For content creator, restaurateur, and entrepreneur Erwan Heussaff, building a business isn’t about who has the best idea or the highest grades. In fact, he’s quick to say that being smart simply isn’t enough.
“When I talk to students nowadays on entrepreneurship, I always tell the moderators that you know what, I actually don’t recommend entrepreneurship—unless you are a genius and you’re extremely good at what you do,” Heussaff says candidly.
It’s an unexpected statement, especially coming from someone who has built a thriving brand from scratch. But Heussaff is clear: entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart, and romanticizing it does a disservice to young people entering the real world.
“Experience is important,” he explains, “but more important is the wisdom, because a lot of people don’t teach you that. How do you handle problems? How do you talk to staff?”
Heussaff believes that wisdom—earned through time, failure, and mentorship—is what separates those who survive from those who simply start.
Don’t Launch Right Away—Get Real-World Training First
To aspiring founders straight out of school, Heussaff offers firm but practical advice: don’t start your own business just yet.
“If you are out of college, do not become an entrepreneur yet,” he says. “Find a mentor. Go work with a big corporate structure because they can also teach you about reporting, what your investors need to see. There are various things that you never learned in school.”
For him, this structure helps entrepreneurs learn key foundational skills—how to analyze data, manage people, present performance, and report responsibly. “You can’t build a serious business if you don’t know how to communicate with the people who are funding or backing you,” he adds.
Courage and Consistency Matter More Than a Great Idea
Heussaff also emphasizes the value of persistence over perfection. “There are so many good ideas and there are a lot of people who are smarter than you,” he says, “but it all comes down to the person who is going to work harder for it.”
More than intelligence, he says it’s about grit—the kind of hunger that pushes someone to work through fear, doubt, and setbacks. “If you don’t have the balls to steal it, there is no way in hell you’re going to survive it,” Heussaff says bluntly.
But to be clear, he isn’t talking about literal theft—he’s referring to the ability to take ownership of an opportunity, recognize when the timing is right, and act on it with intention and strategy. “It’s all about identifying opportunities, being smart enough not to jump on those opportunities right away, and being able to create a sound business plan to put that idea into fruition,” he explains.
It’s a Long Game, Not a Shortcut
Heussaff’s no-fluff perspective comes from his own years of balancing multiple ventures—from running restaurants to building a digital media brand. He understands that building a business is about long-term commitment, not viral wins.
“Entrepreneurship is tough,” he says. “If you’re doing it for clout or freedom or because you think it’s trendy, you won’t last. You need a deeper reason. You need to be obsessed with solving a problem—and relentless about doing it better every day.”
In an age where startup success is often glamorized, Erwan Heussaff’s message is a powerful reminder: Being brilliant is great—but being prepared, patient, and persistent is what actually gets you to the finish line.
This article includes quotes from an interview originally published by Esquire Philippines, authored by Henry Ong.
