Scott Duffy interviews Steve Sims from Blue Fish: Business & Burgers: Season 2 Ep. 10

I'm Alan Taylor.

My buddy Scott Duffy and I are in search of the best burger in America.

Each month, we visit a new city.

To try some of the top restaurants, pubs, and brewhouses while sitting down for a candid conversation with some of the top entrepreneurs, athletes, entertainers, and celebrities. I don't know about you, but I love talking business over a burger. Welcome to business and burgers.

Today we're back at the historic Barney's Beanery in Los Angeles, California. Joining us is an entrepreneur who went from guarding the front door at extravagant parties to throwing them. Steve Sims is the founder of the Bluefish, a luxury concierge service known for arranging whatever his client desires. From a trip to the International space Station to Oscar parties with Sir Elton John. Scott and I look forward to picking Steve's brain. But first, we have a little friendly competition to see who pays the bill.

Boom boom.

Boys.

Oh, here he is at the last shot.

That's my guy.

Traffic. Traffic.

Yeah.

I'm at my last shot. So if I win, he pays. I'm gonna let you take my shot.

Just if you want to warm up, you could start by knocking these two in.

Okay, awesome.

Let's try Westlobe. There you go.

Victory.

Victory.

Victory.

Victory.

Victory. What you doing to me? Thank you.

Now, you know what? We got to play one little game here because you got to tell him your history. Because there's so much history.

Where do I start? I am the modern day wizard of Oz. But I charge well for my services. So God forbid, few things I've done. I sent people down to the Titanic, got a client married in the Vatican by the Pope, arranged a lunch with Donald Trump and his family, pre presidential, Worked for Trump for a few years doing events with him and a little venture capital guy called Michael Milken. So basically, I just travel around the world getting cool shit done for people that can afford it and dream it. Wow.

Yep. Wow.

Yeah. That's what they pay me for.

So how do you get into that?

Do you know, it's funny because I had. And it's funny you chose this location because many, many, many years ago, I'd have been on the guy on the door telling you you couldn't come in. That's how I started. And then I was.

So you started like, as a bouncer?

I was a doorman. Yeah, I was a doorman. So I just started throwing the parties, and I thought to myself, if I want to make money, get rich people to come. So I would only invite rich people to my parties.

Okay.

So I just became before it was networking, I became a networker. I remember the first one, the guy came over to me and he went, you know, this is really good and you're really connected. I wasn't. And he turned around and is this me?

You're up?

And he turned around, he said, I want to go to Monaco for the Grand Prix. Can you help me out? And I went, certainly. I went back home to my apartment and tried to find out where the hell Monaco was. So that's. That's how it all started. And then I thought, which is so.

Funny because a lot of the times people will, if you don't know it or you don't think you have the resources, or you don't, whatever, you wait. Right. I can't do it. Or they find an excuse why they can't move forward. Right.

I like to challenge. And East London Irish boy, I always thought, if I'm going to tell you I'm going to do something, it's going to be done. And it just grew like that. And people don't pay me because I'm stunningly good looking. They pay me because I do. So I started going around to these banks, throwing these parties and trying to get them to sponsor it and bring big clients in, hoping that they would give me a job as a banker. Yeah, they did. Yeah. It was totally delusional, but that was what I was aiming for. And so I ended up throwing all these parties. I knew all the biggest banks in Switzerland, none of them would employ me, but they would sponsor my parties because I knew how to throw an event. That's awesome. And then they would challenge me with different. I want to go to this award show, I want to do this. I want to meet that rock star, I want to sing on stage with this. And I would pull it off, still hoping I would get a job. And then eventually just realized, I already have a job. I've got a network, I've got clients, I've got a following, I've got trust and credibility. And it was my wife that was the one that turned around and went, why are you looking for a job? You've got it, you're doing it. And the good thing about it was because I was enjoying it, it wasn't a job. Yeah.

So a lot of people that I know are great connectors and they have a hell of a time monetizing being a connector. So they're introducing people they know. They're helping people do business deals. Everyone makes money except for them.

Yeah, I've known a lot of those Right.

Or everyone has a good experience except for them. So the question I have is, how do you be an awesome connector, but also monetize it?

I always felt that I had something. I had access. I had a phone number. I had someone, you know, you needed. So I remember someone once said to me a classic line, that one line that changes your life. If they don't pay, they don't pay attention. But I just thought to myself, you know, if you want something, sure, give me 10 grand. I'll go make it happen. If it doesn't work, you get the 10 back. Okay, but I wanted your early stage commitment. But I always had a very simple philosophy. I only play with people I like. Yeah. Okay, so what's wrong?

It was a hard shot.

All right.

That was a wild shot. But it didn't work. Stop me from finishing them off for a win.

Victor, two games.

You pay. And it's perfect timing because the burgers are here.

Today we're trying Barney's Cali burger. This all beef patty is topped with guac, bacon and a scrumptious cheddar crisp that has jalapenos cooked right into it. The jalapeno really shines through, giving this burger a nice kick. This combination of salty, savory, and spicy flavors makes for a burger that is as delicious as it is unique. We'll be right back for these tasty burgers after a word from our sponsors.

I'm Alan Taylor and this is Scott Duffy. We are business and burgers. We're here at Barney's Beanery.

It's been here since 1920. And you know what?

As old as this place is, we've got the newest technology from Samsung because.

We have to keep up with the latest gear.

We do. And today we have the Samsung Galaxy book running Windows 10 Professional. This is such an amazing mobile device to take on the road. And you and I, we're on the road. We are road warriors.

Are we on the road?

With Samsung Flow technology, I can be using my Galaxy Book and I can also be using my smartphone and running Samsung Flow technology. Here's what these devices will do. They'll auto sync and push notifications in real time between one another. They'll automatically activate a hotspot so you're never without an Internet connection. And like, think about that. Think about being on your two in one. You can't find a wi fi. Your phone knows that. Using Samsung Flow technology. And now you're always connected.

You gotta love that.

It's an amazing feature. The other thing I love is the Galaxy Book pen. It's included with this device and you.

Don'T have to charge it.

You not only don't have to charge it, but this pen features tilt recognition technology which makes it so much easier to write on your two in one device.

And he takes a lot of notes.

I take a lot of notes.

Not only does the Samsung Galaxy Book chip with Windows 10 Pro, its fast charging, has a full day battery, is powered by Intel Core i5 with a 12.1-inch AMOLED display and has an expandable micro SD memory of up to 256 gigabytes. The new Galaxy Book with Windows 10 Pro is now available at SHI to order. SHI is the leader of information technology products and services. And don't forget about their zero touch program. If you are a company with multiple devices, open the box and the machine configures itself for you automatically. This includes data migration and remote support, making it easy to deploy and maintain your company's Windows 10 devices.

Very sleek, very light. And you know what, Scott? I think this is a real game changer.

It is. So order today from shi, complete with.

A newly redesigned detachable backlit keyboard, a tilt recognition s pen, and Windows 10 Pro. The Samsung Galaxy Book is designed to impress.

Before you get too far into your burger, how did you become the world's largest and most recognized concierge server?

Do you know? It started off small, you know, party planning, doing tiny little birthday parties for, you know, affluent families and doing, doing travel. As a traveler, there's nothing that I found any worse than you'd end up in, I know, Spain. And then you'd get back and then you get the guy at the bar, turn around and go, are you in Spain? Did you go to that bar? Or did you go to the Gaudi museum or did you see Picasso and you came back and you were like, no, I didn't know it was there. And I hated fomo. I hated that, missing out of that. So we say now that we plan travel that you just happen to go on. So we provide you with all those opportunities so that when you get back, you haven't missed out on it. And it just, it just grew. That suddenly meant that we were thinking, well, hang on, if you're going to, if you're going to Venice, how can we make sure you get into the opera? If you're going to Florence, how can we make sure you get a midnight tour of David in the academia? If you're going to Rome, how can we get you a private tour before it opens, you know, in the Vatican or. Yeah. So we just wanted to see how far we could push it. And the more we did, the more other doors opened up. And we're a no BS kind of crew. So if we contact you, you know, we're going to do it. You know, we're not giving you any fluff. We're going to ask for a freebie. And it just grew.

Have you seen these new.

I was actually looking at it. I was trying to work out what it was. What is this?

So this is the Samsung Galaxy Book. And I mean, this thing does everything that I need, Alan. And I get to test a lot of computers, a lot of devices, smartphones, things like that.

We got to stay up with the latest technology and the latest gear.

And I used to bring, like, a big laptop with me when I go and do our business and Burgers episodes. But I always felt it was so distracting. Look at this. I can actually pop this off and use it as a tablet or I can just do this. And what I'm going to do during our meeting today is I'm going to take notes. So the way this has been built, it's got amazing integration with Microsoft office tools like OneNote.

So, Steve, with all the success you've had, the world travel, how does the.

Family deal with all this?

My wife took over and became my partner. Not only my wife, my girlfriend, my best friend, but she actually picked up all those elements that I'm not good at. And as the kids have actually grown up, they've got the perks of traveling around the world and, you know, going to different events and things like that. But at the same time, I'm keen to show them behind the scenes of how we got there so they don't just turn up and go, you know, I'm a little rich kid now. You know, I get to go and meet these famous people. They get to understand what it takes to get there. Because, you know, you get a little picture on facegram of, you know, you walking down the red carpet, but people don't realize the miles it took to get you to that red carpet.

You know, on those miles you're talking about, I'm sure you have a lot of lessons that perhaps some of them weren't such fun ones to learn. Do you have. I mean, those ones that have made you, defined you to who you are today? I mean, black T shirt, Harley Davidson, you know?

Yeah. Growing up in London, I was black T shirt and jeans and motorbike. And as I grew up and became more Successful monetarily, you kind of adapt and you, you change and you try to become someone that, you know, you, you think people are taking more seriously. But I became someone I wasn't. I suddenly found that I was being dishonest with the only person that mattered, that is me. So I wasn't me. And while I had the money, I suddenly found that that was deteriorating because the clients that resonated with me, just being me.

Yeah.

Were now going away. And the people that I was getting to fill that gap financially were people that I didn't actually resonate with because they didn't know who I was. I'm a whiskey drinking bike boy. So one day it's gotta be done. And you know, the funny thing is, I've noticed this. A lot of people, when they get into an industry, there's a few mistakes they make. They get into the industry, then they try to look like that industry. So if they're in a rock band, they get the tats, the hats, the glasses. If they're a Silicon Valley techy, they get the hoodie and the vans. And then what they try to do is they try to be unique. But before they actually assimilated to that industry, they were already unique. So luckily I was young enough to realize that I was screwing up. I went back to the black T shirt and bike. Don't have a car, ride around a bike. So I turn up to some of the richest, most powerful people in the world on a bike. If you like it, great. If it doesn't resonate with you, wasn't meant to be.

Yeah, I remember a time where it was when I did my first live national TV news show. And I remember that I was so nervous and I was so in my head, not necessarily about what it was I wanted to say and what I wanted to deliver, but how I should look and how I should act, all that kind of stuff. And I remember our PR person came up to me and she said, you know, the world already has a Jack Welch and an Oprah and every person that you can think of, you just have to be you. And the more authentic that you are as you, the more the world loves you and the more they want more. I'm curious, do you take kind of this opportunity to teach your kids how to be entrepreneurs?

I do, actually. I believe that, you know, learning math, learning English, learning science, getting your grades, learning how to drive a car, that's what other people teach your kids. That's why they go to school. Your job is to give them the cornerstones of how you interact, how you build relationships, what you stand for, what your morals are, what your values are, that foundations, that footing. That's what you need to do.

That sounded like it was easy to.

Do, but that's not an easy job.

How have you done that?

I keep them involved. And even I've now got a 21 and 19 and a 12. But from the age of 8, I would be driving down the road, taking the kids to school, and I would have a conference call, and I would have the conference call in the car, but I'd have the kids listening to it. And at the age of 8, I remember after the call, turning around to Henry and going, how'd I do there, Henry? Do you think the guy likes me? Yes, Dad, I think he likes you. Just the prince. How did that go? You know, what was the underlying feeling, the reaction? What was your gut reaction to that?

Steve, you know, I have a big problem, and my wife and employees both complain. I don't know how to say no. How do you set the boundaries?

Most entrepreneurs have fomo, you know, a fear of missing out.

Right?

Get it. Get a deal, get an offer, get a proposal. And the first thing that comes out of mouth is, yes, I can do that. And then they go home. They go, crap. How am I going to do this? I've had those moments. I have undercharged clients. I've got into projects where I shouldn't have got into. You know, someone says, hey, I'd really like you to do this. Let me come back to you. Just get a pause on it. Let me come back to you. Let me consider what's going on. Let me look at that.

Whether you want to or not, instinctively.

I have built these things. You make that happen to breathe on it. So, you know, hey, Steve, can you get us doing this? Even if I've done it 30 times before? Love it. Let me come back to you.

All right, let me ask you a question. This for Alan. So Steve can hook up anything. If there was one thing, one thing that he could hook up for you that was just, like, top of the bucket list, what would that be?

Wow.

You know, I have a life that I've done a lot of things that the average person never gets a chance to do. So I don't know.

Let me get back to you on that.

Well played. Well played.

Can I tell you what I'd like to do?

What would you like to do?

Eat the rest of this burger.

Steve has led a fascinating life, full of adventures. His stories have left Scott and I with a lot to think about. Don't let money change who you are. Just be you. Take time to make sure the deal is right for you. Don't sign a deal right away. If they don't pay, they don't pay attention. Don't work for free.

Check out more episodes of Business and Burgers and our B and B blog at our website, businessandburgers.com and don't forget, visit Business and Burgers on Facebook and get Give us a big thumbs up. See you next time right here on Business and Burgers.