“You need, as you do in every branch of public service, a fixed smile, the hide of a rhinoceros, and the ability to laugh in adversity – preferably genuinely.”
Be realistic about how much work you can really do. I know so many people who nearly flog themselves to death at the outset trying to do everything yourself. I am not suggesting that you farm everything out or you won’t make a profit but look very carefully at how much there is to do and decide accordingly. If the people you are taking over from have a girl Friday then there is probably a good reason for this so don’t just assume that you can manage without. You can do all your rooms without help on your own but I guarantee that you won’t have time to do anything else. If there is a partner make sure that they pull their weight. I often find that one partner does the rooms and one the paperwork which is often the best arrangement but some days when you have a full change they have to be willing to jump into the fray.