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Rocket Fuel

How Death & Co Turned Crisis into Opportunity | David Kaplan and Alex Day

Mar 20, 2025
David Kaplan, founder of the renowned cocktail institution Death & Co., and Alex Day, its operational wizard, delve into the trials and triumphs of their hospitality journey. They share how redefining their partnership roles as 'visionary' and 'integrator' transformed their communication and collaboration. The duo candidly discusses the emotional challenges faced during the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptability. They also reflect on their friendship's evolution and the art of blending skills in a cocktail business, all while having fun over their favorite drinks.
47:32

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • David Kaplan and Alex Day redefined their roles within the partnership, enhancing communication and leveraging strengths through the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).
  • During the pandemic, they transformed challenges into opportunities by adapting their business models and focusing on core values to improve operations.

Deep dives

Navigating the Visionary-Integrator Dynamic

David Kaplan and Alexander Day discuss the pivotal roles of visionary and integrator in their partnership at Death& Company. David, as the visionary, initially faced resistance when introducing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to his team. However, after some hesitation, the leadership team embraced the framework, recognizing it as a valuable tool for enhancing their operations. Through understanding their distinct roles, they streamlined their communication and harnessed their individual strengths, allowing their partnership to flourish.

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