How Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks Went from Gas Station Restaurant to Multi-Location Franchise | Derrick Hayes

Success rarely looks the way people expect it to — and almost never happens on a straight line.

In this episode of Right About Now, Ryan Alford sits down with Derrick Hayes, founder of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, for a candid conversation about patience, belief, and the discipline required to build something that lasts. Derrick walks through the early days of entrepreneurship, including failed ideas, long nights, and moments where progress wasn’t visible — even when the work was real.

Using powerful analogies and lived experience, Derrick explains why many people confuse movement with momentum, hustle with mastery, and ambition with execution. He shares how learning the business of what you’re building is what separates long-term success from endless grinding.

Key Takeaways:

• Why most people quit before the payoff shows up

• How patience functions as a competitive advantage

• The danger of “hobby hustling”

• Why discipline beats motivation every time

• How real leaders think about scale and responsibility

This episode is for anyone who wants more than quick wins — and is willing to play the long game.

Keep up With Ryan and Derrick

• 🌐 Learn more at https://ryanisright.com

• 🎧 Subscribe to Right About Now on YouTube & podcast platforms

• 📸 Follow Ryan Alford on social for clips and insights

• 🍽️ Discover Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks and Derrick Hayes’ journey nationwide

If this conversation resonated, share it with someone building something of their own.