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Pizzamancer's Application to the Alternative MBA Plan

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Ranked #19,032 in Business & Work, #363,709 overall

I could use a bit of a scenery change, and this is exactly what the doctor ordered.

I opened my google reader to find Seth's post the other day, and it really got my mind buzzing. This is pretty much something I want to be a part of.

Before I begin, I would like to thank everyone who stopped by, voted for me here, made a comment and gave me their advice. Just the process of doing this application has been a learning experience.

Read on for 'the story of my life'.

Contents at a Glance

What do you do now?
Why do you do it?
What I hope to learn
Why I can go, and what I hope to learn
After I learn it, this is what I plan on...
My small changes in the world.

I own the largest grilled pizza shop in Japan, consult part time for other pizza shops, and have a fledgling acting career.

Why do you do it?

I have been doing pizza for 22 years now. I quit when I was 25 and worked in corporate banking for two years after college, but in 1999, I left banking and flew to Japan with 250 resumes and a suit in a garment bag for interviews. I had the narrow skill set of pizza experience and Japanese fluency that led to a job in market entry consulting. I was on board for the first 15 Little Caesars Pizza shops in the Japanese market. I did that until 2001, when for my birthday present (9/21), I quit. The sad events of 9/11 however stopped my plans cold. My wife is Japanese and the embassy stopped processing visa applications. We were stuck in Japan. (and if you were wondering where pizza fit in, I got a job at the local pizza shop when I was 15 to save money for my junior year abroad).

I rented a 2 ton truck, hauled my stuff to her parents house 20 prefectures away, and 2 months later, with the green card still up in the air, opened the first Chris' Pizza Americana. I built that first store to a chain of 5 shops, but since have restructured (see below) from small delivery/carry out shops to a large grilled pizza shop. My lease runs out 12/31, and sensing a needed change, I let the renewal date lapse. I realized that at 37, I can't spend the rest of my life standing in a pizza shop.

Many people asked about my acting career as well. Why do I do it? It is serious fun. I enjoy being on TV. I like seeing myself on TV and getting recognized when I go out. I don't really mean that in a narcissistic way, it is something I have always wanted to do since I saw the first 'Foreign Talent' on Japanese TV 20 years ago, and though to my self, "Hey...I can do that". On top of that nothing beats a job that allows you to spend an afternoon in Tokyo with Jodie Foster talking about her movies.

What I hope to learn

I applied to Stanford while I was a senior in HS. I didn't get in. I ended up going to the U of Minnesota. I believe, after years of 60-80 hour work weeks that this is simply not a lifestyle I am interested in living. I want to make the move from my current situation to pizza consulting. I have had a staff of 60 at the biggest point, and supervised 300 at 15 stores while with Caesars, but I believe there are better ways to teach, motivate, and lead large groups. This industry, along with many others, is on the verge of change. I like to call it pizza 2.0. To date, McDonald's has really been the only high tech innovator in the food industry. They have maximized the production end. We are never going to see a farside-esque 'boneless chicken ranch', so the real next step is the human side. I want to tap into that.

Why I can go, and what I hope to learn

I have some very unique life experiences. My wife is 100% behind taking advantage of this opportunity, closing the pizza restaurant at the end of December, and buckling down for the next 6 months. Since we got married we were not able to sit together for a family dinner 7 days in a row until my untimely meeting with a truck. My wife is not interested in going back to the old pattern.

She is much more interested in experiencing life, and doing things like Burning Man.

Like it or not, Japan is going to go through some serious changes over the next decade. I actually do see some parallels with the pizza industry here, to a carpenter, everything looks like a nail. Japan (well... US bases in Japan) could hold off a foreign invasion, but no matter how hard they try, the old guard can not keep out ideas.

I want to be on the edge of the new economy and learn how it works. I don't want to stop there, I want to know the future. The best way to know it is to make it.

After I learn it, this is what I plan on doing with it?

I want to take Pizzamancer consulting to the next level. To study and write a book about Pizza 2.0.

I would really like to focus on both the newest technical issues in the industry, and on people skills. How the new types of marketing can be applied and used successfully in an industry that is undergoing major changes.

What is Pizza 2.0?

It is a new way of looking at the industry.

A detailed description really necessary here, but I am in the process of making a lens on the topic. It's future home is here.

My small changes in the world.

I volunteered for the past 20 years in international youth exchange. I spent my junior year abroad, and that experience changed my life. Since then I have been a counselor, teacher, driver, EMT, and even a prom date to other international students. I can only hope that I contributed 1/10 as much as I gained to the experiences they had. I have also done extensive public speaking to Rotary Clubs, Sister City committees, and the Japan American Society on the subject of youth exchange.

My dip

How I lost my first business

I was hit by a truck in 2007, and spent 3 months in the hospital, and another 9 months in rehab. During that time I lost my entire business. In March of this year, I had a final arthroscopic surgery done on my shoulder, and sped through rehab (fully recovered) to open a new shop, the largest grilled pizza shop in Japan in June. I signed a 3 month lease, and extended it for another 3 months. I was able to pull together funding from a few friends, sold some pizza ovens, and pulled in a few favors. After fighting as hard as I did to gain back that which I had list, I realized how shallow it really was. I am not interested in the 80 hour weeks any more. I missed out on so much of my son's preschool years because I was at work. I made my initial investment back, and have let the lease lapse.

My most astonishing pre-pizza accomplishment

I was the first American to get a black belt (shodan) in the martial art of kendo, Japanese sword fighting, in Nagasaki Prefecture in 1989.

A Wish

If Wishes were fishes...

For a long time I wished I could go back in time and change the things that I did wrong, correct the mistakes I had made. Only recently I have come to believe that if I had the opportunity to do that, I wouldn't be who I am today. It was a very hard paradigm to change.

Today, I can only wish for an endless journey. Every achievement and goal in my life has been relatively anti climatic. I grew and learned far more from the experiences I had along the way than from the experience of achieving my goals.

What else should you know?

I came in second in the 2003 all Japan Pizza Championships, winning the first round taste test, and the second round speed pizza making competition, losing only in the third round sales competition.

I am the #1 contributor to the 4 Hour Work Week forum (user name: 'kamakiri' if you are curious). I don't agree with everything the author presents, but the basic principles spoke to me. Clean up the loose ends, and avoid work for work's sake, take time to enjoy life, gain the time to study, and enjoy the journey. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend you do.

I was on the Japanese version of Wife Swap. I haven't seen the US version, but the Japanese version is very tame. A 3 day 2 night exchange, focused on the wives, with little to no drama.

I should have my first article published in the next issue of Pizza Marketing Quarterly. It is about strategy, and based on Michael Raynor's 'Strategy Paradox'.

I am famous in Japan

My first TV commercial

I am an Elvis impersonator

My mother made that costume years ago for Halloween. It found new life here in Japan. Thanks again mom.

Reader Feedback

Remember The Fonz? Be like Fonzie, Keep it Cool

Liked what you read? Let me know with a comment. If you have nothing creative to say give me a vote in the crowd favorite standings below.

Reply

Zion Jan 10, 2009 @ 9:40 am | delete

Wow! Your lens is fantastic! I really like it so I gave you 5*. Keep up the god work!..
Please try to stop by my lens. I would really much appreciate if you could rate mine too!
Thank you so much!

Zion
http://www.squidoo.com/best-way-to-lose-body-fat

Reply

jamesdkirk Dec 12, 2008 @ 4:33 pm | delete

Really appreciate your visit to my application, Pizzamancer (groovin' on your username, too, FYI!) And I was safely submitted before 11pm Seth time yesterday, so feeling quite good about that. You've got a story that fits well into your application. Thanks so much for your support, and know that you've got mine as well.

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njthompson Dec 12, 2008 @ 2:22 pm | delete

Chris - thanks so much for the message and I have to send it right back! I've been keeping up with your lens from the beginning - blown away every time. Truly fascinating. Good luck and hope we get to meet/chat/work together in NYC!

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randoMatt Dec 12, 2008 @ 1:53 pm | delete

Hey man,

I don't know if there is any method or meaning to Seth's comments, or if their just random. I submitted my app on Tuesday. There are a few of us (like NJ and Matt Corker) that I didn't see Seth's comment. Thanks for looking out!

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swanwick Dec 12, 2008 @ 8:46 am | delete

You know a job is going to be good when the application process is a learning process.
How many apps do you think that Seth will get?

Vote here: http://www.squidoo.com/Seth-Godin-Apprenticeship-app

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MikeFarag Dec 12, 2008 @ 8:34 am | delete

Chris.....great application as well. Let's hope we both end up in NYC and well talk sauce business for months! Thanks for the comments on my app, its appreciated. Best of luck!

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MurphyFelton Dec 11, 2008 @ 10:11 pm | delete

Hey!

Thanks for checking back in on my lens! As you saw, "it's done." I think I will always keep playing with it. This is kind of addicting!

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pizzamancer Dec 11, 2008 @ 9:01 pm | delete

Thanks for stopping by guys. And thanks to Pace for the proper spelling of Fonzie. Your comments are keeping me motivated.

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OneEyed Dec 11, 2008 @ 11:26 am | delete

Good lens, very interesting, I like yor spirit !!!

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Barb_Wire Dec 11, 2008 @ 12:48 am | delete

Great Chris! Good luck!!!

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Riskyburn Dec 10, 2008 @ 11:40 pm | delete

Love the improvements. It gets better everyday!

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prpetten Dec 10, 2008 @ 2:32 am | delete

Good Luck Chris! Great Application!

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ryde Dec 9, 2008 @ 3:36 pm | delete

I'm also inspired by your life and the desire you have to overcome the Dip and make change in the world. Whether you get in or not (I don't see how you won't) keep doing what your doing.

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PleasantValley Dec 9, 2008 @ 6:44 am | delete

Good luck Chris. I'm impressed by your experiences in Japan and your contributions to the other forum.

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AllanYoung Dec 8, 2008 @ 10:36 pm | delete

What a great story. Your training in Kendo must have played a huge role in your overcoming your injuries. Kudos.

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nilasnake Dec 8, 2008 @ 11:22 am | delete

chris, alternative mba or 'regular' mba, you have the tenacity and creativity to make anything you want to happen....happen. thanks for sharing this piece of your life's transition with us and best of luck!!!

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michaelsklein Dec 8, 2008 @ 8:39 am | delete

Chris - thanks for the positive comments! Although, I have to admit I think your story is much more interesting! :)

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ishitagupta Dec 8, 2008 @ 2:03 am | delete

Hey Chris,

i think your lens is very compelling-what experiences you have had!
I wish you the best of luck! p.s. 4HWW is brilliant

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Dec 8, 2008 @ 1:09 am | delete

Good Luck, Chris. Great application.

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Scott Hack Dec 7, 2008 @ 1:58 pm | delete

I've had the pleasure of knowing Chris for the past 6 or 7 years. Congrats on getting to the point in life where relationships matter. You've always been personable and helpful to the greater pizza community, now it looks like you are understanding that life starts at home with the family. Don't ever discount yourself, or the relationships in your life. Friends and family make it all worth it. To your future success. -Scott
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