Tag Archives: Embrace the Suck

Episode 38 – Rethinking Business Models with Craig Shelton

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Welcome to The Restaurant Coach™ Podcast it is the cure for the common restaurant. I have to say that one of the best things about networking and speaking to people who play the game at high levels is that they challenge you to rethink your mindset and to challenge the way you view your model of the world. My guest today is really going to shake up the way you look at your restaurant and what is your real propose. Remember that the truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off. There is so much wisdom in this episode that you will want to download it and share some of the ideas with your team. Challenge yourself to look at your business differently and you may find some new answers that can shift your restaurant to new levels. I also have to give credit for Craig for making this interview possible. He is working with a client and they lost power so he went next door and called in from a loading dock to make this happen. So there might be a little background noise. However, this information is so powerful that you’ll want to pay attention. That’s what great leaders do they take the current situation and adapt to get results.

With that, let me introduce today’s guest:

I am honored to have Craig Shelton. His resume is quite deep: CEO of Shelton Hospitality Group, CEO of Aeon Hospitality Consulting, and founder of King’s Row Coffee. He is also an instructor at Princeton University and winner of the 2000 James Beard Award for Best Chef.

Show Links:

Aeon Hospitality Consulting

Craig’s Success Book Recommendations

Thanks again Craig for taking time to be on the show. You can contact Craig at the links above. Please check out the books he recommended and add them to your reading list.

My favorite takeaway from this interview: “The actions of the service team must not harm the client’s agenda.”

In closing…

Restaurant get better when the people in them become better people. You get better when you challenge your current business and thinking models.

If you are ready to elevate your mental models, then sign up for my elite group called Restaurant Masterminds. ⁣

We start off in September with a 90 Leadership Boot-camp focused on The 7 Driving Forces of Restaurant Success to get you ready for our 2-day conference called The Restaurant Success Summit where you will get 16 workshops and immersed learning for 22 hours with 10 world class restaurant experts! ⁣

The new restaurant (and life) you want starts with a decision to attend. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. ⁣

Only 200 seats left! Don’t wait.

www.restaurantsuccesssummit.com

You can pick up any of my books at Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/donaldburns

Join the TRC Nation TODAY! It’s FREE and we also offer a FREE Mentorship Program!

Get more solutions and subscribe to my newsletter at: www.therestaurantcoach.com

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Episode 37 – Build an Empire with Kelley Jones

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Welcome to The Restaurant Coach™ Podcast it is the cure for the common restaurant. My mission is simple: to give you more ways to turn your restaurant into the kick-ass establishment you know it can be. Many listeners ask about how to grow their brand from one location to many. The truth is that it requires a big change in your mindset as the owner. To help get you closer to making that shift, I asked my friend and serial restaurateur Kelley Jones to come on the show and share some of his insights from working with some of the biggest brand in the country. Kelley even shares a couple of his favorite interview questions which are real gold to getting better talent on your team. Selection is a key element all high performing restaurants say is a factor to their success. 

Let’s dive into the interview…

I am honored to have back on the show Kelley Jones from Kelley Jones Hospitality.

Thanks again Kelley for taking time to be on the show. I’ll have the links added to the post for anyone interested in checking out any of Kelley’s restaurants or reaching out to Kelley and his team to help you run your operation better. 

Show Notes and Links:

Kelley Jones Hospitality

Hospitality Alliance

Food Hall at Crockett Row

Sage at Aria Hotel

Avero Restaurant Management Software

Knife Burger

In closing…

Getting the restaurant you and the life you want is not a far-fetched dream. There is power in taking action. There is power is joining a mastermind and networking with other high achievers. You do rise to the level of your peers. Sometimes you just need to jump in and commit.

If you are ready to jump in and get a better restaurant, then sign up for my elite group called Restaurant Masterminds. ⁣

We start off in September with a 90 Leadership Boot-camp focused on The 7 Driving Forces of Restaurant Success to get you ready for our 2-day conference called The Restaurant Success Summit where you will get 16 workshops and immersed learning for 22 hours with 10 world-class restaurant experts! ⁣

The new restaurant (and life) you want starts with a decision to attend. Do it now.

Only 200 seats left! Don’t wait.

www.restaurantsuccesssummit.com

You can pick up any of my books at Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/donaldburns

Join the TRC Nation TODAY! It’s FREE and we also offer a FREE Mentorship Program!

Get more solutions and subscribe to my newsletter at: www.therestaurantcoach.com

Remember you can always email me topics or questions at donald@therestaurantcoach.com

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Episode 36 – Outstanding Restaurants with Kevin Boehm from Boka

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Welcome to The Restaurant Coach™ Podcast it is the cure for the common restaurant. Allow me to ask you a question. Are you happy with the results you are getting with your restaurant currently? If not, what are you prepared to do to get the restaurant you want? A mastermind group is a great way to get the support and the accountability you need to get on the path to getting the restaurant and life you want. It all starts with making a decision to take action. Head over to www.restaurantsuccesssmummit.com and sign up for my elite mastermind group that also includes access to our annual conference called The Restaurant Success Summit. If you want better results you need to take new actions.  With that said, let’s jump into the episode. There are so many gold nuggets in this interview that you might want to listen to it a few times…let’s roll.

I am honored to have Kevin Boehm from The Boka Restaurant Group in Chicago and winner along with his business partner Rob Katz of the 2019 James Beard award for Outstanding Restaurateurs on the show.

Show Notes:

Andrew Talks to Chef Podcast

Chefs, Drugs and Rock & Roll: How Food Lovers, Free Spirits, Misfits and Wanderers Created a New American Profession by Andrew Friedman
You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh

Getting the restaurant you and the life you want is not a far-fetched dream. There is power in taking action. Don’t put off doing something you know you should be doing because you hope things will get better. Remember that hope is not a strategy.

If you are ready to take action and stop hoping for a better restaurant, then sign up for my elite group called Restaurant Masterminds. ⁣

We start off in September with a 90 Leadership Boot-camp focused on The 7 Driving Forces of Restaurant Success to get you ready for our 2-day conference called The Restaurant Success Summit where you will get 16 workshops and immersed learning for 22 hours with 10 world-class restaurant experts! ⁣

The new restaurant (and life) you want starts with a decision to attend. Do it now.

Only 200 seats left! Don’t wait.

www.restaurantsuccesssummit.com

You can pick up any of my books at Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/donaldburns

Join the TRC Nation TODAY! It’s FREE and we also offer a FREE Mentorship Program!

Get more solutions and subscribe to my newsletter at: www.therestaurantcoach.com

Remember you can always email me topics or questions at donald@therestaurantcoach.com

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Episode 35 – Badass Marketing with Bruce Irving

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Welcome to The Restaurant Coach™ Podcast it is the cure for the common restaurant. My mission is simple: to give you more ways to turn your restaurant into the kick-ass establishment, you know it can be. This podcast will be a mix of expert interviews and some deep dives into topics that you requested. Remember you can always email me topics or questions at donald@therestaurantcoach.com

With that, let me introduce today’s guest:

I am honored to have back on the show Bruce Irving from Smart Pizza Marketing.

Show Links:

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/laurenstrapagiel/influencer-couple-cat-eli-beautiful-day-africa-trip

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3001027243304010&set=pcb.917936275216296&type=3&theater&ifg=1

East Village Pizza

Restaurant Masterminds (get full access to The Restaurant Success Summit)

Smart Pizza Marketing

Thanks again Bruce for taking time to be on the show. You can see Bruce live and get some time to ask his questions that pertain to your brand at The Restaurant Success Summit this November. I’ll have the links added to the post for anyone interested in checking out Bruce’s podcast or if you are a pizza restaurant that is looking for a mastermind group to join, then you want to connect with Bruce at his website (link above).

In closing…

Getting the restaurant you and the life you want is not a far-fetched dream. There is power in taking action. There is power in joining a mastermind group and networking with other high achievers. You do rise to the level of your peers. Sometimes you need to jump in and play ball with the big dogs.

If you are ready to jump in with the big dogs, then sign up for my elite group called Restaurant Masterminds. ⁣

We start off in September with a 90 Leadership Boot-camp focused on The 7 Driving Forces of Restaurant Success to get you ready for our 2-day conference called The Restaurant Success Summit where you will get 16 workshops and immersed learning for 22 hours with 10 world class restaurant experts! ⁣

The new restaurant (and life) you want starts with a decision to attend. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. ⁣

Only 200 seats left! Don’t wait.

www.restaurantsuccesssummit.com

You can pick up any of my books at Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/donaldburns

Join the TRC Nation TODAY! It’s FREE and we also offer a FREE Mentorship Program!

Get more solutions and subscribe to my newsletter at: www.therestaurantcoach.com

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Episode 34 – Why Change Sucks!

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Welcome to the Restaurant Coach Podcast, it is the cure for the common restaurant. If you have not joined up for our private Facebook group called The Restaurant Coach Nation, then would now be a good time? It’s free to join if you are in the restaurant industry. Plus, we have a FREE mentorship program as our way to give back so you can get some guidance about your restaurant or career.

Let me ask you a question. Are you happy with where your restaurant or life is right now? If you said no, allow me to coach you as to why.

You know, deep down you should make changes in your restaurant and your life.

Why don’t you?

Change is a fickle thing. While it calls to us to embrace it, it is also is quite resistant to being caught. Change is a hypocrite. When you try to make changes in your life and your restaurant, it pushes back. Why?

You have a bunch of bad habits and blind spots. Negative habits are resistant to change.

Restaurant change starts with you changing your habits. I know that sounds basis and not exactly the answer you are looking for, but it’s true. ⁣

If you need help breaking bad habits then sign up for my elite group called Restaurant Masterminds. ⁣

We start off in September with a 90 Leadership Boot-camp focused on The 7 Driving Forces of Restaurant Success to get you ready for our 2-day conference called The Restaurant Success Summit where you will get 16 workshops and immersed learning for 22 hours with 10 world class restaurant experts! ⁣

The new restaurant (and life) you want starts with a decision to attend. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. ⁣

Only 200 seats left! Don’t wait.

www.restaurantsuccesssummit.com

You can pick up any of my books at Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/donaldburns

Join the TRC Nation TODAY!

Get more solutions and subscribe to my newsletter at: www.therestaurantcoach.com

 

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Episode 33 – Your Hiring Sucks!

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Hiring can suck if you allow it to get the best of you. The number one rule is stop lying to yourself and don’t compromise your standards!

Here is a 5-Step Formula to improve your hiring.

  1. Recruit better
  2. Interview better
  3. Onboard better
  4. Train better
  5. Retain better

Restaurant change starts with you changing your habits. I know that sounds basis and not exactly the answer you are looking for, but it’s true. ⁣

If you need help breaking bad habits then sign up for my elite group called Restaurant Masterminds. ⁣

We start off in September with a 90 Leadership Boot-camp focused on The 7 Driving Forces of Restaurant Success to get you ready for our 2-day conference called The Restaurant Success Summit where you will get 16 workshops and immersed learning for 22 hours with 10 world class restaurant experts! ⁣

The new restaurant (and life) you want starts with a decision to attend. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now. ⁣

Only 200 seats left! Don’t wait.

www.restaurantsuccesssummit.com

You can pick up any of my books at Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/donaldburns

Join the TRC Nation TODAY!

Get more solutions and subscribe to my newsletter at: www.therestaurantcoach.com

 

 

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Episode 32 – Becoming a True Leader with Bobby Shaw

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Welcome to The Restaurant Coach™ Podcast it is the cure for the common restaurant. Today my guest is Gallup Certified Strength Coach, Bobby Shaw. Bobby works with business leaders and restaurant owners to improve their results through developing a strong, strengths-based culture of leadership development within their organizations.

Connect with Bobby:

Twitter

Facebook

Linkedln

Instagram

Website

Look for Bobby’s book, Cutting Onions coming out this fall.

In closing…

Many leaders are really great at reading and understanding others. People skills are often seen as a trait of a leader. It’s true. You do need to be able to relate to others and inspire them to take action and grow.

The other side of the coin that many miss is self-awareness. Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu once said, “Knowing others is wisdom. Knowing yourself is true mastery.” You have to know what are your strengths, weaknesses, and where lies the opportunity for personal growth. Remember that awareness precedes choice and choice precedes change. When you become self-aware and acknowledge what you’re good at (and what you suck at) you will be in a position to make better choices. That will create change in your restaurant and your life.

If you are looking for more tools to take your restaurant to the next level, go and stop by The Restaurant Coach™ Website. Sign up for my FREE 4-Part Course called The Restaurant Success Series. Yes, you heard correct, it’s FREE. I really want to help you get the restaurant you want. The course shows you four keys it takes to run a successful restaurant. If you want more intense results then go to the top of my website and click on the button that says Become A Client. You can fill out a short questionnaire and then you and I will schedule a 1 hour strategic planning session to get you clarity and some real solutions to get the restaurant and life you want. Stop beating your head against the wall in frustration, remember that true insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. Visit The Restaurant Coach.com today.

If you have not picked up a copy of my book Your Restaurant Sucks! Embrace the suck. Unleash your restaurant. Become outstanding on Amazon… When would NOW be a good time. There is also little known deal that you can pick up the paperback edition you also get the Kindle edition for FREE! I love to hear from listeners on topics or questions you would like to have my guests on this show answer, so email me at donald@therestaurantcoach.com

 

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Episode 31 – Being a Positive Force with Brian Duncan

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Welcome to The Restaurant Coach™ Podcast it is the cure for the common restaurant. Today my guest is noted wine expert and founder of the icon Chicago restaurant Bin 36, Brian Duncan. Brian has agreed to take on the list of questions for season two sent in by listeners like you…what I call is the Dirty Dozen.

Connect with Brian:

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

Website: Go Wine

In closing…

This is how culture works. It starts at the top and flows down.

The choke hold on any restaurant is the mindset of the owner and operators. You are your problems and you are your solution. You can get out of this by making a shift in your mindset. How can you do that? Get a coach or mentor to help you see through the story you keep telling yourself why you cannot have the restaurant you want. It’s not your staff. It’s not the economy. A lot of restaurants are recording record sales and profits this year. If your restaurant or life is not 100% the way you want it then you have to come to terms that It’s you.

You must breakup with the story and marry the truth. The truth will indeed set you free, after it first will really piss you off. If your restaurant is running you, then today is your day to do something about it. Taking control will not be easy when you’ve allowed it to get away from you. It will resist and push back. You will want to give in and go back to the easier way, don’t.

Anything worth fighting for is worth the struggle and discomfort. The most successful restaurant operators are comfortable with being uncomfortable. Tony Robbins says it best, “The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty you can comfortably deal with.”

If you are looking for more tools to take your restaurant to the next level, go and stop by The Restaurant Coach™ Website. Sign up for my FREE 4-Part Course called The Restaurant Success Series. Yes, you heard correct, it’s FREE. I really want to help you get the restaurant you want. The course shows you four keys it takes to run a successful restaurant. If you want more intense results then go to the top of my website and click on the button that says Become A Client. You can fill out a short questionnaire and then you and I will schedule a 1 hour strategic planning session to get you clarity and some real solutions to get the restaurant and life you want. Stop beating your head against the wall in frustration, remember that true insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. Visit The Restaurant Coach.com today.

If you have not picked up a copy of my book Your Restaurant Sucks! Embrace the suck. Unleash your restaurant. Become outstanding on Amazon… When would NOW be a good time. There is also little known deal that you can pick up the paperback edition you also get the Kindle edition for FREE! I love to hear from listeners on topics or questions you would like to have my guests on this show answer, so email me at donald@therestaurantcoach.com

 

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Episode 30- Customer Service with Andrew Carlson

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Welcome to The Restaurant Coach™ Podcast it is the cure for the common restaurant. Today my guest is author, speaker, and customer service guru, Andrew Carlson.

Carlson Hospitality was founded by Andrew Carlson in 2017 with a single mission: to help restaurants create a sustainable business and impact their community through service in Los Angeles. We approach each of his clients with fresh eyes and develop custom-made strategies. Let Andrew help you make your dreams a reality.

Connect with Andrew:

Website

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

Get Andrew’s book: Customer Service is the Bottom Line

In closing…

Incredible service not only is comprised of the mechanical aspects like serving from the left and clearing from the right, it also contains the human element. That’s called hospitality. When you combine the mechanical and human together it creates that synergy that today’s guests have come to expect. Here’s the real secret to amazing service… It has to be constantly managed and monitored. I’m a big believer that incredible service teams are orchestrated and guided like a well-choreographed ballet.

If you are looking for more tools to take your restaurant to the next level, go and stop by The Restaurant Coach™ Website. Sign up for my FREE 4-Part Course called The Restaurant Success Series. Yes, you heard correct, it’s FREE. I really want to help you get the restaurant you want. The course shows you four keys it takes to run a successful restaurant. If you want more intense results then email me to schedule a call about my Restaurant Masterminds Group or for  a conversation on a customized restaurant coaching program for your restaurant. Visit The Restaurant Coach today.

If you have not picked up a copy of my book Your Restaurant Sucks! Embrace the suck. Unleash your restaurant. Become outstanding on Amazon…when would NOW be a good time? There is also little known deal that you can pick up both Andrew and my book for a great package price (Plus the Kindle versions too)! I love to hear from listeners on topics or questions you would like to have my guests on this show answer, so email me at donald@therestaurantcoach.com

 

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Episode 29 – Connecting With Presence with Chloe DiVita

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Welcome to The Restaurant Coach™ Podcast it is the cure for the common restaurant. Today my guest is Chloe DiVita. An empowerment mentor and digital strategist who has worked with some amazing brands like BlogPaws. She is a sought-after public speaker that helps people connect their message with their community.

Connect with Chloe:

Website

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

In closing…

Connecting is important for your brand to truly stand out. You have to connect with the guest and you have to connect with your team. Too many restaurants focus on the guest experience and ignore the team experience. You have to have both and some would argue that you should focus on the team experience a little bit more. Culture does flow down, not up. How you treat your team is how your team will treat your guests. Don’t neglect that.

If you are looking for more tools to take your restaurant to the next level, go and stop by The Restaurant Coach™ Website. Sign up for my FREE 4-Part Course called The Restaurant Success Series. Yes, you heard correct, it’s FREE. I really want to help you get the restaurant you want. The course shows you four keys it takes to run a successful restaurant. If you want more intense results then email me to schedule a call about my Restaurant Masterminds Group or for  a conversation on a customized restaurant coaching program for your restaurant. Visit The Restaurant Coach today.

If you have not picked up a copy of my book Your Restaurant Sucks! Embrace the suck. Unleash your restaurant. Become outstanding on Amazon…what are you waiting for? There is also little known deal that when you pick up a paperback copy, you get the Kindle version for free. I love to hear from listeners on topics or questions you would like to have my guests on this show answer, so email me at donald@therestaurantcoach.com

 

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