In this episode with Joe Fontana, we discuss the power of small daily improvements, how it all begins with making the choice to start, what Joe loves about the industry, advice on recruiting/staffing team members, finding and following your why, finding a mentor, how to start a business plan, going to experts for help, testing your concept with popups, setting up a successful Kickstarter campaign, hiring on values, not promoting your opening, starting as lean as possible with low monthly cost, and focusing on cash flow.

A product of Chicago, IL, Joe Fontana gave up his cush office lifestyle to pursue his passion for hospitality and food. At the time, this specific passion was meatballs. So he started where he could, selling meatballs at a farmers market, which lead to a Kickstarter campaign to support his brick and mortar. The meatball thing didn’t work out, but it created opportunities, specifically, an opportunity for FryTheCoop.

Show notes…

Favorite Success Quote or Mantra.

“Small daily improvements lead to huge advancements.”

Today’s Sponsor

 Other Resources mentioned

• 247: Go Back to Being Craftsmen and Closer to the Earth with Arleen Lloyd
•  349: Being grateful with Johnny Ray Zone

Knowledge bombs

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

   • Persistence

2. What is your biggest weakness?

   • getting sucked into little tasks and taking too long.

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

   • Ask, “What is your favorite thing to eat?”
     • You’re looking to see if they can get excited about something

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

   •   Creating the culture he envisioned

5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.

   • Welcoming your guest with is big smile is just as important as thanking them for coming in.

6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?

   • Make sure you go out of your way to thank the guest for eating at your restaurant.

7. Share an online resource or tool.

   • Building a Storybrand with Donald Miller

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

   • Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
   • The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses
   • Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine
   • Restaurant Man
   • Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
   • Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big
   • Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the leap… And Others Don’t
   • Zingermans Guide to Giving Great Service: Treating Your Customers Like Royalty

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

   1. Ubereats
   2. Toast

10. If you got the news that you’d be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?

    1. God, family, and friends come first.
    2. Surround yourself with great people
    3. Follow your dreams, just go for it.

Contact Info

email:FryTheCoop@gmail.com

Website: www.frythecoop.com

Instagram: @FryTheCoop

Twitter: @FryTheCoop

Facebook/FryTheCoop

Thanks for Listening!

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Huge thanks to Joe Fontana for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

The post 425: Life is too short not to just do it with Joe Fontana appeared first on Restaurant Unstoppable.