YouTube video by Donald Burns presenting a proven seven-step system to help restaurant owners and chefs turn aspirations into operational success. Burns outlines steps: commitment (continuous learning/kaizen), strategy (clear goals), people (hire/learn from stronger talent), systems (operational processes), culture (retain talent), execution (follow the plan), and the chase (continuous improvement). The message targets restaurateurs seeking growth and excellence.
Want to turn those restaurant dreams into reality? I have a proven seven step guide that will show you how to do it. Do you dream of opening another restaurant? Aspire to earn a coveted Michelin star, or crave to showcase your culinary journey on tv? Maybe be the next food TV star? Perhaps you even yearn to be on podcast as a guest, sharing your expertise and experience as a restaurant owner? I'm telling you, such dreams are cool. They're also very daunting. And the fundamental issue is that many restaurants are fueled by these dreams, but they struggle to reach the top of their industry because they lack a systematic approach to navigate the competitive landscape called the restaurant industry. Donald Burns, the restaurant coach and over the years, I designed an approach that's going to help you catapult your restaurant from aspiration to actualization. And this approach has helped countless restaurants. It can also help yours too. So allow me to introduce my seven step system. This formula has been battle tested and has been not only instrumental in my own success, it's also helped me when I'm coaching my clients, when I was coaching my team, when I was a chef, owner of two restaurants, also during my years as an executive chef with Wolfgang Puck. So to upgrade your restaurant, you must embrace the following seven steps. Number one, commitment. If you truly aspire to improve, you need to adopt a lifelong learning attitude. You need to embrace being a perpetual student of your craft, be it as a chef or a restaurant owner. You got to be relentless in learning about your competition, upcoming trends, economic fluctuations. And you got to leverage that knowledge to your advantage. The first stepping stone towards improvement lies in committing to continuous learning, or what the Japanese call kaizen. Number two, strategy. The next step involves laying out a precise strategy. You gotta etch your. You gotta etch each of your goals in stone. You gotta place them somewhere where they're noticeable, where you can see them on a daily basis. And you must harbor an irresistible and insatiable desire to fulfill that objective. Without tenacity to conquer your goals, that path to success is going to remain really, really elusive. Number three, people. If you really want to elevate your game, you got to surround yourself with individuals who are superior in their skills. Remember, the journey to the top isn't a solo endeavor. You got to lean on those that are smarter and more proficient than you to teach you and push you to becoming your best. The moment you become complacent, that's when you cease growing. And also you start stagnating. In the restaurant industry, to stagnate is to slowly die. Number four systems. The backbone of a world class restaurant is a robust set of systems that ensure seamless operations. The finest dining establishments manage to replicate exceptional experiences for their guests time after time thanks to their meticulous design of system. But remember, here's a little inside secret. Many people don't know that someone who's great at creating systems might not be great at holding the team accountable to use those systems. I mean, I know quite a few pilots who can't build a plane, and I know some engineers who I wouldn't want to fly a plane. See, one skill doesn't necessarily mean they'll be good at the other side of using it effectively. Number five, culture. To thrive, you must create an attractive culture that not only draws in, but retains top talent. In my last book, your restaurant culture Sucks, I delve into in deep, deep coverage about the significance of nurturing a robust culture, a thriving culture. I'm telling you, it's a magnet for exceptional talent that will be just itching to join your team. There's not a labor crisis in the restaurant industry. What we have in the restaurant industry is a culture crisis. Number six, execution. No strategy or plan amounts to anything without solid execution. You gotta follow the seven step system and think of it like a recipe. If you adhere to the prescribed steps of a recipe, you're bound to get the same desired outcomes. However, if you deviate from a recipe, you're not sure what kind of results you're going to get. And step number seven is called the chase. The final step is about embracing the perpetual chase of excellence. The restaurant world is ever evolving and so must you. Constantly survey your competition, evaluate your menu, assess your team, question if they and you are achieving the best out of yourselves that you possibly can. This seven step system is not, not really a magic wand, but it's a ladder to the next level. Be ready to invest time and effort into mastering your craft, strategizing your goals, building a competent team, establishing efficient, proficient systems, creating a captivating positive culture, executing your plan and continuously pursue excellence. Because in the end, you're not just running a restaurant, you're creating a world class experience. Make sure to hit the like and subscribe button for more tools and tips to make more and work less. And in my next video, I'm going to share what happens when the five bad habits you need to avoid show up at your restaurant's doorstep.
If your restaurant only works because you work 80 hours a week, it doesn't work.
