"I accidentally learned how to run a restaurant because I was being opportunistic. Given where I came from, making those decisions to do something unexpected or previously unknown, it felt like more of a risk to say no. If I wait until it's perfect, I am going to be stuck. Learning is my currency. If I can learn, if I can do something, that compounds my odds."
"She didn't have a passport. She'd never been on a plane. But she said yes. When asked if she was naturally comfortable with risk, she flipped the script: the relentless work ethic of working every job available—hostess, waitress, bartender, even cook when kitchen staff quit—led to an unexpected phone call at 19 inviting her to join a traveling training team to open Hooters franchises around the world."
Kat Cole's career trajectory demonstrates the power of embracing opportunities and continuous learning. Starting as a Hooters hostess at 15 to support herself through college, she worked multiple restaurant roles and accidentally learned business operations through hands-on experience. At 19, she accepted an unexpected offer to join a traveling training team opening Hooters franchises globally, despite having no passport or flight experience. Cole reframed risk perception, arguing that saying no to opportunities posed greater risk than accepting unknown challenges. She later became Hooters VP by 26, tripled Cinnabon's EBITDA as president, and now leads AG1 toward $600 million in revenue. Her philosophy centers on treating learning as currency and viewing each unexpected opportunity as a chance to gain confidence and improve odds of success.
Read at Entrepreneur
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