In 2008, After traveling the world learning how to brew and distil alcohol, Eric Michaud, opened Novare Res Bier Cafe, which has nestled itself comfortably on multiple national best beer bar lists. In 2013 Eric Opened Liquid Riots Bottle Company to satisfy his need to create. Their spirits have been winning awards ever since. Today, Liquid Riots Bottle Company consist of a Brewery, Distillery, and Rest0-Bar.

In this episode, we talk about living to embrace the work we do, following your passion and living intentionally from an early age, what Eric learned about hospitality from living with Buddhist Monks, learning the business on someone else’s dollar, treating the business you work in like you own it, the steps Eric took in opening his first bar, how to take initiative, listening to the advice of your future customers and the locals when opening a restaurant or bar, the impact of being a hands-on owner who teaches his/her staff first hand, leading by example, stepping back and trusting your people, sharing your business’s equity with your best employees, and how being interesting can help you attract great people.

Show notes…

Favorite Success Quote or Mantra.

“Live by the work of your hands.”

Sponsors

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Career Challenge or Failure

When Eric first opened liquid riot it was under the brand of “Infinity”, but he never copyrighted the brand. Two other Infinity breweries/distilleries open after Eric’s and they ended up losing rights to the brand. Don’t forget your due diligence. Biggest lesson learned for Eric, move on and don’t let anything stop you from pressing forward.

Knowledge bombs

1. Which “it factor” habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?

   • Cultural understanding.

2. What is your biggest weakness?

   • Giving his people too many chances.

3. What is one piece of advice you have for leading others?

   • Be honest.

4. What’s one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?

   • Look for people with similar views and values.

5. What’s a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?

   • Staffing.
   • Eric is handling this by not settling. If you want to attract green people you need great people, first.

6. What’s one thing (besides food) your restaurant does well and separates you from other restaurants?

   • Creating a really fun atmosphere.

7. What’s one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 

   • Brew Like a Monk: Trappist, Abbey, and Strong Belgian Ales and How to Brew Them 

8. What’s one piece of technology you’ve adopted in your restaurant and how has it influence operations?

   • QuickBooks– With QuickBooks you can: Stay in sync with you rank, track your expenses, send professional invoices, get paid twice as fast, pay your employees, connect to your apps, know where your business stands, manage and pay bills, have free mobile access, receive support, have multiple users and have backups.

9. With all the knowledge you have now if you could go back in time and give your past self one piece of business advice, What would it be and why?

   • Take it slow.

Contact Info

Liquid Riot

Facebook:/liquidriot

Twitter:@Liquid_Riot

Instagram: liquid_riot

Novare Res Bier Cafe

Facebook: /NovareResBierCafe

Twitter :@NovareResBierCf

Instagram: @novareresbiercafe

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!

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Huge thanks to Eric Michaud for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

The post 345: Learning to live by the work of your hands with Eric Michaud appeared first on Restaurant Unstoppable.