NYC's Bloomberg gives advice to London's new mayor

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who made a fortune as a private businessman, visited London's City Hall Friday to offer some pointers to Boris Johnson, who has been mayor of London for less than a week.

Tip No. 1: Take the time to build a solid team, even if the press is on your case to speed things up.

Tip No. 2: Do the hard, controversial things early. If you're lucky, they'll work out in time to help with re-election.

Tip No. 3: Be yourself. Don't worry about being flavor-of-the-month.

Johnson, known more for his gaffes and his wild mane of blonde hair than his leadership abilities, last week became the Conservative Party's first mayor since the position was created almost a decade ago.

He has already chosen several deputy mayors and reached outside the party to hire Labour Party legislator Kate Hoey, who will be a sports adviser during the run-up to the 2012 Olympics, and former British Broadcasting Corp. correspondent Guto Harri, who will be his communications director.

Bloomberg, who easily won a second term in 2005, said the most vital task a new mayor faces is choosing a solid team.

"After 100 days in New York, the press said, 'What have you done?' and I said I've been putting together the best team any mayor's ever had," Bloomberg told a news conference after his private chat with Johnson.

"But in the end Boris Johnson and Michael Bloomberg aren't the ones providing the services. Our job is to pick the people who will do it. It's far and away the most important thing, even if it doesn't satisfy the press."