WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:03.680 This show is produced and hosted by Mark Webber. The 2 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:05.440 show is sponsored by G three of Parow. 3 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:07.919 The views expressed in the following program are those of 4 00:00:08.039 --> 00:00:12.119 the sponsor and not necessarily the opinion of seven tenor 5 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:17.399 or iHeartMedia. Who is Mark Weber. He's a self made 6 00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:20.879 business executive here to help you find your success, from 7 00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:24.600 the New York City projects to the Avenue Montaigne in Paris. 8 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:27.960 His global success story in the luxury world of fashion 9 00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:29.320 is inspirational. 10 00:00:29.559 --> 00:00:32.960 He's gone from clerk to CEO twice. 11 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:37.039 Mark is classic proof that the American dream is alive. 12 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:41.399 And well, here's your host of Always in Fashion, Mark Weber. 13 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:42.119 Mark Weber. 14 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:45.359 I know what I don't know. I also know what 15 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:48.679 I do know. I've often said I don't know if 16 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:51.719 I'm smart, that's for others to decide, But I do 17 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:55.280 know I'm well trained. I use this quote to diffuse 18 00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:58.119 the discussion on whether I'm smart enough to be right, 19 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:02.320 and it helps me declare that my training makes me right. Now, 20 00:01:02.439 --> 00:01:06.439 let's be intellectually honest. I've known I was smart since 21 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:08.560 I was a little boy. Even though i'd omit to 22 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:11.719 it just came to me easily. I was always thinking 23 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:15.000 three dimensionally. In fact, I found it scary the way 24 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:19.400 my mind processed information. I too was able to recognize 25 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:21.799 when there were people that were smarter than me. I 26 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:25.439 never feared it. I ran with it. I just kept 27 00:01:25.480 --> 00:01:28.200 my mouth shut. I didn't speak when I wasn't sure. 28 00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:32.640 I listened to learn. I asked questions strategically. I knew 29 00:01:33.319 --> 00:01:35.719 that even though there was a common idiom that there 30 00:01:35.719 --> 00:01:38.920 are no stupid questions, I knew there was stupid questions. 31 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:41.159 So I was careful in spite of it. I made 32 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:45.079 mistakes and asked my share of stupid No question about it. 33 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:48.439 In later life, I learned the concept of act as 34 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:52.000 if then you are. You keep silent, you nod your 35 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:55.280 head at the appropriate times, and people who respect you 36 00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:58.760 and think based on your background, they'll presume you understood 37 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:01.079 what they're talking about. Anyway, in my view, if I 38 00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:03.519 didn't understand that, then I knew I would learn it later. 39 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:06.760 Speaking of new I always knew I always know what 40 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:10.159 I don't know. It's part of being self aware. On 41 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:13.560 this node of act as if then you are, it 42 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:16.800 applies to carrying yourself, it applies to your wardrobe. Back 43 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:19.599 in the early days, I remember I wore Amani suits, 44 00:02:19.639 --> 00:02:22.759 not all the time. They're expensive. I shopped at Barney's 45 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:26.000 when I could. All my suits were navy, so my 46 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:28.840 choices were limited when I had to buy them. But 47 00:02:28.919 --> 00:02:31.280 I did have an Armania two and when people last 48 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:34.560 suit I was wearing, I always set our money, and 49 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:37.879 then because of that, it was presumed I wore Amani. 50 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:41.919 My first TUCKS was Brooks Brothers. I remember showing up 51 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:45.759 my first corporate black tie event. My suit was tailored 52 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:48.960 to perfection and someone walked up and say, great suit, 53 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:53.240 Mark HARMANI and I just smiled, act as if then 54 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:57.280 you are. Common sense and self awareness is integrated into 55 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:00.520 the concept of knowing who you are and who you aren't, 56 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:03.560 and it's an amazing place to be. What do I 57 00:03:03.719 --> 00:03:07.280 know that's tonight? I just this week had a debate 58 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:10.120 on taste level. Well, I would never say I'm a 59 00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:13.919 great dresser. I do believe I have impeccable tastes, just 60 00:03:13.960 --> 00:03:16.599 doesn't mean it applies to me, doesn't mean I execute 61 00:03:16.599 --> 00:03:19.319 it well, doesn't mean I look great. But I know style. 62 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:23.919 And whenever my sons, their wives make friends and their 63 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:26.800 other friends and their wives or girlfriends get into it, 64 00:03:26.840 --> 00:03:29.759 with me and start to talk about fashion. Because of 65 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:31.680 my name and my show and because of what I've 66 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:36.240 done for a career, these female acquaintances, sometimes guys too, 67 00:03:36.360 --> 00:03:39.960 try to challenge me. I have a great sneer, I 68 00:03:39.960 --> 00:03:42.039 have a great put down face, and it seems to 69 00:03:42.039 --> 00:03:45.360 come up automatically. You know, I know what I don't know. 70 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:47.960 But when they started me, I said to them, you 71 00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:49.599 know you have your point of view, but you're wrong. 72 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:53.960 CEO of two companies, author of two books, one called 73 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:57.080 Always in Fashion, show a radio show or a podcast? 74 00:03:57.520 --> 00:03:59.800 How can you argue with me? But they do st 75 00:04:00.039 --> 00:04:03.680 ruggle arguing after that speech. So don't you dare argue 76 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:07.240 color with me? No shoes, no fit, no silhouette. I'm 77 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:11.919 an expert, and this I know having said this tonight's 78 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:16.920 show is entirely appropriately. I know what I don't know now. 79 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:19.839 Ignorance is the heart of wisdom. I'm a person who's 80 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:23.560 perpetually curious. I always know it's important to recognize what 81 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:28.319 I don't always know, asking questions no, I don't always know, 82 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:30.399 and life are in business, believe it or not, It's 83 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:34.319 kept this guy pretty humble. And on the subject of humility, 84 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:36.600 I want to get into it, and I want to 85 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:41.680 talk first and foremost about our president, President Trump in particular, 86 00:04:42.279 --> 00:04:49.000 mister President, have terriffs changed, help out your approach changing. 87 00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:53.639 I think you need to kill switch. You need to 88 00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:58.000 tone it down, speed it up. We need clarity, You 89 00:04:58.199 --> 00:05:02.720 need clarity those of you listeners out there. Trump is 90 00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:05.720 one hundred percent right and his you on tariffs, but 91 00:05:05.800 --> 00:05:08.639 he's one hundred percent wrong in approach he's taken on tariffs. 92 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:12.160 A number of people come to me yelling, telling me 93 00:05:12.279 --> 00:05:16.000 my explanation on the tariff issue is quite helpful, thanking 94 00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:20.279 me for clarity and offering a choice and a voice. No, 95 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:24.680 I need to explain. Once again, President Trump, you're right. 96 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:27.519 The idea of buy from us or we won't buy 97 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:31.319 from you perfect. Once again, you're right. You tax me, 98 00:05:31.560 --> 00:05:35.560 I text you, I buy your cars, you buy my cars. 99 00:05:36.279 --> 00:05:39.600 One hundred percent right, mister President. But the timetable that 100 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:43.680 has been caused is terrible. Now. It's a point of view. 101 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:49.800 There have always been imported goods, and they've always had tariffs, 102 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:54.279 and these tariffs have existed for thousands of years now. 103 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:57.920 While the form of tariffs and the function of tariffs 104 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:00.839 have changed over time, They've been a con sistem tool 105 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:04.360 of governments and rulers throughout history. And I thought I 106 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:07.519 would make an attempt to break down why there are 107 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:10.160 tariffs and has at work. And I could tell you 108 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:13.920 back into ancient times. You think back of the ancient 109 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:18.639 travel routes, they have existed. Merchants paid taxes at tolls 110 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:23.759 when entering Egypt or mesomotanean Roman empire had customs and 111 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:28.319 ports and tariffs. Now, why, here's one of the Trump's 112 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:36.040 got right. Revenue generation. Taxes provide revenue for governments. Before 113 00:06:36.040 --> 00:06:38.879 the invention of income taxes, tariffs were one of the 114 00:06:38.920 --> 00:06:43.279 main sources of government's early income. They paid for the 115 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:49.000 government political or strategic leverage. Paris can be used as 116 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:52.759 a negotiating tool or punishment and trade disputes, just as 117 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:56.560 we have going on with China right now. Then there's 118 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:01.560 the example of national security or self sufficiency. Governments use 119 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:05.399 these tools to protect their industries to make sure that 120 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:07.720 we have a supply of those things that we need 121 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:11.720 to supply. Now, there have always been the issue of 122 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:15.879 self sufficiency to protect industry. This is something that we 123 00:07:15.959 --> 00:07:19.079 gave away. I was in the parrel business making goods. 124 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:22.040 China opened up its markets. We could care less whether 125 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:24.800 or not we kept factories running. Nobody told us to, 126 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:27.600 nobody asked us to, Nobody thought about it. Our job 127 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:29.959 was to make money for our shareholders, and we gave 128 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:33.079 it up, as many of the other industries have. Governments 129 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:38.800 may impose tariffs to ensure domestic supply of critical goods, food, weapons, 130 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:42.439 and prescription medicine for all of us who need it. Now, 131 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:45.439 if there have been tariffs on agricultural products to maintain 132 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:48.959 food security, unless but not least, tariffs have been used 133 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:53.240 for cultural associated reasons. We want to protect child labor, 134 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:56.519 make sure it doesn't exist. We want to protect industries 135 00:07:56.519 --> 00:08:01.879 in poor countries. Tariffs have always been there. Now, Donald Trump, 136 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:05.279 our president, has brought the wide ranging issues to light. 137 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:08.800 He's brought back tariffs as a means to make money. 138 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:15.319 He has focused on government money making, not necessarily protecting industry. 139 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:19.560 Until he did. President Trump, you had a mandate from 140 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:24.240 this country. You had the country dancing, you created in 141 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:28.000 renewed respect for the presidency and for you as president. 142 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:32.399 You have the voice. People are ready to listen. I 143 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:37.000 have to ask you make things right again. Then you'll 144 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:40.519 be able to make America great again. You have an 145 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:44.799 audience and they're ready appropriately to support you. Make a 146 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:48.799 deal with China. The rest I could care less. China 147 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:52.879 has to be dealt with. You have to eliminate the uncertainty. 148 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:57.480 I know what I know, and this I know. Get 149 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:02.320 your mandate back. I'd like to continue dancing that I know. 150 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:06.480 Having said that, I thought this week that I would 151 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:10.320 do a show called My kill List. Now. The problem 152 00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:12.840 with titling a show the kill List, I was afraid 153 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:15.440 that it would send the rogue signals. I'm not talking 154 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:19.320 about violence, I'm not talking about anarchy. I'm not talking 155 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:23.440 about anything that would representing killing. So I was concerned 156 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:26.879 and I chose to label it differently. What I am 157 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:30.360 talking about in this case is killing your competition. And 158 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:32.879 I started thinking about all the ways in business we 159 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:36.960 think about fighting off competition. And I have an announcement 160 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:41.720 to make huge announcement to make ready. I need a 161 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:47.879 drum roll because it's huge. There is an article that 162 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:52.519 was published this week in Media eight and the title 163 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:57.200 was Joe Rogan just got bumped from top of YouTube's 164 00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:02.120 podcast chart. See the top one hundred shake up and 165 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:06.639 the photograph in This article has on the left Joe 166 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:12.440 Rogan sitting next to him, Jesse Weber sitting next to 167 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:17.559 his right, Megan Kelly, and then Tucker Calson, Rogan, Weber, 168 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:23.279 Kelly Calson. Jesse made the top five podcasts on YouTube 169 00:10:23.559 --> 00:10:27.759 in the country this week. Of the millions of podcasts, 170 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:31.480 he's in the top five, not top ten. Top five. 171 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:34.159 I have an article to read. True Crime took a 172 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:37.360 bite out of the podcast chart this week on its 173 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:41.279 way to the top YouTube's weekly top podcast shows. Seeming 174 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:45.679 indominal Joe Rogan was wrested from its perch last week. 175 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:50.080 Joe Rogan led the Industrialized List, the inaugural list which 176 00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:55.200 YouTube has started publishing as podcasts begin to dominate the platform. 177 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:58.919 This week, Stephanie Sues Whoever that Is? True crime and 178 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:03.440 horror storytelling show Rotten Mango searched to number one, with 179 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:07.879 CBS's long running forty eight Hours rising one spot to 180 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:12.679 number three. Law and Crime Sidebar, with Jesse Weber landing 181 00:11:12.759 --> 00:11:16.159 in the top five, the only podcasts not linked in 182 00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:19.600 the last set to break through, moving up from number 183 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:21.960 thirty two. Now, Jesse was number thirty three in the 184 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:25.320 world in the country on YouTube part of the network 185 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:27.960 created by Media It's own founder Dan AMers. The Naily 186 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:31.360 News breakdown from host Jesse Weber likely owes its ascent 187 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:36.120 to heighten attention to the unfolding Sean diddy Combe's trial, 188 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:40.919 which the show has covered intensively, including analysis of bench 189 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:45.639 warrants and federal raids. It's a banner moment for true crime, 190 00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:50.519 and Jesse Weber is in the top five. How amazing 191 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:54.279 is that. I am so excited those of you haven't 192 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:58.480 seen the photograph conced our internet, and I am proud 193 00:11:58.679 --> 00:12:01.600 to watch what Jesse's pulling off. And that's partially why 194 00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:06.279 he's not here tonight. So in this case, Jesse kill 195 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:08.840 the competition. I don't know what I don't know. I 196 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:11.279 only know that you're doing a great job with that. 197 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:13.159 I want to come back and talk a little bit 198 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:16.240 more about it. Back in a moment. I know what 199 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:18.639 I know, but I also know what I don't know. 200 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:22.519 Always in fashion. 201 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:26.159 Than a lifetime of my career building the van usen Brand, 202 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:28.879 and I am so pleased that they're back with us 203 00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:33.960 now talking about suits. Men were dressing up again and 204 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:36.879 it's become cool to wear a suit. Suits can be 205 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:40.399 one on multiple occasions in multiple ways. You could wear 206 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:42.600 a suit formally to go out at night or to 207 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:44.759 an event, to wear a suit to the office with 208 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:48.440 or without a tie. If you look closely now fashion trends, 209 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:52.399 suits are being worn with turtlenecks or mark next. The 210 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:57.000 choices are endless and every one of them looks right. 211 00:12:57.240 --> 00:13:00.320 You could really really look the part. I believe that 212 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:04.000 packaging yourself this is important. Does the products you package 213 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:06.159 and wearing a suit is one of those things that 214 00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:10.879 make men look their best. Ven Using invented a new idea. 215 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:14.399 It's called the cool flex suit. It's been engineered with 216 00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:18.519 stretch technology, giving you the most comfortable fit and mobility. 217 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:22.559 Its wrinkle resistant fabric, it's cool moisture wiki it makes 218 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:25.799 it perfect for all occasions. As we discussed just now, 219 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:29.600 this new style of looking shop while feeling cool and 220 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:33.200 comfortable is amazing and I'm so excited that the ven 221 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:37.240 Using company is involved in this new technology and is 222 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:41.080 embracing the whole idea of dressing up. Let's not forget 223 00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:43.840 venues and made its name with dress shirts. It's only 224 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:47.600 proper that the soup business follows strongly in its way. 225 00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:51.080 You can find vanues in cool flex men's stretch suits 226 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:56.440 at jcpenny are online at jcpenny dot com. Guys, they're great. 227 00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:57.480 You should go look at them. 228 00:13:58.279 --> 00:14:02.480 Welcome back to it Always Fashion. Here's your host, Mark Webber. 229 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:06.120 This week has been an interesting week, an exciting week 230 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:09.919 for me personally because Jesse became one of the top 231 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:14.960 five podcasters in the country on YouTube. Podcasting is becoming 232 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:17.799 the biggest thing on YouTube, and take a moment, Jesse 233 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:21.679 is in the top five. He sits with Joe Rogan, 234 00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:26.320 somebody named Samantha Sue from a crime podcast. Megan Kelly 235 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:30.320 Tucker calls my own Jesse Weber, your own Jesse Weber, 236 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:33.960 my son. I was so proud having said that, I 237 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:37.879 started sending out the article in which he was named 238 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:42.039 to everyone I knew. I went through my files in 239 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:45.279 my phone, all my text and I started sending out 240 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:48.360 the article to the people I knew, and there were 241 00:14:48.440 --> 00:14:51.320 tons of them. Very often. I talk about words and 242 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:54.480 music with my former boss BJK. I don't know if 243 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:57.159 he likes me mentioning his name on the show, but 244 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:59.399 he and I were words in music for thirty years 245 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:01.679 of our career. He was the CEO. I was the president, 246 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:04.039 and we both started as young men and we worked 247 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:07.639 away up the ladder. I often say, my children will 248 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:09.440 tell you. I often say that I would not have 249 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:12.320 had success without him, but we were a team and 250 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:14.840 we did remarkable things. He got it. He was so 251 00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:17.519 proud of Jesse. I sent it to people I knew 252 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:20.919 in the licensing world, and as I scrolled through, I 253 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:25.200 started seeing a history of people that I met and 254 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:29.200 knew along the way. And then I came across and 255 00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:32.080 named Mike Levy, who I hadn't thought of it a 256 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:36.679 long long while. Mike Levy worked for a friend of 257 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:39.840 mine who I was extraordinary close to, who I had 258 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:43.080 a great relationship with. In fact, to this day, he's 259 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:45.840 the only friend that I brought on the show with 260 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:48.279 me back in the days. I'll come to that in 261 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:51.159 a minute. I know what I know, and I know 262 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:53.600 what I don't know, and I don't know enough about 263 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:59.159 people to understand when they're said whether they're depressed. I 264 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:02.519 met a fellow named Joe. I met him by accident. 265 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:06.279 Back in the day at PVH. We had a industrial 266 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:10.919 psychologist on our team who happened to also run an 267 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:14.559 employment agency for our company. It was pretty much exclusive 268 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:17.120 for us. He had other clients like the New York 269 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:20.039 Giants and some other people. I was running a division 270 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:23.679 at the time that was called pH International. While we 271 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:27.159 talk about tariffs and trade, we talk about pH International 272 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:31.799 in the same breath. I developed a division, a group 273 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:35.720 of one hundred and seven people to import for our 274 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:39.440 growing retail store operations. That relatively short order was a 275 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:42.039 billion dollar business. You see, we grew up in the 276 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.480 shirt business. We had expertise in making dress shirts or 277 00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:49.159 flannel shirts or knit shirts. That was our expertise. But 278 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:52.639 when you run a retail store that carries multiple products 279 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:56.559 like women's wear, skirts, blouses, shirts, whatever the case may be, 280 00:16:57.559 --> 00:17:00.639 sweaters and men's we were doing acc of where like 281 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:05.359 you'd see today tennisware, golfware, sweaters, pants, jackets. We knew 282 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:09.079 nothing about sourcing those commodities and those items, and I 283 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:12.839 needed to put together an organization that have the ability 284 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:17.480 to design and source those items for one thousand retail stores. 285 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:20.920 And I started out and built an organization that within 286 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:23.960 three years was importing four hundred million dollars worth of 287 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:27.519 product for our retail stores, a remarkable achievement. It was 288 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:30.160 one of those times that I had ups and downs 289 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:34.000 and came back like a rocket ship, building this thing 290 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:36.799 from scratch and making it work. Some of the greatest 291 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:39.119 people the company ever had to help me in It 292 00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:42.759 was really an extraordinary time for us. But when I 293 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:46.400 got the initial go ahead to build the organization after 294 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:50.240 extensive study, traveling to and from Asia, asking would it 295 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:53.720 be possible for me to source bathing suits cheaper than 296 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:57.200 the marketplace with better quality? Would it be possible for 297 00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:59.960 me to find sweaters better than we knew about sweat 298 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:02.799 women's wear? And I did the study, and I came 299 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:05.440 back presented to the management of the company said we 300 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.920 can do this. I can do it if you want 301 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:08.640 to do it. They gave me the go ahead, and 302 00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:11.599 I got to go ahead to hire twenty people from scratch. 303 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:15.160 I was going to hire designers and sourcing people who 304 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:18.839 travel internationally, built product for the retail stores, work in 305 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:21.799 contact with the retail buyers. And if the retail buyer 306 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:26.119 said I mentioned swimsuits, I love lacost bathing suits. They're 307 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:28.440 all over men love them, I'd love them. I love 308 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:30.519 Calvin Klein what he's doing in bathings, and can you 309 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:33.359 make me the equivalent of those suits? The same fashion 310 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:36.720 at a price, and the answer was yes. My retail 311 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:39.759 group was pending seven dollars and fifty cents to buy 312 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:42.480 a men's bathing suit at that time and sell them 313 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:44.759 for fourteen ninety nine, so they would make a fifty 314 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:48.440 percent margin on those goods. I in turn went to Asia. 315 00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:52.480 My team found the exact factory in Taiwan that was 316 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:55.960 making La Coste bathing suits. I went and met with 317 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:58.920 a factory manager with my team and said, look, I'm 318 00:18:58.920 --> 00:19:01.079 looking to do bathing suit. I had a La cost 319 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:03.519 bathing suit with me. I said, this is the quality, 320 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:06.279 this is the material, the specs I need. Can you 321 00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:08.319 make it? He started to left. He said do you 322 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:10.559 mind taking a walk with me? I said absolutely not. 323 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:13.240 He gets up, He takes me onto the factory floor 324 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:16.440 and there, for as far as the eye can see, 325 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:19.839 they were making La Coste bathing suits. And he said 326 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:23.039 to me, I could make these suits for you exactly 327 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:25.160 of the same fabric. You'll have to come up with 328 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:28.880 your own designs. That's for them. I will not astardize 329 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:32.079 the integrity they have. If you design me bathing suits, 330 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:34.519 I can do it. So I said, this sounds amazing. 331 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:37.160 So I started to negotiate. I said, look, I'm here 332 00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:39.799 to buy ten thousand bathing suits. I have the styles 333 00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:42.400 of my bag. Will you watch the price for the 334 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:45.319 ten thousand bathing suit? So he said to me, I'll 335 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:48.240 tell you what, show me the designs. I'll price each one. 336 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:51.079 So he priced each one for me, and then he 337 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:53.799 said to me, I can give all of these bathing 338 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:57.480 suits for two dollars and seventy five cents per bathing suit. 339 00:19:57.880 --> 00:20:00.160 Now I kept the cool face. I almost fell off 340 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:02.680 the chair. I knew that if I landed the bathing suits, 341 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:05.599 meaning I imported them to the United States, I paid 342 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:08.839 the tariffs of twenty percent. I put on a margin 343 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:12.240 of myself of fifteen percent, which was an internal corporate 344 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:14.680 load that allowed me to pay for my staff and 345 00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:18.119 our expenses. I could sell the bathing suits to our 346 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:21.200 retail group for four dollars and twenty five cents. They 347 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:24.720 were paying seven dollars and fifty cents. And from there 348 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:28.079 I brought them in and were doing hundreds of thousands 349 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:31.160 of bathing suits. The retail division was making a fortune. 350 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:34.480 We were covering all our expenses. Everyone was happy. It 351 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:37.880 was amazing. But before I could hire the first people 352 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:40.680 I got it approved and I went to call. His 353 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:43.160 name was doctor Joel Goldberg, the head of the human 354 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:45.759 resource department in our company. He was a board member. 355 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:48.359 He was the head of all the acquiring of individuals 356 00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:51.119 and people. He tested them all before we came and 357 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:53.640 hired them, with the idea that we wanted to be 358 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:56.880 sure the people were hiring did they understand our culture? 359 00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:59.000 Would they fit in? I called them one day to 360 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:01.640 say I got to go ahead to twenty people to 361 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:04.799 hire twenty people. He wasn't there, and a young man 362 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:07.839 picked up the phone. I said, I'm looking for doctor Goldberg. 363 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:10.759 He said, my name is Joe. I said, hi, Joe. 364 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:13.079 He said, doctor Goldberg's not here. How can I help you. 365 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:15.319 I said, I don't know if you can help me. 366 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:17.559 You got the approval to hire twenty people. He says, 367 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:19.960 I knew this was coming. Tell me what you're looking for. 368 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:23.160 Maybe I can help you. And we started to talk, 369 00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:26.519 and we talked, and for a matter of an hour 370 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:29.680 and a half, him and I were kiss met. Life 371 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:32.319 was great. This guy understood what we were needing. He 372 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:37.240 took this briverurial bull by the horns and decided that 373 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:39.839 he was going to help me find the people we need. 374 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:43.839 And that's exactly what happened. Doctor Goldberg told him, do 375 00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:46.319 what you gotta do. Mark's an important guy. Make sure 376 00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:49.440 he's happy. Let's get him the best people we possibly can. 377 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:51.599 And for the matter of the next couple of months, 378 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:53.960 we hired those twenty people and were off and running. 379 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:57.079 And it was all because of this fellow Joe. You see, 380 00:21:57.119 --> 00:22:02.160 he wasn't focused on the money he would make. Who's 381 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:05.599 focused on finding the people getting into companies? Is is that 382 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:08.680 I'm interested in anybody works at Lacaste. I'm interested in 383 00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:11.559 people that work for Ralph Lauren. I'm interested in people 384 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:14.519 that work for Nordica. They have the mindset and they 385 00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:17.160 understand the look and quality of what I'm looking for 386 00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:20.799 for the isart company in our retail stores, the golf shirts, 387 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:23.960 the bathing suits, this is what I need. And he 388 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:27.200 went into those companies and he found the people, and 389 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:30.359 he tested them before we met, and he helped me 390 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:34.640 hire not the first twenty, the entirety of the one 391 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:38.079 hundred and seven people that I wanted for the company. 392 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:43.480 Somewhere along the way something went wrong. I lost touch 393 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:45.680 with Joe. I spoke to him from time to time. 394 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:48.559 Remember I was seven from the company. I no longer 395 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:52.640 worked there. I managed to move on. I started a 396 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:57.400 radio show. I started working for LVMH all of this 397 00:22:57.599 --> 00:23:02.000 going on, and after the eight years and my second 398 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:06.640 book working for elvium ah Lea Vatonm, I started the 399 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:09.519 radio showing podcast and I started to look for guests 400 00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:11.519 and I called Joe. I said, would you like to 401 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:13.200