Episode 565: From Restaurant Worker to Entrepreneur: Ross McWaters' Journey

Summary

In this conversation, Wil Brawley interviews Ross McWaters, the founder of a business news website focused on the restaurant industry in Florida and Georgia. Ross shares his journey from working in restaurants to starting his own business, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with restaurant owners and providing value through his services. The discussion covers the challenges of cold calling, the significance of focus in business growth, the complexities of the restaurant tech landscape, and the realities of restaurant ownership. Ross also touches on funding challenges for new restaurants and the dynamics of franchise relationships. The conversation concludes with a philosophical reflection on the purpose of entrepreneurship, illustrated by the parable of the fisherman and the MBA.

Takeaways

• Ross McWaters has a background in restaurant work and journalism.
• His business focuses on connecting new restaurants with vendors and sponsors.
• Building relationships with restaurant owners is crucial for success.
• Cold calling can be challenging but is often necessary for outreach.
• Focus and deliberate growth are key to sustainable business development.
• The restaurant tech landscape is crowded and complex.
• Restaurant ownership involves many challenges and uncertainties.
• Funding for new restaurants can be difficult to navigate.
• Franchise relationships can limit vendor choices for restaurant owners.
• Building a business for greatness rather than for an exit can lead to more fulfillment.