Entrepreneur, restaurateur, and environmental advocate, Josh Kopel, was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Throughout his 20+ year career in food and beverage, he has managed venues ranging from the Alligator Bayou Bar, as well as the hottest Hollywood nightclubs, bars, and ultra-lounges. He went independent in 2010, opening his first concept Five0Four, in Hollywood, CA. Ten years later, he's created a family of brands ranging from Michelin-rated fine-dining to fast-casual, all with a central focus on Southern hospitality and Southern cuisine. Check out his website here.

To learn more about carbon-neutral operations visit Chef Sammy Monsour's website.

Check out Josh's podcast - Full Comp Podcast

Check out Principles by Ray Dalia as recommended by Josh in this episode.

Check out Traction: Get a Grip On Your Business by Gino Wickman as recommended by Josh in this episode.

Check out Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't by Jim Collins as recommended by Josh in this episode.

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Favorite success quote or mantra:

• "Success is a mindset, not a feeling."

In today's episode with Josh Kopek we will discuss:

• Gratitude
• Don't be satisfied; be grateful
• Nightclub hospitality
• Understanding your failures AND your success
• Fear in the industry, fear to fail
• Gender inequities in the restaurant industry
• Creating a side-hustle to leverage the cost to open your business
• Passive income - can you leverage it?
• Invest in people, not businesses
• Outward vs. inward growth
• Authentic desperation in trying to make people happy
• Every restaurant you buy is giving you a new job
• Southern food on the west coast
• Damage control in your restaurant when it's needed
• What is equity worth vs. cash flow?
• Strategic quitting: if something isn't working, STOP!
• Ego and vulnerability

Today's sponsor:

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

Knowledge bombs

1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • My vulnerability
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • My ego
3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
   • "How do you feel about people?"
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • COVID-19, "how can I be more of-service?"
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Attention to detail
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • Everybody leaves happy
7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   • Traction: Get a Grip On Your Business by Gino Wickman
   • GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM
8. What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't do well enough or do often enough?
   • Quit
9. Name one service you've hired.
   • Social media manager
10. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations?
    • justcallFLO.com - virtual reservation systems
11. 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?
    • Focus on your family, they should be your only priority
    • Treat others how you want to be treated
    • Honesty is the best policy

Contact info:

Instagram: @joshkopel

joshkopel.com

Josh's podcast - Full Comp Podcast

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Josh Kopel for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

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