifts from one trailer to the other. Steven writes about giving back and philanthropy in Chapter 28 of his book “It’s A Jungle In There“. “Giving and helping others is what makes a community stronger. We are proud we were able to form a strategic alliance with Neighborhood House and brighten the spirits and homes of many needy children this Holiday Season.” Steven Schussler
Leading Blog: A Leadership Blog: It’s A Jungle In There
Dec 4th
Leading Blog: A Leadership Blog: It’s a Jungle in ThereBy Michael McKinney
Created by Steven Schussler, the Rainforest Café holds the record as one of the top-grossing restaurant chains in the world and was the first restaurant concept to be featured at every Disney theme park worldwide. Schussler shares in …
Leading Blog: A Leadership Blog – http://www.leadershipnow.com/leadingblog/
It’s a Jungle in There
Anyone that has ever been to the Rainforest Café, knows it’s a treat. Created by Steven Schussler, the Rainforest Café holds the record as one of the top-grossing restaurant chains in the world and was the first restaurant concept to be featured at every Disney theme park worldwide. Schussler shares in It’s a Jungle in There, what it takes to make it happen and the lessons he learned that can be applied to your dream.
Schussler embodies the five Ps of successful entrepreneurship—Personality, Product, Persistence, People, and Philanthropy—that he teaches in the He writes, “As a leadership quality, one’s own passion is what galvanizes others into action.” Passion and persistence has played a big part in everything Schussler has done. It’s “not going through the motions but going through with the emotions.”
Schussler says that he’s always wanted to create a rainforest themed restaurant but the problem was getting investors interested in the idea. To get their attention he turned his home into a tropical rainforest. “Over a period of a few years, my standard split-level home was transformed into a jungle dwelling complete with rock outcroppings, waterfalls, rivers, layers of fog, mist that rose from the ground, a thatched hut covered with vines on the roof, tiki torches, a twelve-foot neon and a full-size replica of an elephant near the front door.”
“In the bedroom, my bed was ‘paradise’ sign, constructed to look like it was suspended in a tree….Birds and animals moved freely through the area during showings of the house….Every room, every closet, every hallway of my house was a ‘scene’: an attempt to present my idea of what a rainforest restaurant would look like in actual operation….No venture capitalists were going to invest their money in my far-out concept without actually seeing it, so I transformed my house into my vision of what a rainforest restaurant would look like in order to make them believe in my dream.”
Naturally, this would catch the attention of your neighbors (and law enforcement) too. There were problems of all sorts as you can imagine. And Schussler writes, “Being passionate doesn’t totally shield you from moments of doubt.” But his passion finally won out.
“How far are you willing to go to see your dream realized?
In short, high-content chapters, he explains his guiding philosophy and backs them with concrete experiences. He has two quotes framed on the wall over his desk: “When you’re out of quality, you’re out of business” and “The noblest search is the search for excellence.”
He talks about looking for “enhancement gaps.” Those gaps between “what you are seeing and what you could create to make what you are seeing better by providing some product or service.”
He asks, “Are you willing to help other people succeed even when it’s not a requirement of your job to be of assistance?”
Self-control: “What you don’t want to do is say things and/or act in a manner that will create negative impressions and the unwanted consequences that are certain to follow.” You must know your audience.
Burning Bridges/Writing People Off: Don’t do it. “What I learned that day reconfirmed my belief that ego can be a killer, especially an unchecked ego. Most entrepreneurs need to have a healthy ego, but you also have to be realistic. That’s a very delicate balance—the kind of balance you need to cross a bridge you tumbled off the first time around.”
Anyone would benefit by reading and integrating the lessons offered
Steven Schussler Live on Fox & Friends
Nov 19th
Steven Schussler live on Fox & Friends with Steve Doocy, Brian Kilmeade and Gretchen Carlson (MN native) see photos of Ice Place Set and more… Click Here to see photos
Originally from Rockaway Beach, New York, Steven Schussler is no stranger to PR stunts, and his book, It’s a Jungle in There, encourages anyone with a dream to “learn to become a creative genius, and take your ideas as far as you can to make them come true.” In order to attract investors for his idea of Rainforest Cafe, he transformed his home into the Rainforest Cafe® prototype. After four years of showing the concept to potential investors, Schussler opened the first Rainforest Cafe® at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota in October 1994. He and his public company built and operated 45 Rainforest Cafe® restaurants in seven years, on three continents and sold the chain to Landry’s Restaurants Inc. in 2000. Before selling to Landry’s, Rainforest Cafe® received over 40 awards in 6 years including: Fortune Magazine’s “Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in the U.S.A.” (named to the list two consecutive years); Nation’s Restaurant News’ “Hot Concept Award,” and Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 100 Entreprenuers.”
Steven Schussler says, “What better way to kick-off Thanksgiving than by giving thanks for what you have. At the end of the day, it’s not about how much you can acquire in your life, but how much you can help others. In Chapter 28 of my book, It’s a Jungle in There, I talk about the importance of philanthropy and how entrepreneurs must embrace social responsibility. My motive for creating the Ice Palace on the Fox Plaza is to raise awareness for Smile Network International, and to share the message that anyone can overcome obstacles and get ahead in business if they put their mind to it.”
The Ice Palace, which is also a prototype for Steven Schussler’s concept restaurant called, “Water, Fire & Ice™ The Ultra Polar Lounge™,” will be carved by Minneapolis-based Ice Occasions™ owner, Chris Swarbrick. His team also created sculptures for the Vancouver Olympics, and the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. “It will take (100) 300-pound blocks of ice to construct the 15-ton Ice Palace on the Fox Plaza, and upon completion will house an ice bar stocked with Aquadeco Water in beautiful designer bottles, a circular ice couch, a fire and ice table (with real fire), an ice carving of a penguin, and a full size gorilla!,” said Swarbrick.
Steven Schussler appears Live on Fox & Friends
Nov 18th
It’s a Jungle In There By Rainforest Cafe® Creator Steven Schussler
Andrew Marc will Sponsor The Building of the Structure, and will Feature Their Fall 2010 Outerwear Event to Raise Awareness for Smile Network International
(THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2010) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—It was announced early this morning that a 15-ton palace carved out of more than 30,000 pounds of ice will be constructed on the Fox Plaza, 48th Street and Avenue of the Americas, for a “Fox and Friends” interview on Friday, November 19th in support of a book segment for It’s a Jungle in There, written by author and Rainforest Cafe® creator Steven Schussler with Marvin Karlins. The mission for the event is to raise awareness for Smile Network International, (www.smilenetwork.org), a Minnesota-based 501(c) 3 organization that surgically repairs cleft lips and palates of impoverished young people around the world. Steven Schussler is a founding member and lifetime advisor of the board of directors, and 100% of his proceeds from the book will go to Smile Network International. The event will be sponsored by the Andrew Marc luxury apparel brand, who will supply the hosts of the TV show with garments from their fall 2010 collection. Andrew Marc will also spearhead a sweepstakes for the viewers to enter to win a $1,000 shopping spree on AndrewMarc.com. In addition, their team of models will also be passing out hot chocolate & biscotti to people in and around the plaza.
Originally from Rockaway Beach, New York, Steven Schussler is no stranger to PR stunts, and his book, It’s a Jungle in There, encourages anyone with a dream to “learn to become a creative genius, and take your ideas as far as you can to make them come true.” In order to attract investors for his idea of Rainforest Cafe, he transformed his home into the Rainforest Cafe® prototype. After four years of showing the concept to potential investors, Schussler opened the first Rainforest Cafe® at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota in October 1994. He and his public company built and operated 45 Rainforest Cafe® restaurants in seven years, on three continents and sold the chain to Landry’s Restaurants Inc. in 2000. Before selling to Landry’s, Rainforest Cafe® received over 40 awards in 6 years including: Fortune Magazine’s “Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in the U.S.A.” (named to the list two consecutive years); Nation’s Restaurant News’ “Hot Concept Award,” and Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 100 Entreprenuers.”
Steven Schussler says, “What better way to kick-off Thanksgiving than by giving thanks for what you have. At the end of the day, it’s not about how much you can acquire in your life, but how much you can help others. In Chapter 28 of my book, It’s a Jungle in There, I talk about the importance of philanthropy and how entrepreneurs must embrace social responsibility. My motive for creating the Ice Palace on the Fox Plaza is to raise awareness for Smile Network International, and to share the message that anyone can overcome obstacles and get ahead in business if they put their mind to it.”
The Ice Palace, which is also a prototype for Steven Schussler’s concept restaurant called, “Water, Fire & Ice™ The Ultra Polar Lounge™,” will be carved by Minneapolis-based Ice Occasions™ owner, Chris Swarbrick. His team also created sculptures for the Vancouver Olympics, and the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. “It will take (100) 300-pound blocks of ice to construct the 15-ton Ice Palace on the Fox Plaza, and upon completion will house an ice bar stocked with Aquadeco Water in beautiful designer bottles, a circular ice couch, a fire and ice table (with real fire), an ice carving of a penguin, and a full size gorilla!,” said Swarbrick.
For More Information about the event, or to interview Steven Schussler, please contact Justin Loeber and his team at Mouth Public Relations (www.MouthPublicRelations.com), 212-260-7576; Media@MouthPublicRelations.com.
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