- Derrick Hayes, the founder and CEO of multimillion-dollar restaurant chain Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, struggled with wanting to bring everyone along on his entrepreneurial journey. But not everyone understands his vision and is willing to tread the waters of entrepreneurship—and he tells Fortune that Hollywood director Tyler Perry told him “Sometimes you’ve got to go in the water, row the boat, leave them in the sand.”
When entrepreneurs find their true calling, they might have a vision for their companies that not everyone can get behind. Whether it be the naysayers who doubt it can be done, or supporters who simply can’t keep up with the pace of innovation, achieving success requires cultivating a dedicated circle. Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks CEO Derrick Hayes discussed that lesson on his 38th birthday this year while sharing a roundtable with Hollywood filmmaker Tyler Perry, gospel musician Kirk Franklin, and rapper Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins.
