Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Husband and wife, Sara and Paul "Buff" Burden, had a dream of one day opening a burger joint that had an emphasis on local, natural, and sustainable ingredients. Paul, originating from the UK, and Sara, a native to Houston, knew Texas was the place to pull it off. So, they packed up and moved south to Sara's hometown. In March of 2015, BuffBurger, a gourmet fast-casual burger restaurant, was born. Almost 4 years later they've scaled the concept to 3 locations. Show notes… Favorite success quote or mantra: Balls to the wall. Just keep going. In this episode with Sara and Paul Burden, we discuss: Opening a restaurant with minimal experience Switching from ski instructors to restauranteurs Finding mentors no matter where you are or what you're doing "Just try it." Making an impressive, professional business plan to secure funds Systems/processes What next after securing funding? Finding real estate! The importance of customer service Make sure customers are happy and given the best possible ingredients Chaotic restaurant openings and how to navigate them A need for control and an obsession with quality Importance of making ALL of your food in the same kitchen Utilizing a commissary Stumbling early-on Getting ahead of yourself and signing too many leases while attempting to scale! Knowing when to take the shot or hold back Opening a new location without enough staff Charging what the product is worth Work/life balance Friendly competition SHOULD BE FRIENDLY! Today's sponsor: Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country — they were even named best online payroll by PCMag. And as a listener, you'll get three months free when you run your first payroll. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/unstoppable. BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more. Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel's streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Sara: Serving people how you like to be served makes it easier Paul: Quality What is your biggest weakness? Sara: Sometimes too careful with money Paul: Growing too fast What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? Grit What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Cash flow Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. BOH: How the food looks when delivered to the table. FOH: Be nice, kind, and constantly check on people What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? Setting the Table GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM What's the one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? It's hard to be critical of anyone in this industry What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls restaurant and how has it influence operations? Cameras If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Believe in yourself Work your ass off Believe in the people around you/who work for you Contact info: BuffBurger website Instagram: @buffburger Facebook: @EatLiveLocal Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Sara and Paul Burden for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

This is Mr. Schulze's second appearance on Restaurant Unstoppable. Head over to Restaurantunstoppable.com/579 to hear Mr. Schulze's back story and to absorb his business philosophies in his book: Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide To Becoming The Best In a World of Compromise. If you didn't listen to that episode, let me catch you up... Hailing from a small German town, Horst Schulze knew from a young age that he wanted to work in the hotel industry. So he got his start, like most of us do, as a dishwasher. From the bottom rung, he climbed his way to the top, traveling the world while working in 5-star hotels along the way. In 1983 he co-founded the Ritz Carlton and set the standards for the service industry going forward. It's standard that we're going to dive into, specifically the 24 standards of service The Ritz Carlton Teaches its staff. This is one you surely won't want to miss! Show notes… Favorite success quote or mantra: "Whatever it is you want to do in life… Do it with excellence." In this episode with Horst Schulze, we discuss the 24 standards of service: Before we dive into the 24 standards of service Why is repetition so important: repetition becomes habit Identify what makes your organization excellent and repeat it Customer expectations must be known to everyone on staff The 24 Standards of Service: Today's sponsor: Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country — they were even named best online payroll by PCMag. And as a listener, you'll get three months free when you run your first payroll. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/unstoppable. BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more. Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel's streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable. Contact info: Capella website Buy his book here: Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of Compromise Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Horst Schulze for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Raised in NH, Jonathan Horowitz attended Rice University then South Texas School of Law. After graduation Horowitz spent 5 years practicing law before joining Lasco Enterprises in 2005 as Vice President of Marketing and Communication and later as their Chief Brand Officer. As a partner Horowitz helped oversee the growth of the business for 10 years, to more than 15 locations and 600+ employees. Today Horowitz serves as CEO for Legacy Restaurants group which consist of The Original Ninfa's on Navigation and 3 Antone's Famous Po' Boys locations. Show notes… Favorite success quote or mantra: "Treat people well and they will treat you well." In today's episode with Jonathan Horowitz, we discuss: Treat EVERYONE WELL, not just your customers Important to be perceived as someone who is easy to work with Self-awareness is key Switching dreams/plans early in life Opportunities from cold call emails Getting into the industry Admitting when you need help Scaling a small restaurant Creating a concept that is welcoming to ALL kinds of people Strength-based leadership Leveraging your story for marketing The importance of getting people to walk through your door Relationship marketing Growing your business through growing your brand Avoiding isolation Consistency Even if things are good they can always be better Collectively deciding what is better in terms of operations, don't adjust without discussion Make your staff feel involved and invested Simplicity is key Seeking advice from other restauranteurs in your community, don't live in a bubble, avoid isolation Today's sponsor: Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country — they were even named best online payroll by PCMag. And as a listener, you'll get three months free when you run your first payroll. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/unstoppable. BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more. Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel's streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Empathy What is your biggest weakness? Procrastination What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? What would your previous subordinates or direct-reports say about you? How have you developed people? What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Labor market. Cast a broader net. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Be honest What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Contribute to your community at all times What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? We Fed An Island GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM What's the one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Get training in disciplines with which they're not familiar. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls restaurant and how has it influence operations? bMobile route software If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Do no harm Contribute to your community Take care of your people Contact info: Legacy Restaurants website Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Jonathan Horowitz for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Adam Barnosky is a member of the Ruberto, Israel & Weiner law firm based in Boston, Massachusetts. His practice is concentrated in the representation of real estate developers, restaurateurs, commercial landlords/tenants, cannabis operators/developers and hospitality industry clients in New England. Joining me to ask questions and get the most out of this conversation is Andrew Wilkinson, founder and operator of Pizza Llama, a mobile wood fire pizza oven serving north eastern Maryland for the past 4 years. Show Notes Favorite Success Quote or Mantra: Adam: The people who make it look easiest are the ones working the hardest. Work hard, plan, and follow through. Andrew: Drop the (metaphorical) rope. Use it to get yourself up and drop it down for the next person behind you. In this episode with Adam Barnosky, we will discuss: Letters of intent/leasing Commercial real estate focused on the hospitality industry The Boston scene's real estate/hospitality expansion Too many restaurants are opening - what do we do about it? Hospitality fees for back-of-the-house Lease vs. Letter of Intent (LOI) Zoning Licensing Exit strategies FAQs for leasing and restaurant real estate Andrew's story building Pizza Llama Going from making pizza for free to starting a pizza business Slow and steady scaling The need to scale back Today's sponsor: Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country — they were even named best online payroll by PCMag. And as a listener, you'll get three months free when you run your first payroll. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/unstoppable. BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more. Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel's streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable. Please refer to Episode 569: David Denney on What To know Before Entering a Partnership for information on partnerships, as mentioned in today's episode. RestauranOwner.com's Checklist for Restaurant Leasing RestauranOwner.com's Nonbinding Letter of Intent draft Contact info: Adam's contact info: Website: Ruberto, Israel & Weiner Email: arb@riw.com Andrew's contact info: Pizza Llama Instagram: @_pizzallama Personal Instagram: @freepza Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Adam Barnosky and Andrew Wilkinson for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Bien Tran attended Duke School of Law and started his career at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP as a litigation lawyer and operated his own law office prior to joining Bush & Ramirez L.L.C. In 2012 Bien decided to take a stab at the world of hospitality with Hughes Hangar, a bar and event space. Hughes Hangar was followed by The De Gaulle, and Bien's most recent project Chapman and Kirby. In addition, Bien has been active in the political landscape for over a decade. Bien has also been active in the business community with the belief that we've all been given great opportunity, and we have an obligation to pay it forward by creating opportunity for the next generation. Show notes… Favorite success quote or mantra: "I don't have to do anything today except be grateful for what I have." It puts everything else into perspective. In this episode with Bien Tran, we discuss: Putting your responsibilities into perspective Bien's escape from Vietnam at the close of the war Learning to acclimate to a new country/culture Gratitude Being mindful that there are always people worse-off than you are Planning your life from a very early age Envisioning what your end goal is and planning/taking the proper steps to achieve that Bien's strong desire to help people and enact change Balancing law and hospitality Investing in a restaurant/restaurateur Legal documents shouldn't be your only safety net; get involved with trustworthy, decent people Money is only a small portion of what you're looking for when finding a business partner The importance of creating a unique atmosphere Opening a corporate event space Being happy/avoiding stress Recognize what is important and give back Today's sponsor: Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country — they were even named best online payroll by PCMag. And as a listener, you'll get three months free when you run your first payroll. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/unstoppable. BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more. Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel's streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Being creative What is your biggest weakness? Inability to disconnect, need more time to recharge the batteries What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? Give them a tour of the space and ask what they would change about it What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? "Early on I didn't thank the staff enough after a stressful shift." Constantly remind yourself to show gratitude to your staff Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Make the guests feel comfortable What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? Bill and Melinda Gates annual letter GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM What's the one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Lack of creativity, being too similar to every other restaurant What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls and how has it influenced operations? video cameras If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? The most important currency in life is compassion Love is a one way street; love people for who they are not for whether they love you back Stop worrying so much about yourself; take care of yourself but be less ego-centric Contact info: Chapman and Kirby website Facebook: @ChapmanAndKirby Twitter: @chapmanandkirby Instagram: @chapmanandkirby Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Bien Tran for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Show notes… Favorite success quote or mantra: Jim: Gratitude is the greatest of all virtues and is the cornerstone of all others. Kelli: Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about so be kind always. In this episode with Jim and Kelli Laube we discuss: Emotional intelligence Being mindful Treating guests like they matter always Making guests lives better through hospitality/service Being thankful/grateful Always try to grow RestaurantOwner.com's resources and values Inventory control The importance of leadership and culture The importance of knowing how to operate ALL aspect of you business from serving up through management Hospitality can turn a bad experience into a good experience Human beings as emotional beings Hospitality MUST expand to your servers Leave guests happier than how they arrived The importance of repeat business Hospitality as an infinite, free resource and how YOU MUST utilize it Hospitality causes your restaurant to stand out The "hospitality gene" Hiring the right people How to work hospitality into your staff and members of leadership YOU MUST show that you care about your staff on a one-on-one level The importance of pre-meal/pre-shift SMILE!!! Today's sponsor: Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country — they were even named best online payroll by PCMag. And as a listener, you'll get three months free when you run your first payroll. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/unstoppable. BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more. Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel's streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable. Recommended Books: Emotional Intelligence Setting the Table Contact info: RestaurantOwner.com Email: jim@restaurantowner.com Email: kelli@restaurantowner.com Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Jim Laube and Kelli Laube for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Always an entrepreneur at heart, Aaron Lyons was raised in Austin, TX and is a graduate University of Texas where he obtained his MBA with a focus on entrepreneurship and marketing. In 2014 after 2 years of searching for a location and investors, Lyons opened Dish Society in Houston, TX. 5 years later Lyons and his team have scaled the concept to a total of 5 location in and around Houston. Lyons attributes his success to the focus put on purchasing from local farmers and purveyors and the people he has surrounded himself with. Show notes… Favorite success quote or mantra: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. What you allow in your presence is your standard. In this episode with Aaron Lyons, we discuss: Creating a concept that was scalable Creating a $30 experience on $15 Attention to detail Executive presence The importance of self-awareness BE OPEN-MINDED The importance of education Make steps toward your goal WITH INTENTION Education vs. experience Securing capital Bluffing to get capital Believing in yourself Passion and body language Do MORE RESEARCH before opening your restaurant Accepting the need to compromise Do you need a publicist? Your culture is a reflection of you Today's sponsor: Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country — they were even named best online payroll by PCMag. And as a listener, you'll get three months free when you run your first payroll. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/unstoppable. BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more. Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel's streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Naturally aware if what guests want What is your biggest weakness? Impatience What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? A natural inclination toward hospitality and guest-focused thinking What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Hiring really solid people and having enough staff to accommodate growth Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Always asking "what are we tolerating and why?" What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Exceptional experiences What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? Way of the Shepard Positively Outrageous Service GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM What's the one thing you feel restaurateurs don't do well enough or do often enough? Business acumen and legal acumen What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls and how has it influenced operations? Compeat - ERP System If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Chase your dreams Surround yourself with people who will make you better Don't be a dick, be vulnerable, don't act like you know everything. Contact info: Dish Society website Instagram: @dishsociety Facebook: @DishSociety Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Aaron Lyons for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Dee Lincoln, a.k.a. the "Queen of Steaks," is recognized as a female powerhouse in the male-dominated steakhouse business. Born on the Fourth of July and raised in New Orleans, Lincoln's humble entrance into the restaurant industry can be traced back to a single Del Frisco's Steakhouse in her hometown. In the early 80's The Del Frisco's brand made its way to Dallas, which is how Dee found her way to Texas. Fast forward 30 years in the steak business and the Dee Lincoln Brand was born. Today the Dee Lincoln Brand includes a Dee Lincoln's Tasting Room & Bubble Bar at the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium, Dee Lincoln Private Events in Uptown Dallas, and her most recent project, Dee Lincoln Prime, located at the Star in Frisco. Dee has garnered local, regional and national recognition for her many achievements, including the coveted Restaurants and Institutions' Ivy Award, the winner of which is selected by restaurant industry peers across the country. Among others, Lincoln also has earned The Texas Restaurant Association's Restaurateur of the Year Award; Savor Dallas's Spirit Award; Dallas Business Journal's Top Women in Business Award; Northwood University's Distinguished Women Award; and Nation's Restaurant News's Fine Dining Award. Show notes… Favorite success quote or mantra: "Life is for living" In this episode with Dee Lincoln we discuss: Mentors Finding the right business partner Overcoming personal tragedy and moving on in the industry Opening issues and how to resolve them Quirky marketing and how it helps you Owners/operators need to be within the four walls The importance of touching each table Make one location the best it can be before you create a second Branding Guest should want to come to you for YOU, not just your food Understanding leadership Understanding the importance of being in your own restaurant daily Scaling Franchising Going public If you're not happy, walk away Becoming an asset The importance of knowing your numbers Accountability Do one thing great!!! Today's sponsor: Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country — they were even named best online payroll by PCMag. And as a listener, you'll get three months free when you run your first payroll. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/unstoppable. BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more. Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel's streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? People What is your biggest weakness? Care too much What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? What are people's immediate goal? Attitude and will over experience. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Staffing Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. First name, understanding what they love, like and dislike What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Be kind What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? Setting the Table GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM What's the one thing you feel restaurateurs don't do well enough or do often enough? Hands-on What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls and how has it influenced operations? POS: Focus If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Always be honest Stay humble Carry on my legend Contact info: Website: Dee Lincoln Prime website Instagram: @deelincolnprime Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Dee Lincoln for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Chris Hill is an author, speaker, and podcaster with a background in marketing and business strategy. After a quarter-life crisis, Hill decided to take a leap of faith into the world of restaurants. Today Hill primarily consults in the restaurant industry on leadership, company culture and menu development, as well as speaking to various industry organizations including Fortune 500 brands like Texas Roadhouse, National Restaurant Association, ACF, TEDx and to various culinary schools including Johnson & Wales and Miami Culinary Institute Show notes… Favorite success quote or mantra: You can either make excuses or make it happen. You CAN NOT do both. In this episode with Chris Hill, we discuss: The challenges that come with building a high-performing team. Interweaving your core values into your brand so that you attract onto yourself team members who share similar core values. Knowing what your employees want and giving it to them. Treating your employees with the same hospitality you treat your guest. Giving up equity in the business to attract onto yourself top talent. Being clear with vision and roles so partnerships work. How to retain great staff once you have them. The role transparency plays in retaining employees. The role empathy plays in retaining staff. How getting your team more involved into the decision making process helps with staff retention. Using expectations accountability, standards, and polices to maintain a high quality team. Why you don't necessary want all "A players". Using feedback mechanisms in your business to maintain a high level of culture. Resources mentioned in todays episode: 242:Chris Hill on How to "Make the Cut" TINYpulse 15five EthicsSuite Today's sponsor: Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country — they were even named best online payroll by PCMag. And as a listener, you'll get three months free when you run your first payroll. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/unstoppable. BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more. Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel's streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable. Contact info: chrishillonline.com Facebook.com/chefchrishill Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Chris Hill for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Hailing from Houston, TX, Thomas Nguyen completed his law degree at the University of Texas at Austin and started his career as a litigation attorney. Dissatisfied with the path he was on, he left his legal career behind to pursue his passion in business and marketing. In 2009, Nguyen Co-Founded Peli Peli, a fine-dining restaurant specializing in South African comfort food. In October of 2016 Nguyen Co-Founded Peli Peli Kitchen a fast-casual version of the original concept. To date, the restaurant group operates 5 total locations, 3 Peli Peli locations, and 2 Peli Peli kitchen locations. Show notes… Favorite success quote or mantra: "You can't be good at something unless you are truly passionate about it." In this episode with Thomas Nguyen we discuss: The passion for providing something for your community The best ways to keep yourself motivated in the industry Sacrifice Impacting your community Finding your lane The importance of getting pleasure from what you do Starting life over The value of experimentation Marketing!!! Whatever you represent, you must be able to back it up South African cuisine Introducing a market that doesn't exist Making a guest's day better by coming to your establishment Realizing when you're burnt out Guerilla marketing Branding!!! Building a trusting relationship with your guests People what to know who's driving your engine: it's YOU! "Restaurant Startup" Putting your restaurant on television Adapt to your market OR change the market The difficulty of navigating new social media platforms How to tell a story with your social media posts Don't just say your food is good; present what you are about and what your values are The power of collaboration and helping other restauranteurs Today's sponsor: Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country — they were even named best online payroll by PCMag. And as a listener, you'll get three months free when you run your first payroll. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/unstoppable. BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more. Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel's streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Passion What is your biggest weakness? Prioritizing time What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? Pick something you like and sell it to me What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Understanding the importance of building proper systems Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Always have a positive attitude What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? We want our staff to be stars. Guests should come back not only for the food but for the staff as well. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? Setting the Table GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM What's the one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Marketing and branding their concept What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls and how has it influenced operations? Trello If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Understand your responsibility to give back to the world Find your passion, no one will be able to outwork you Spend time with the people that mean the most to you Contact info: Email: thomas@pelipeli.com Instagram: @southafricanasian Instagram: @pelipelihouston Instagram: @pelipelikitchen Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Thomas Nguyen for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!