The importance of a great huddle up, pre-shift, alley rally, whatever you want to call it. Quick, concise, and positive communication makes all the difference. And communication is the most important factor to building a great team and moving the needle on performance. Are you committed to building up your team? Let’s find out….

Chef Eric Lackey is an amazing talent with a really interesting journey. From humble beginnings to multi-unit management, opening new concepts and creating innovative menus, and having lots of fun along the way he embodies the energy and raw talent of a modern day chef. And he's a hell of lot of fun to work with. Enjoy this podcast and learn from the best!

From humble beginnings at the age of 8, Maurice Evans takes us on his journey of passion and opportunity. Starting at the ripe age of 8, he begins his journey with a family member and a food truck. Maurice also talks about starting a family, balancing obligations to them and himself, and the amazing support his wife has given him throughout his career. He is an amazing chef, excellent father and husband, and dynamic personality on the job. There are many take aways from this interview, but hard work and passion are the constant themes to his, and all of our successes in the restaurant industry.

One of my favorite expressions in running a great restaurant is having Aces in Places. It is a strategy that has helped me run smoother shifts, have happier employees, create a great guest experience, and develop some key players along the way. In this episode I discuss the meaning, the intent, and the importance of putting Aces in Places

Are there days you look at your team and say to yourself, something has to change? Or times you may ask yourself, "How did this person get the job they have?" All businesses have a moment they re-evaluate who is on their team and decide if a change should be made. If you take a look at companies that perform at a high level in service and production, you will find the leadership is top notch, and the interviewing / vetting process is excellent. The leaders in any business, especially the hiring manager, are the gatekeepers for their business. This podcast discusses best practices and answers common questions about getting the process right. I hope you have some great take aways!

In this episode I discuss my journey from young, punk kid to accomplished restauranteur and the path I chose, and at times chose me. I have landed in a consulting and coaching space I am very excited to share, and cannot wait to begin helping others with pain points, feelings, and desires to be more and accomplish more. check out the website and schedule a discovery call!

Numbers guide our understanding of how we are performing, if we are making money, and how we can improve. Being good at math is going to be important and can only serve you well if you embrace it. Let’s talk about a few steps that will use math and discipline to help you get better results and provide a starting point to manage what you measure.

In this episode I discuss the pros and cons of the culture of “No” and the culture of “Yes”. As we run better restaurants we must execute at a high level, but we must also connect with, and oblige our customers. There is a balance that can be found to win them over.

Passion is vital to our success and soul fulfillment. It’s not hard to find things to be passionate about in the hospitality industry. Wine, fresh fish, local produce, and even working clean. It’s the rest of our job detail or responsibilities that challenge us in the passion department. In this episode I will challenge you to get passionate about processes and outcome to truly find running restaurants rewarding on many levels and hopefully find success in better performance.

Running a great restaurant isn’t easy. I will be discussing ways to ease the pain and get better results. How do we get back to normal and prepare for the new normal in the restaurant industry? Who and what will get our focus? How can we position ourselves to excel when it happens? All in good time…