Find. Build. Sell.

CHAPTER 8Build your knowledge

No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience.

John Locke

While most people come to pubs to have fun, some have other intentions, and this potential for violence to erupt at any time needs to be carefully managed. Knowledge is power and forewarned is forearmed, so we work hard to ensure everyone is safe. Most customers wouldn't see the seedier side of things (and we try really hard to protect them from seeing it) but when you get alcohol, late nights, high emotion and large numbers of people in close proximity (some possibly with illegal substances coursing through their systems), you get trouble.

You never know who you're dealing with

Having managed and owned pubs all my adult life, I've seen the shabbier side of things a lot and I've had to develop strategies and systems for managing the violence when it erupts. Knowing who you're dealing with is part of that.

Growing up, my old man was pretty strict, but he taught me how to stand up for myself. This quality has set me in good stead because I now have zero tolerance for bad or disrespectful behaviour towards anyone. Call me stupid, misguided or naïve, but when I see anyone — women, kids, men — mistreated or mishandled, verbally or physically, I need to step in. Has it cost me? You bet. Have I got involved in situations that I shouldn't have? You bet. But I can't stand bullies and will step up to stamp out bullying when I see it. It takes me back to my childhood when I was bullied and ...