From delivery driver to the business owner, Frank Kabatas says his life has come full circle.

"Was it easy? No, it was damn hard, but I'm happy now I did it," Kabatas, the owner of East Village Pizza, said.

What You Need To Know

  • Frank Kabatas moved to New York City from Turkey in 1997

  • He was once a delivery driver at East Village Pizza, the pizza store he now owns

  • He put himself through some college courses to learn English while working full-time and running on four hours of sleep
  • He recommends for people to "change their comfort zone" to achieve their goals

He moved to the city from Turkey in 1997. Then 23 years old, he didn’t know English and had no job.

"When you don't speak the language, you can't move, you can't run, can't do whatever you want to do,” Kabatas said.

He delivered pizzas for East Village Pizza and another shop, sometimes living on 4 hours of sleep while he put himself through some college classes.

"I went to the LIU campus in Dekalb, Brooklyn learning English for a year and a half," Kabatas said.

In a five-year period, he worked at another restaurant in the kitchen and then managed a Dominos learning the business of pizza. He saved money with his brother and aunt, enough of it to buy that pizza shop he once delivered for and now owns.

"I knew one thing. I knew how to make good pizza, and I said I can learn how to sell it. That is how I ended up buying it," Kabatas said.

Even though he's at the top now, he shares how he persevered when he struggled being new to the city.

"You have to change your comfort zone to achieve your goals. If you can't change your comfort zone, you can't achieve your goals," Kabatas said.