When guests think about your restaurants, do they end up feeling sleepy because your brand looks tired? Independent restaurant groups that lack the focus or wherewithal to update brands fall behind their competition. One of my clients told me, “Things changed so much in the last few years, we have simply not kept up.” It’s the … Continued
“Don’t bother to look over there; that’s all fine!” I’ve heard that from many clients who had brought me in to address specific issues. When I start roaming and nosing around their restaurants to find other opportunities to address, they try to shut me down – feeling I am wasting time and effort. That is, … Continued
The relationship between the first in command and the second in command is the most important relationship in your company. Leadership gives birth to breakthroughs. When I’ve worked with clients where that relationship was in shambles, guess what we did first? We corrected it; if we hadn’t, there would have been no path to success. … Continued
If you tell yourself that your restaurants appeal to everyone aged 4-74 – or anything similar to that – that is wrong. If you tell yourself that you compete with all restaurants – wrong again. One of my clients was telling me these things, and it was only by going beyond that kind of thinking that … Continued
I was having a drink with one of my clients and we were talking about the roles he and his wife were taking in their own business—which was very successful by any measure. They were working a lot. A lot. And seemingly forever. “We’ve decided we will work like dogs until we turn 50. Then … Continued
The people who brought you to the first level of growth will not be the ones who will amp it up to the next level. Bring in outside perspectives. A ton of my work involves helping people find the right experienced leaders, enrolling and hiring those leaders, and coaching them (and their new bosses) to … Continued
2023 gave us steep interest rate increases, a shortage of experienced workers, and breaking the record type summer heat. But there’s one more thing 2023 provided: clarity on where to focus so we can build and grow successful independent companies like the ones that you own and I work with. I’ve selected five especially popular or meaningful … Continued
For my best clients, it doesn’t matter what curveballs life throws at them. They stay on a strong growth curve regardless—remaining in control of their destiny and putting the right information to work. And when you do that, great things happen, like jumping from 5 units to 21, or reinvigorating revenue at a brand that … Continued
Lately, I’ve worked with my clients so much on their 2024 plans that, in my mind, I’m already there. So I’m constantly surprised when I see a date that says 2023. It feels like something from the past. Adopt the same attitude and put maximum energy into planning for a breakthrough. Positively approach changes for … Continued