Paul Bassi CBENothing Diffcult About Success

Chairman of Bond Wolfe

When I was frst encouraged to write the book that would one day be Brick by Brick: Success in Business and Life, I was in my early 30’s and felt a bit embarrassed and uncomfortable with the idea.

I was busy building my businesses, investing in property and focusing on the future, and didn’t think that I had much wisdom to offer at that stage in my life. The subject reappeared once again in my mid-40’s, but I was still unsure. I certainly had more experience, but what could I share that had not been said before?

Fast forward to my mid 50’s and my attitude to the idea had shifted. I now managed a business portfolio of over £300 million, my children had fown the nest, I did charity work to help others in the community who faced the same diffculties I once did; I guess it was now time to write a book?

I felt that I had a responsibility to pass on the knowledge and experience I had gathered over the years to the next generation of my family, none of whom had any idea of where our family’s journey had started. I wondered if there might be others out there who were looking to get ahead in their own lives but did not know how, and who might beneft from the lessons I had learned in my 35-year working career.

The idea that my profts from the book might be used to help my charitable foundation, the Bond Wolfe Charitable Trust, clinched it for me; I would write a book about my life, and what I had learned about the nature of success.

When I sat down to actually write the book, I thought about what I wanted to share with the faceless reader I had in my mind. I knew that I wanted to begin with my own history, to share where my family had come from, to show how far success could take you, and how quickly.

Brick by Brick begins with my grandfather’s departure from the Punjab, and my father’s arrival in the UK, with just £2 in his pocket. The book follows my family through uncertainty, race riots and years of hard work and determination, all culminating in our attendance at Buckingham Palace where I received a CBE for services to business in the West Midlands. But this was not just an exercise in remembering the past or reminiscing over achievements; I wanted to use my story to share what I had learned about the nature of success and help others to reach their own goals.

What is the use of working hard and succeeding, if you can’t help others to do the same? It is a responsibility that comes with achievement and success.

As my career has unfolded, I have often been called ‘successful’, whether that be because of my job, my portfolio, my charitable work, family life or any other number of things.

And with this assumption has come a great number of questions; people often ask me “Am I good enough?”, “Am I worthy?”, or “Is it someone else’s right or domain?”. But these are not the right questions, and don’t scratch the surface of what success really is.

The main idea I wanted to convey with Brick by Brick is that the concept of success is completely relative to each person’s circumstances. Ultimately, you defne what success looks like to you and what it entails, which means that everyone has the potential to be successful, once they have decided how they defne that standard.

Of course, then one has to question how you achieve your defnition of success. As nice as it would be, there really is no secret formula that can guarantee success, no combination of career choices and life decisions that lead to prosperity. There are however certain disciplines and behaviours that I see displayed time and again by those people who succeed, who get to the top of their game.

In my experience, one of the common misconceptions is that successful people follow a cryptic code that only they can read, and that ordinary people can never access. While obviously a fortunate beginning helps people to a quick start in life, the majority of successful people get to the top by following disciplines that are available to everybody.

The most important idea that successful people commit themselves to is also one of the simplest; mindset is everything. To me, desire and attitude is more important than circumstances or ability. If you believe you can succeed, are dedicated to working hard and avoid taking shortcuts or quitting, you will succeed. As Henry Ford famously said: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, either way you’re right”.

There are many talented people who do not reach their goal; it is the determined who make it to the top.

Once you have the mindset that you have it in you to be successful, I believe in the importance of having a concept of success.

I have always had a vision of a ‘big picture’ in the front of my mind, an image of what success means for me that has kept me driven. On the way to this end target, I imagined smaller goals, dotted along the journey, allowing me to benchmark my progress and keeping me motivated as I drew closer to my dream. In my case, the ‘big picture’ was an asset-rich business with a great management team, this objective is now achieved, and I have now shifted my ‘big picture’ accordingly, bringing a new goal to mind. It is this adaptability, this constant focus on a goal that keeps you looking forward and trying to achieve.

If a positive mindset and the all-important ‘big picture’ are two sides of a triangle, the fnal piece of the puzzle has to be understanding your motivations. You have your goal, but you need to know why you want to achieve it. Think about what makes that fnal target so important to you; why is this the journey you want to take, the path you want to focus on? Once you fnd your true reason to work hard, your real purpose in life, you will be able to fully believe in your journey. With faith in your goals and your ability to achieve them, there is nothing holding you back.

Whether you are at the beginning of your journey, imagining your ‘big picture’, or busy working your way to the end goal, it is easy to see problems ahead and be dis- heartened, assuming that those that succeed must have no such obstacles. I have worked with some incredibly successful individuals from all walks of life – politicians, businessmen and athletes - and they are almost all very normal and ordinary.

They work hard, true, but they are just like you or I. The limitations that stop us from reaching our goals are set by ourselves, not other people. These limitations can be those that make us believe we cannot achieve our goal or can make us stop once we reach a certain point.

Truly successful people do not set restrictions on their ability to achieve; as Bill Gates once said “If I knew the fnish line, don’t you think I would have crossed it by now?”

It is very tempting when you are ambitious to compare yourself to others. There will always be others working hard but remember that they are striving for their own goal, not yours. Success is relative. By all means, watch how others work and learn from it, respect and admire them, but be true to yourself, dance to your own beat and measure your success by your own defnitions.

I have left the fnal discipline until last because it’s the hardest one to explain and the most diffcult to believe; money is a by-product of success, not the goal. It is easy to scoff at that idea when the people saying it are already successful, but it is true. Nobody chases money; they chase the things it brings.

People chase fnancial freedom, security, material possessions, and while money can help obtain these objectives, it is not in itself the goal. Instead of having money as your yardstick, strive for other forms of success and don’t chase the money. If you are successful, the money will come, but other aims should always be the focus.

What do successful people have in common?

The successful people I know assign to most, if not all, of the disciplines I have mentioned. They also tend to share some common personality traits.

It is not a surprising fact that people with drive and a strong work ethic tend to be successful. If you are relentless in pursuing a goal, you will succeed in it eventually. As I said, mindset is always the key and perseverance is a by-product of this thinking. In any industry, there will be critics and those who try to put you off your path. A thick skin is essential if you want to progress. Believe you can do anything that is thrown at you, and ignore those who say you can’t. This applies to everything; do not believe in glass ceilings or accept obstacles in front of you. To avoid being a critic yourself, focus on solutions, rather than be dragged into problems, and see obstacles as opportunities, not as chances to stop and fail.

To be successful, you need to adapt; times change and the ways to success change with them. Everyone I know who has achieved their goals is able to think differently and embrace change, rather than fear it. Being able to slip out of your comfort zone is an important trait if you want to push yourself and reach the top of the ladder.

Of course, no man is an island and your relationships play a part in your success. Successful people learn from those around them who are high achievers; usually you fnd that these people tend to be in networks of likeminded individuals, drawing lessons from each other’s experiences. Similarly, those who do well in any area of life tend to not be easily impressed, refusing to suffer fools or timewasters.

As I fnished the fnal words of Brick by Brick, it dawned on me that the lessons I had shared throughout the chapters really do apply to everything I do in life, even writing a book. I always advise people to jot down their ‘big picture’, to think of what they want and how they defne success for themselves. Writing this book, and looking back on my career, has been an amazing exercise in doing just that.

I realise that so many of the habits that have helped me in life have come from understanding the ‘big picture’, and from striving for this goal.

I realised how true it is that people neither succeed by accident or fail by chance. I look back at the determination of my grandfather and my parents who had nothing but dreams to urge them on, and the confdence I had as a young man going into business, and realise that it was these innate personality traits which drove all of us to get where we wanted to go. Each of us faced obstacles, as we all do in life, but at every turn we believed we could and would succeed. We ignored critics and embraced change to make the most of every opportunity, and that is what I hope that Brick by Brick helps others to do too. Everyone has it in them to be a success; they just need to back themselves and their desires, rather than derail their goals with doubt.

So best of luck to anybody working towards their own ‘big picture’; I hope that the lessons I have learned and the advice I have shared help you on your path.

Success may be a long road, but it’s also a great adventure and an incredibly fulflling journey.

A leading businessman and author, Paul Bassi is Chief Executive of property group Real Estate Investors Plc and Chairman of Bond Wolfe, which he co-founded in 1983 and Likewise Plc. Paul served as President of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and was formerly the Regional Chairman to Coutts Bank (West Midlands) and former Director of the Birmingham Hippodrome.

He was appointed High Sheriff for the County of West Midlands for 2009, received Honorary Doctorates from both Birmingham City and Aston University, and was awarded a CBE in the 2010 New Year’s Honours List.

Bassi has interests in a £300 million plus property and business portfolio, which includes estate agency, investment property, development land, hospitality, fnance and care homes, employing hundreds of staff.

All of Paul’s profts from Brick by Brick: Success in Business and Life will go to the Bond Wolfe Charitable Trust.

Brick by Brick: Success in Business and Life is published by Bloomsbury Business, and will be available online and in bookshops from 25th July 2019. All of Paul’s profts from Brick by Brick: Success in Business and Life will go to Bond Wolfe Trust.

Upon entering the Castille Paris – Starhotels Collezione for the frst time, surrounded by pastel hues and soft lights, guests immediately perceive that special mix of elegance, warmth and relaxed atmosphere that only the best Italian hospitality can master so exceptionally well, combining eclectic taste, classical style and contemporary fair in a truly timeless charm.

The Castille incorporates 3 different buildings. At the beginning of the 20th century, the owner, heir of a royal Spanish family and refugee in France, named the hotel “Castille” in homage to its origins and commissioned a fresco representing the conquest of the New World by the Spaniards for the inner courtyard, that today hosts the hotel’s patio restaurant.

In 2005, Starhotels acquired the buildings and opened the doors of its frst hotel in France, which then became Castille Paris – Starhotels Collezione.

“The choice of the location in Rue Cambon, one of the most delightful streets in the city center, in the district between Place de la Concorde, la Madeleine and Place Vendôme, is no coincidence. A hotel’s personality can only develop properly if it’s immersed in the history of its surroundings and has something to say for itself,” claims Elisabetta Fabri, President and CEO of Starhotels.

The central location, within the 1st arrondissement, close to the “Maison Chanel” fagship store, where Mademoiselle Coco opened her frst atelier, and to all the most exclusive boutiques in the world, plus the Champs Elysées, Louvre Museum, Jardin des Tuileries, Notre-Dame and many other Parisian landmarks, is ideal for tourists and business clients alike. It grants access to airports and railway stations and it is the perfect starting point for those who wish to explore the town by foot.

Following a renovation the most distinctive features of this boutique hotel have been artfully brought out introducing, at the same time, new stylistic elements that accentuate the antique soul of this prestigious location.

The reception area is a pleasant surprise for frst-time guests: strong hues set off the warm tones of the wood, suddenly evolving into soft shades of beige and green, in contrast with the eccentricity of opulent lounge sofas and exquisite period furniture. A composition of opposites that is singularly Mediterranean, an irresistible whirl of colour and unpredictable furnishings that immediately underscore the Castille strong personality.

The lounge is an artful play of interlocking box shapes, an incredibly refned kaleidoscope of bold colours, where the walls play a fundamental role in the defnition of volumes. Eclectic sofas and armchairs sit beside modern-classic coffee tables, antique paintings and prints conjuring a luxurious atmosphere that is at the same time highly classical and contemporary.

Starhotels’s signature hospitality takes the Italian fair for style and service to a whole other level, through a well calibrated blend of professionalism, elegance and Mediterranean warmth, and at the Castille it is imbued with the unmistakable touch of French charm.

The hotel’s “Les Clefs d’Or” concierge is at guests’ disposal between 7:00 am and 10:30 pm to help them in organizing sightseeing itineraries, booking tickets for cultural venues and taking care of restaurant and meeting spaces reservations.

Castille offers a wide range of services designed to make each stay enjoyable and relaxing. Guests will have at their disposal all the services of a 5-star hotel, including a 24/7 room service, a free Wi-f connection and the possibility to book a baby-sitting service.

The hotel’s 82 rooms and 26 Junior Suites and Suites occupy two wings of the building, each with a character of its own: the “Opera” wing exudes contemporary elegance and boasts breathtaking views, while the “Rivoli” wing oozes classic 30s French style. A faultless recreation of the Parisian timeless atmosphere at its most evocative, imbued with the warmth of the southern European soul.

For those on a leisure trip, the hotel’s rooms are an oasis of relax after a day spent walking around the superb museums of Paris or shopping. On the other hand, business guests will fnd a quiet environment, perfect for catching up on work or simply for taking some well-deserved time off.

Each room is furnished down to the smallest detail: soft, ergonomic Starbed mattresses and a pillows menu allow guests to curate their own perfect sleep experience, while Illy coffee machines and a carefully selected teas make every awakening special.

The rooms also feature wireless Internet, satellite TV, a comprehensive flm menu and an elegant desk equipped with state-of-the art ports. At guests’ disposal, the Handy Smartphone service which offers them the possibility to have a free and unlimited Internet connection and international calls, as well as useful information on means of transport, events not to be missed during their stay, and to be always in contact with the hotel.

A fne dining experience awaits guests of L’Assaggio, the hotel’s restaurant, where the purest simplicity meets culinary technique and the richness of French tradition combines with Mediterranean warmth, resulting in dishes as delectable for the palate as they are for the eyes, a feast of ingredients, aromas and favours.

Famous over the years for its chefs’ personal interpretations of the rich French culinary tradition with a dash of Italian brio, today L’Assaggio restaurant offers local and international guests the unprecedented opportunity to familiarize with the dishes and the philosophy of one of Piedmont’s most representative chefs.

Starting in June 2017, in fact, the L’Assaggio menu bears the signature of Ugo Alciati, Michelin-starred Chef at the helm of the historic “Guido Ristorante” in Serralunga d’Alba and Eataly ambassador, landmark of Italian cuisine throughout the world.

Praised for his creative “clarity” and essential approach to enhancing ingredients, Ugo Alciati comes from a celebrated family of Italian culinary masters.

In his cooking philosophy, the starting point of a dish is always the ingredient, exalted by adding very few elements and processed through non invasive cooking techniques, to maintain it as pure as possible.

The menu, designed by Ugo Alciati and prepared by the Executive Chef Pablo Sabariego with his team, is a compendium of traditional culinary culture with creative accents, where Piedmontese specialties and high-quality seasonal ingredients are showcased thanks to the Chef’s extraordinary skills and command of the ingredient.

Castille Paris 33-37 Rue Cambon 75001 Paris France - +33 1 44 58 44 58