The Restaurant Prosperity Formula

Ever wonder why some restaurants seem to hum along like a perfectly tuned engine while others grind through each shift with staff drama and burnout? In this episode of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula” podcast, I dig into one of the most overlooked drivers of restaurant profitability and long-term success: staff well-being. This isn’t fluff. It’s about results — better retention, higher morale,...

What does it take to save a restaurant that’s drowning in costs, even when customers love your food and rave about your beer? In this episode of the Restaurant Prosperity Formula Podcast , I sit down with Ian McCall of ISM Brewing to unpack his journey from overwhelmed restaurateur to confident, profitable business owner. Ian’s story is a wake-up call for every restaurant and bar owner who thinks...

When restaurant owners dream of freedom from the grind — financial, operational and emotional — what they really need is a system. In episode 127 of the “ Restaurant Prosperity Formula Podcast ,” I sat down with CJ Lewis, co-founder and COO of Jolt, a restaurant operations platform that has redefined how accountability, food safety and systems should work in the real world. If you’ve ever struggle...

What happens when the coach becomes the one in the hot seat? In this episode of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula,” we shake things up with a special “Flip the Table” segment. This time, the questions come from restaurant owner Jeff Fitter, a straight-shooting operator with a knack for digging deep and cutting through the fluff. If you’ve ever wondered how restaurant coaching works behind the sce...

Let’s be real — this industry is tough. In today’s podcast episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula , I dive deep into one of the most make-or-break elements of restaurant success: the guest experience. With fewer guests walking through the door and competition tighter than ever, delivering a memorable visit isn’t optional — it’s survival. Episode 125 is a masterclass in creating experiences s...

In this episode 124 of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula” podcast, I sit down with longtime friend, client and now colleague, David Militello. Militello is a restaurant owner in South Haven, Michigan, and one of the first five members I ever coached. Over the years, he’s evolved from a struggling operator to a master of restaurant systems and now serves as a member mentor in my group coaching pro...

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...

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 i...

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 l...

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 overw...

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 husb...

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...

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 alw...

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 ret...

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...

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 th...

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...

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...

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, follow...

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...

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 D...

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...

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...

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 Michig...

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 yo...