John Gokongwei Quotes

I'm not trying to take New York by storm. I just want to sneak in there, keep my head down, batten down the hatches and cook.

Coming to Hollywood at 19 and living in a single apartment with one other guy on Venice Beach was a massive contrast to my upbringing.

When I came to Mumbai, it was very difficult. I enjoyed every bit of it, but it was so new, and life was very different - new people and new home.

I moved to Los Angeles when I was 20 years old and was absolutely terrified. I grew up in a small town, so the city itself scared me. I initially did not plan on staying but fell in love with it and never went home.

I grew up in the suburbs, so I figured 'Why not try downtown living?' And, honestly, I love it. I've been very pleasantly surprised at how much downtown Indianapolis has to offer.

I've always been fascinated by young women who come to New York. The characters in 'Lipstick Jungle' were once young women who came to New York and we see their early experiences through flashbacks.

I moved to New York when I was 17 and I had no idea what I was doing. I really thought I was going to take that city by storm and it taught me a lot; it was like the school of life. For me, it was like a series of really hilarious experiences in New York with getting jobs and getting fired.

When I first came to New York, I would scream like a girl and run to the other side of the street if there was a pigeon. Now I can face off with a pigeon.

I moved away when I was young, when I was about 19. I'd literally come from an area with dirt roads and stuff like that, right to the centre of a city of about five million people. It's been great. I'm based in New York, and every day, it's amazing.

I thought, If I'm so afraid of a bikini, there's something wrong. And so I had to get back into one!

My dad, we'll be talking about goals for the next year. He's like, 'I think you can be here,' and I look at him like he's cross-eyed, like, 'Are you serious? That's so far out of my reach.' Well, then I always end up achieving it.

Do one thing today that scares you - and you already know what that is! - and go do it. Even if you just make one step toward it, it will help you look at the world differently.

I moved to Los Angeles in January 2004 because a buddy of mine, who I met at a friend's wedding, said he could get me a room in his apartment for $500 a month. I took it thinking that it would probably only be about six months before I moved back to Chicago, but I fell in love with it.

I've grown to love L.A. It was a really touchy transition. It was not the easiest. It took me some years to love it.

I love working in Dublin, but when I'm in London, I'm more focused on my career.

Going to London at 18 to study drama and theatre made me grow up really fast.

Chicago was a good place for me. Maybe New York will be better.

I've never really had the confidence to sing in front of people; then, I got into acting.

There are some cities that you go to that bring something out of you. Toronto is one of them.

The challenge starts when you first come to Mumbai. But it's momentary if you win an award.

Part of what I like about living in Chicago is it's not easy. The breath of the city, the everyday challenge of it, is good. It forces you to grow and push yourself.

I don't want to deride London because I have such a huge affection for it, but New York lets you move on and grow up.

I came to Mumbai in 2000 and have lived alone for 20 years.

London can be quite lonely and a hard place to live, but I do love it. It is where I forged my way to live. It is where I call home.

I was a very young 21-year-old. I was very scared. I spent three years at university in west London, and I went into central London three times. I came from Shropshire, and just having travelled that far was enough ambition.