The Restaurant Prosperity Formula

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mark McShaffry, a seasoned restaurant owner with nearly 40 years of industry experience. After starting his career with Houston's, McShaffry eventually took the leap into independent ownership, opening The Backyard Grill in 2001. Since then, he's grown to operate multiple concepts, including Creekwood Grill and Aero Crafters, all while becoming deeply rooted in his community.In this conversation, McShaffry shares his journey from corporate manager to thriving multi-unit owner, the tough lessons he learned along the way, and why systems, leadership and continuous learning have been the keys to his long-term success. If you're a restaurant owner who wants to grow, get your life back and achieve true prosperity, you won't want to miss this inspiring episode.

In this special episode of the Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, I turn the mic over to one of my longtime members and friends, Raul Gonzalez, for a segment we call Flip the Table. Gonzalez is not only an inspiring restaurant owner but also a shining example of what happens when you commit to systems, leadership and constant improvement. In this episode, Gonzalez asks the questions — diving into my background, the lessons I've learned and the core of what drives me to help restaurant owners every single day. You'll get an inside look at the mindset and systems behind the Restaurant Prosperity Formula — and how Gonzalez used them to completely transform his business.

One of the most common (and frustrating) issues restaurant owners face is managers who bring you every little problem instead of solving things themselves. If you feel like you can't get anything done without being interrupted, I have some solutions for you. In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, I tackle exactly why it happens and, more importantly, how to stop it. You'll learn how to retrain your managers to think like owners, make decisions with confidence, and stop relying on you for answers—freeing up your time and restoring your sanity.

Running a restaurant can feel like an endless grind — long hours, constant stress and financial uncertainty. But what if you could step back from the day-to-day operations and still have a successful, profitable restaurant? In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula Podcast, I sit down with Deja Wakefield, a former teacher turned restaurant owner, who shares her journey from being overwhelmed by restaurant ownership to running two thriving businesses with systems that give her true freedom.

Running a restaurant is no small feat — especially when life throws unexpected challenges your way. In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, I sit down with Tina Wary, owner of Dixie Grill Barbecue and Crab Shack in Hawaii. Wary shares her powerful journey from working behind the scenes in her family's restaurant to stepping up as the owner after the sudden passing of her husband in 2020.Her story is one of resilience, leadership and the power of systems. After struggling with financial inconsistencies despite a great team and excellent food, Wary attended my seminar in Las Vegas. She left with the tools to transform her restaurant, and in this episode she shares her journey putting those systems in place and the other tools she's found since.

One of the biggest reasons restaurants struggle with sales isn't always the food or service — it's awareness. Either people know about you but don't care, or they would care if they knew about you. My guest today, Josh Kopel, calls this the Awareness Formula, and in this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, he shares powerful strategies that help restaurant owners become known in their market. Kopel has mastered a critical component of restaurant success: marketing. He is not just a restaurateur — he's a tech pioneer, a Michelin-rated fine dining operator, and one of the best marketing minds in the industry. If you've been struggling with getting more customers in the door, keeping your tables full, and making marketing work for your restaurant, this episode is for you.

If you've ever struggled to get your managers on board with new systems or changes, you're not alone. In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, I dive into exactly why managers resist change, how you can turn that resistance into results and how to empower your restaurant managers to lead change. Managing your managers and getting them on board with change isn't always easy, but it's absolutely necessary for your success — and theirs. I encourage you to listen to this episode, then pick one strategy and start implementing it this week. You will soon be on your way to a team of restaurant managers working with you rather than against you.

In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I had the privilege of chatting with Zack Oates, founder and CEO of Ovation. Ovation is a cutting-edge guest experience platform that helps restaurants collect and act on customer feedback in real-time. Oates's passion for helping restaurants thrive shines through, and his expertise in using data to drive guest satisfaction and retention is something every restaurant owner should hear. We explored how gathering actionable feedback can lead to better operations, happier guests and, ultimately, a healthier bottom line. Check out this podcast episode to hear it all!

In this episode of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula” podcast, Vicki Moore, owner of a sports bar and grill in Illinois, joins me to share her journey from bartender to restaurant owner. After purchasing the struggling bar eight years ago, she transformed it by revamping the menu, improving quality, and creating an inviting atmosphere, growing annual sales from $275,000 to $1.2 million. Despite her success, Moore faced intense challenges, including overwork, stress and health issues, as she initially tried to do everything herself. She shares how being part of my coaching program taught her how to delegate, implement systems and empower her team, which allowed her to achieve both financial and personal freedom. This inspiring episode highlights the importance of leadership, systems and accountability in building a successful restaurant business.

In episode 114 of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, I welcome Kris Schoenberger, a long-time member of my coaching programs and a highly successful restaurateur, for a special "Flip the Table" segment. In this episode, Schoenberger takes on the role of interviewer, asking me personal and professional questions that reveal insights into my career, work ethic and philosophy on success in the restaurant industry. Schoenberger shares his inspiring story of building a restaurant empire, including BBQ'd Productions and Station 51, after starting with a small catering business. Together, we reflect on out decade-long professional relationship, offering listeners actionable lessons on leadership, resilience and the entrepreneurial spirit. This episode is ideal for restaurant owners seeking inspiration, practical advice and a deeper understanding of the restaurant industry from two seasoned experts.

In the fast-paced, often chaotic world of restaurant ownership, it's easy to feel overwhelmed — constantly putting out fires, answering questions and making every decision yourself. If this resonates with you, there's a way to reclaim your time, empower your team and find true freedom. It's to define and share your why. In this episode of my “Restaurant Prosperity Formula” podcast, I discuss this game-changing principle. Listen to this episode for the explanation of the principle, why it's so important for your restaurant business and then the action steps to help you transform your business and create a restaurant that thrives.

My guest for this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula is Avery Ward, CEO of Little Italy Pizza in Ohio and a mentor in my coaching program for restaurant owners. Our discussion highlights Ward's journey from working directly in his restaurant to leading a thriving multi-unit business with a team of 80 employees. He shares key insights into leadership, building a strong management team and using tools like video to drive business growth. Ward also discusses his role as a mentor, where he helps other restaurant owners implement proven systems and navigate challenges to achieve success. The episode showcases how Ward applied the principles of the Restaurant Prosperity Formula to transform his business and his life, offering inspiration and practical advice for restaurateurs looking to do the same.

My guests this week on The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast are two restaurant owners who've turned their business around and found their definition of success. Angie and Doug Brown, owners of The Cove Restaurant and Peninsula Golf Course in Long Beach, Washington, came from Big Tech careers. They both worked at Microsoft, spent time raising a family and then looking toward retirement, followed Doug's passion for golf and purchased a golf course and restaurant back in 2007. Their goal was to travel and enjoy retirement. Little did they know the learning curve they had in store for them! Let me just say that these two entrepreneurs really kicked butt when it came to systems but more importantly, they learned how to communicate with their team so they could take ownership of everything that needs to be done in the restaurant. Angie, Doug and I do our best to show every restaurant owner looking for change and freedom what the journey can look.

In this special “Flipping the Table” episode of my podcast, “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula,” Jonathan and Brianna Cowan, multi-unit restaurant operators, take control, turning the tables on me for an insightful interview. Here's a glimpse of our conversation, full of takeaways on leadership, persistence, and what it takes to thrive in the restaurant industry. I've known the Cowans for going on 15 years, and I've seen their transformation into prosperity firsthand. They own a 65-seat restaurant and cater around 100 weddings per year, offering a full suite of services from rentals to food to bar service. They're currently building out a 12,000 square foot space with a restaurant on the main level and a wedding venue on the second floor. They're documenting the process on their YouTube channel, Wooden Paddle. They also have a podcast, which they named based on something favorite restaurant coach says, “The Ready Fire Aim Podcast.”

Building a strong restaurant team isn't about luck — it's about being intentional, setting the right tone and leading by example. Hire the right people, train them well, hold them accountable, and recognize their efforts. When you invest in your team, they'll invest in you and that's when your restaurant will truly prosper. In this episode of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula,” restaurant coach David Scott Peters explores a topic that many restaurant owners overlook but is essential for success: team building. This episode is all about creating a team that is engaged, productive and aligned with your restaurant's vision.

As a restaurant owner, you won't want to leave your restaurant's future to chance, but it can be overwhelming to set goals and develop the plans you need to achieve them. One proven way to get clear on your goals is to put them in writing. and share them with your team. This kind of vision, or a vivid vision, can give you the direction you need to drive sales, build a strong culture and ultimately achieve long-term success. In this episode of my podcast, “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula,” Matt Plapp and I talk about the importance of having a vision. Plapp is the dynamic founder and CEO of America's Best Restaurants, a trailblazing marketing agency dedicated to helping independent restaurants grow by telling their stories, acquiring customers and building unstoppable sales momentum. Plapp's energy and passion for the restaurant industry are undeniable and during our conversation, we dove deep into the concept of having a "vivid vision" and how it can transform your business.

Running a restaurant is no easy task. For Daniel Herrero, taking over his family's 48-year-old restaurant business in Panama meant inheriting four restaurants, a bakery, and a commissary — and all the chaos that came with them. It's a familiar story for many restaurant owners, one of hard work, long hours and personal sacrifice. In this episode of the restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, Herrero shares his journey and shows that even when you're knee-deep in problems, there's a path to success — if you're willing to make bold decisions.

This episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, launches a segment I call Flip the Table where a restaurant owner takes over the podcast and interviews me. Today's Flip the Table features a longtime member of mine who is not only a top operator but over the years has coached and consulted with me: David Militello. He owns four different restaurant formats in a tourist town in Michigan. He and I have known each other for 20 years. He was one of the first five members of my mastermind group when I started coaching restaurant owners 21 years ago. He's been to my workshops, coached with me, consulted with me and just been a great supporter over the years. He is now a Member Mentor in my restaurant owner coaching group. I thought it would be fun if the first Flip the Table was with a restaurant owner who's known me through a lot of different versions of my coaching and services. He asks me the questions he thinks other restaurant owners would want to know.

In the restaurant industry, success is defined by more than just the quality of food — it's about having control over your business and achieving financial freedom. One of the most crucial aspects of this journey is mastering food inventory management. In this episode of season two of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I'm sharing five advanced tips that can transform how you manage your inventory and, ultimately, boost your restaurant's bottom line. Use what you learn in this podcast to elevate your restaurant and achieve the prosperity you've been working towards.

When it comes to managing your restaurant's cost, you absolutely can't ignore labor. It is the second biggest expense in a restaurant – after an empty seat in the restaurant. Labor cost management is an essential topic for achieving restaurant prosperity and financial freedom. The last few episodes of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast have been a collection of some of my best and most popular tips on three very popular categories for restaurant owners: food cost (Episode 101), systems (Episode 102) and leadership (Episode 103). In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I'm serving up a collection of some of my best and most effective labor cost lessons and tips. You'll learn how to calculate labor cost, how to manage them and how to avoid common pitfalls.

Leadership is not just a buzzword; it's the driving force behind every successful restaurant. By combining leadership with action, systems and training, you can create prosperity for yourself and your restaurant. In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I'm sharing some of my best leadership insights from past podcast episodes to highlight the critical importance of leadership in the restaurant industry. I explore why leaders matter, the role of a growth mindset in developing leadership skills, and specific behaviors and attitudes that hinder effective leadership. Additionally, I'll share four action steps to increase your management team's responsibilities, allowing you to lead your restaurant instead of merely running it.

Today's special recap episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, is focused on systems and why they're so important in restaurant management. You'll learn what I mean by systems, why they are crucial and how you can use them specifically in the kitchen to safeguard your restaurant when you lack a culinary background. We'll also discuss how systems impact your restaurant and ultimately your life. And last but not least, I share a portion of an interview with restaurant employee Brandon Anderson, who helped his owner implement systems that significantly benefited the restaurant, the owner, and Brandon himself. Whether you're new to my podcast or a longtime listener, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

For this special episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I'm sharing some of the best tips from previous episodes, focusing on key areas such as food cost systems, leadership, and labor cost. This episode is dedicated to food cost. We'll explore how high food costs are often self-inflicted, provide a quick walkthrough on calculating food cost, delve into the concept of ideal food cost, and finish with some menu engineering basics. Whether you're a new listener or a long-time follower, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Let's get started!

Achieving prosperity in the restaurant business means gaining financial freedom and the freedom to enjoy your life beyond the restaurant. It's not just a dream; it's a reality you can attain by following a specific formula. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I take you through a critical component of that formula: the power of a professional attitude. Incorporating the principles I review in this episode can transform your restaurant. Not only will you see improvements in customer satisfaction and sales, but you'll also create a thriving work environment for your team.

You might have heard the saying, "People don't quit jobs; they quit managers." This is particularly true in our fast-paced, high-stress industry. A toxic manager can create a negative atmosphere and fail to lead by example, significantly affecting morale and productivity. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I am breaking down undeniable impact toxic managers have on your restaurant. I also outline how you can create and maintain a positive work environment, specifically by creating a positive culture in your restaurant. I will also cover how to build up your team's confidence in that culture so they help you keep toxic managers out of your restaurant.

A lot of restaurant owners think the secret to making money is marketing, but so often it ends up costing way more money than it ever generates because there is a right way and many wrong ways to do it. Since I focus on teaching restaurant owners how to make money through operational systems, I like to bring in outside experts to talk about restaurant marketing. This episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast is a discussion with Eric Shellenberger. He is an author and owner of Bar Marketing Basics, a marketing firm that focuses on bringing in new customers into your restaurant or bar. Shellenberger is a repeat guest here. He has been on a quest to help restaurant and bar owners stop buying into the myth that other restaurant marketing companies are selling and start bringing in real traffic through your doors. I've brought him back not be just because his first episode was so popular but because he released a new book entitled "If I Could Give It Zero Stars, I Would." During our discussion he shares with you the importance of understanding how AI has changed what a restaurant needs to do to stay ahead of their competition and increase your sales. Find Eric Shellenberger's book: If I Could Give It Zero Stars, I Would

When it comes to being profitable in the restaurant business, it's important to maximize your efficiencies. One way to do that is to upgrade how you track your food cost, making food costing software a critical component of running your restaurant. Food costing software isn't just an upgrade; it's a revolutionary shift in how you approach your operation from managing expenses to optimizing each dish that comes out of your kitchen. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I'm teaching you how to use food costing software to boost your restaurant's efficiency and profitability. Listen to learn five key benefits and the impact each one has on your restaurant.

If there's one thing I've heard time and again from restaurant owners, it's, “I love your stuff, David. I've read your book, seen you speak, listen to your podcast and watch your YouTube videos, but I just don't know where to start.” If you want to take action and start to improve your restaurant and your life, and you're asking the same question, you're in exactly the right place. For this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I'm tackling that very question, laying out a clear and actionable road map to not just start but to thrive. To make it easy to follow and understand, I've broken it up into seven segments: back to basics, the power of checklist and cash controls, vision and goals, the backbone of daily operations, crafting your financial blueprint, maximizing margins and managing labor efficiently.

Four years after the pandemic, I'm working with restaurant owners who are still suffering whiplash and struggling to find a path forward for their restaurants. I don't have to tell you, but it was an intense time. Restaurant owners went from a complete shutdown of their restaurants and sending employees to the unemployment office to the frantic offer of money from the government and the incentives offered to employees to work through the unknown challenges. These days restaurant owners are working through the long-term consequences of taking that money and how to run their restaurants in this new landscape. The bottom line is things changed after pandemic. Costs are up, staff have different expectations and restaurant owners don't want to be prisoners to their restaurants. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I am talking about how it's time for every restaurant owner to embark on change or possibly get swallowed up by the shifting sands of industry change and financial stresses you're facing as a restaurant operator today.

I recently had a coaching call with a restaurant owner whose business was struggling. He and his wife needed an outside perspective, and they turned to me to help them review their options. The call we had highlights the transformative power of resilience, strategic planning and the courage to embrace change. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, learn more about what exactly was challenging their establishment, the discoveries we made and the next steps I recommended they take. The situation the restaurant owners are in isn't uncommon but the resources they tapped are what make this situation stand apart. I'm confident they got the best counsel and insight from me and their fellow members, and I hope listeners can benefit as well.

As a restaurant owner, there are many things you have to do right to be successful. It really is a business of spinning many plates at once. One thing I've found in the most successful restaurant owners I know is how they approach their role as a leader and how their mindset makes all the difference. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I'm sharing 10 critical mindset questions that serve as reflections into how your leadership is shaping your team's environment. Reflecting on these questions and engaging with the answers can be a game-changer for restaurant owners. The goal is to create a culture where challenges are met with courage, feedback fuels growth, and every team member feels valued and empowered.

A successful restaurant is one that delivers on the promise to it guests. That's hot food hot, cold food cold, a clean safe work environment for your guests and employees, WOW customer service and providing an incredible product. That's what restaurant owners are put on this earth to do, right? To create memories. We have the pleasure and the privilege to create memories in people's lives. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, the Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I focus on Restaurant 101, exploring the alchemy of perfect meal temperatures, the sanctuary of our dining havens, the ballet of exemplary service, the craftsmanship behind an unforgettable product and the finesse of the now indispensable to-go experience. Join me to uncover the blueprint of systems, training and the art of hospitality that transform a simple meal into an incredible memory. You'll learn how diligently applying systems, committing to continuous training, maintaining unwavering consistency and delivering soulful hospitality, you can create experiences that linger long after the last bite.

I tell restaurant owners all the time that their POS system is the most important piece of equipment they will ever purchase for their restaurant. The POS system is much more than a glorified cash register; it's data central. It holds the key data you can use to change your business, prevent theft and make meaningful changes to your operations. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I review some of the most powerful and little-known reports your POS system has to offer. This includes four underutilized, yet essential, reports that are critical to harnessing the power of your POS system. With only the reports you have at your fingertips in your POS system, you will have the building blocks of informed decision-making so you can lead with confidence, and ensure efficiency, profitability and success in your restaurant.

There's a little known and underutilized tool that can reduce a restaurant's food cost by potentially 3% or more. All that is required is for a restaurant to gather some simple data and take a little action. How would you like to reduce your food cost by simply gathering data? Does this sound too good to be true? I promise you, it's not. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I explain what kind of information you need to gather, where to get the information, what to do with it and what you can expect when you use it the way I explain. By the end of this lesson, you will be in a position to take action and put yourself down this path.

When it comes to following restaurant systems every day, restaurant owners are notorious for falling down on the job. They are just too busy in other areas and they lose sight of the daily routine things that are required to keep systems working properly. Besides, the job of a restaurant owner isn't to be buried in the day to day; it's to be strategic and to think bigger than daily tasks. If it's not the restaurant owner, then who should it be? Restaurant owners must appoint someone who gets stuff done, who loves the restaurant and wants to support the owner. I call this person an implementer. In fact, to be part of my restaurant coaching program, you must have an implementer. In the program your implementer learns with you but implements and does the work. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I introduce you to Brandon Anderson, the implementer for the Original Black's Barbecue in New Braunfels, Texas, a high volume, 93-year-old, family-owned-and-operated barbecue business. With 12-plus years of restaurant experience working his way up from line employee, shift lead, and assistant manager to general manager, Anderson has experienced a lot in his restaurant life. He's worked for several corporate restaurants until ultimately landing at Original Black's Barbecue. The ownership team knew Anderson was the exact right person to be the implementer, and they were right. Listen to this episode to learn more about the impact of systems, the job of an implementer, and Anderson's implementation journey, the challenges faced and lessons learned, and also what a great implementer looks like.

Jesi Cline is a restaurant owner who started her business as a bakery specializing in cupcakes and custom wedding cakes. While she found success, she was working endless hours to keep up with orders and had no time to be strategic with her business. When COVID hit, she needed to pivot and rebranded as Rosé Café, a fast casual breakfast, lunch and dessert cafe. And recently, she expanded her restaurant and doubled her square footage. With six years in business and eight years as a wife and mother, her life has been nothing short of busy. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, Cline shares her journey from being burnt out on the food industry to being a happy, motivated restaurant owner who can see only a bright future ahead of her.

What might be second nature to a seasoned chef, a manager or owner with decades of experience can be a revelation to someone just embarking on their restaurant journey. It's essential to remember that our industry, with its vast array of roles and responsibilities, doesn't have a universal baseline of “common sense.” In the restaurant industry, “common sense” is a relative term. For some veterans, certain practices and insights might seem obvious, but for others, these are the essential skills and knowledge that lay the groundwork for their future success. Each piece of advice, no matter how simple it may seem, can be a building block for someone's career. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I talk about why this diversity of experience and knowledge in our industry makes what seems like “common sense” to one person a critical learning point for another. And let's make sure we address that you should never let someone make you feel bad about learning, no matter where you are in your restaurant journey.

As a restaurant owner and the leader of your business, it is common to feel as if it's the universe's job to throw roadblocks in your way to discourage you and impede your progress. I'm here to encourage you and point you toward practical, actionable solutions that will help you overcome these obstacles. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I explore three distinct segments to help you unlock the full potential of your restaurant. I cover internal challenges, operational hurdles, and external and personal challenges. Whether you're a seasoned restaurateur or just starting out, I want to equip you with the tools and insights needed to steer your restaurant towards greater success and prosperity.

Restaurant Owner Success Depends on This Person --- Before a restaurant owner can join my coaching program, they must have a right-hand person who can help them. I call this person an implementer. This person will learn with you, as the owner, but implement and do the work. This a requirement because as the restaurant owner, your attention can often be required in many other areas of the restaurant. Your implementer is there day in and day out, following the systems and keeping the systems moving forward. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I introduce you to Ciarra Adams. She has been in her family's restaurant for the past eight years. Her parents purchased Super Smokers BBQ restaurant with a 20-year history of award-winning barbeque in the St. Louis area. Her parents joined my group coaching program to put them on the path to freedom from their restaurant and the financial freedom they deserve. Adams was the implementer, and she made sure the systems were followed and moved forward, even when her parents got distracted with other issues and challenges. While her parents and Adams have graduated from the coaching program, she is still the steady hand for her parents. She shares about her experience and provides tips for other restaurant owners and implementers alike.

My favorite podcast episodes are those with restaurant owners who have transformed their restaurants and their lives. The transformation these restaurant owners made is going to blow you away. Joshua Powell and Joseph Vericella are owners of Clay's Cafe in Hebron, Ohio. Clay opened its doors in 1934 and it has been a local staple for generations. Powell is a real estate agent turned investor, turned restaurant owner, who never thought he would own the restaurant he worked at as a kid. His partner, Vericella, has a long and successful career in hospitality. If you asked them both, they would probably tell you they are foodies at heart. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, Powell and Vericella share with us the challenges they faced taking over a restaurant that has long-standing traditions and long-term employees, and the change they made that gave them their lives back and exploded their profitability. Through this episode you'll see the growth in their confidence and assertiveness as restaurant owners, which allowed them to make necessary changes in their business, such as dealing with toxic employees and identifying red flags in their operations.

Our guest today is Josh Kopel, a restaurateur, entrepreneur and coach. This is Josh's second time on the podcast, and he's back to talk to us about restaurant marketing and what it really means for your business. Throughout his 20-year career, he's managed venues ranging from casual dining concepts to Hollywood nightclubs, bars and ultra-lounges. He also opened his own Michelin-rated fine dining concept. Josh is a real restaurant pro. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, Josh and I discuss a few restaurant marketing myths, he debunks them, and he provides an incredible amount of information for you to consider for your own restaurant marketing activity.Get Time with Josh: www.PlanWithJosh.comFind Josh's podcast Full Comp: https://restaurants.yelp.com/restaurant-resources/full-comp-podcast/

Today I want to talk about a silent morale and profit-killer in your restaurant that is often overlooked. That killer is decision-making waste. Decision-making waste in your restaurant is a silent profit killer that can slowly erode margins without restaurant owners even noticing. For example, there are decisions that take too long to be made that are like a leaky faucet. That little drip, drip, drip may not seem like a big deal but can waste thousands of gallons of water over time right in front of you. Addressing decision-making waste is not just about cutting costs but also about creating a more efficient, effective and prosperous business. It's about achieving the freedom and financial stability that every restaurant owner dreams of. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I will not only help you identify decision-making waste challenges but also how you can easily overcome them, ultimately moving your restaurant toward restaurant prosperity.

In the restaurant industry it's important to focus on numbers and performance because those numbers tell you the health of your business. As a coach, I teach restaurant owners how to use budgets and set goals and then measure them. When hiring managers, it's important to find those who are high performers so they can help you meet those goals. But being a good manager and finding good managers isn't all about performance. It's also about establishing trust. Trust plays a critical role in your manager's success. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I am going to explain this concept of performance and trust, based on renowned author, motivational speaker and organizational consultant Simon Sinek's TED Talk. Sinek has one of the most watched TED Talks on YouTube and wrote the book, “Leaders Eat Last.” He has inspired leaders and organizations around the world to focus on purpose leadership and create positive organizational culture. Sinek basically says a medium or even low performer who has high trust among their colleagues is more valuable than a high performer with low trust among their colleagues. WHAT? Yes. I talk you through the theory, how Sinek got there while working with Navy Seals and how this applies to your restaurant. If you want to learn more about managing with trust to apply to your own leadership and what to look for in managers for your restaurant, I encourage you to listen to this podcast episode.

If you have been following me for any length of time you have heard me say the following statement: The two most important systems any restaurant should have in place are budgets and recipe costing cards. Why are these two systems so important? They move you from a reactive form of management to a proactive form of management, which is essential to controlling costs and planning for restaurant profits. In this episode of my podcast for restaurant owners, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I teach you the four things you must be doing when it comes to ensuring your recipe costing cards are accurate. This is important to listen to even if you have recipe costing cards because many restaurant owners who say they have accurate, up-to-date recipe costing cards still have incorrect cards. Bad numbers give you bad results, so listen in to learn how to review your recipe costing cards and update them so they really are accurate and up to date.

Hiring in any business is a challenge, but the restaurant and hospitality industries are especially hard. There isn't an entrepreneur who hasn't been duped by a smooth-talking go-getter, a server who says they have experience, or that manager with chain experience who you think is going to take your restaurant to the next level. It happens to the best of us! How can you limit those hires? Tune into this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, and learn nine things to avoid in restaurant hiring from Matt Plapp, restaurant marketer extraordinaire. Plapp is a serial entrepreneur. Among his businesses he is the owner of America's Best Restaurants, a restaurant marketing firm with clients nationwide. Listen in as Plapp and I talk about how he learned the hard way the nine lessons to avoid making a hiring mistake. He has some great examples of how he's had to learn these lessons. This is a must listen for any entrepreneur, but especially restaurant owners.Find Matt Plapp and America's Best Restaurants at - https://americasbestrestaurants.com/

I'm putting a flag in the ground: your restaurant is not a food business. It's a hospitality business. If you tell people you are in the food business, then you're telling them you provide the same thing as a gas station, which also sells food. Restaurants have the privilege to create memories in their customers' lives. Your job is to create memories for your guests and keep them coming back time and time again. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I answer the question, “What is great hospitality?” and walk you through some of the ways other restaurants I've worked with have defined hospitality for their operations. Then I cover what people really remember as their best restaurant experiences and how you can help become part of those stories. And finally, I talk about how to organize the experience for your guests and how to build up to or exceed WOW customer service.

Your prosperity is my goal. Prosperity is at the core of what I coach restaurant owners, like you, to achieve. Prosperity is freedom from your restaurant when you want it, confidence in your business, confidence in your restaurant's numbers, the ability to have a life outside the restaurant and, finally, financial freedom. In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I am going to focus on the importance of being a good leader and how your leadership will get you to prosperity. Listen in to learn why leadership is so important and what you can do when you're not a natural leader. You will also learn how to identify what kind of leader you are and what behaviors you need to avoid. If you want to achieve prosperity, you must take on the responsibility of learning to lead and become the leader your restaurant needs.

In the demanding restaurant industry, it's easy to find yourself consumed by the day-to-day operations of your restaurant. There is so much to do every day from the small tasks like opening the restaurant and pulling the cash drawers to big tasks like hiring employees and calculating dollars per labor hour worked. It can be hard to prioritize your personal life and remember there is a world outside your restaurant. Think about it. How many life events have you missed because you had to be at the restaurant? How many graduations, birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, kid's sporting events, dates and movie nights have you missed because you had to be in the restaurant? Do you know what that short list represents? Irreplaceable moments in your life! Yes, your restaurant needs your attention, but so does your personal life. In the episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I'm going to talk about why you must create time for your personal happiness and three things that have to happen to make this your reality.

If you're ready to use systems to improve your restaurant's operations, service and profits, there is one person you must identify now – your implementer. This is your right-hand person when it comes to implementing systems in your restaurant. Your implementer is someone who buys into your business, into your dream and you. They're excited to learn, and they are organized and able start and finish projects. Your implementer reports to you but might also have another role in the restaurant and report to a manager. They train others on the systems and, with your help, hold others accountable to them. How do you select them? They tend to be people pleasers and want to make you proud. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I explain the purpose and usefulness of an implementer in greater detail, plus I give you the three-step process for supporting your implementer and helping them be successful. This is important because your implementer's success if your success, which gets you that much closer to restaurant prosperity.

Since the pandemic many restaurants are telling me tales of some of the most difficult customers I've ever heard. The frustration and impatience directed toward restaurant staff seems to be at a whole new level. But the truth is difficult customers have been around forever. The problem today is difficult restaurant customers can do a lot of damage if your team isn't prepared to handle them because of their access to the internet and social media. Today's “Karens” may be rattling the service industry, but how you handle them is the same. In my experience, difficult restaurant customers fall into one of five categories. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I share the five types of difficult restaurant customers, how to identify them in your restaurant, and three skills to develop to best handle the different complaints and problems they present.

One of the goals I have for restaurant owners is to get them to a place in their business where they work on bigger strategic projects, such as restaurant marketing, and to do it in a strategic and thoughtful way. Since in my work with restaurant owners, I focus on systems for operations, I like to leave restaurant marketing to the experts. One such expert is on this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, Erik Shellenberger. He is an author and owner of Bar Marketing Basics, a marketing firm that focuses on bringing new customers into your restaurant or bar, using the many sources and tools your customers turn to when they're picking a restaurant, such as Google. Shellenberger is on a quest to help restaurant and bar owners stop buying into the myths that other restaurant marketing companies are selling so they can start bringing real traffic through your doors. Tune in to hear a great conversation between me and Shellenberger and to get ideas you can use immediately for marketing in your restaurant. Take advantage of Erik's offer: www.barmarketingbasics.com/scan-your-restaurant-or-bar/