How do you keep inflation from rocking the boat? Listen to what we have to say about how to balance your business & your customers, especially during these hard times of inflation. (Tip: it involves going back to the basics & attacking from both sides.)

Join us as we bring you inspirational stories and industry-tested practices that will give you the confidence to walk INTO the storm of the hospitality industry cash in their golden nuggets, and bring your business to new heights!

Timestamps:

(4:59) - Getting back to the basics by focusing on our people

(8:35) - Know what your business needs are & what your customers are asking for

(13:01) - A lot of what you need to do with inflation is to know your audience

(18:35) - Training your staff is important during inflation hikes

(22:10) - Attack pricing on both sides: the guest & the business

Follow us on Social: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Website

I never focused on the wins. I always focused on the losses.. Today, we’re sitting down to get to know a little bit more about Chris Olexa, the CEO of Aspire2B. Listen as we’re taken back to his humble beginnings, how he got into the hospitality industry, and how he truly lives by the motto “into the storm”!

Join us as we bring you inspirational stories and industry-tested practices that will give you the confidence to walk INTO the storm of the hospitality industry cash in their golden nuggets, and bring your business to new heights!

Timestamps:

(2:30) - A change for the better

(7:01) - Society had already dictated who he was 

(10:10) From delivery guy to owning his 1st Quiznos 

(17:24) - When God comes knocking, you answer it

(21:01) - I never focused on the wins. I always focused on the losses.

(24:57) - Failing is part of the process, what matters is you fail forward

Follow us on Social: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Website

It’s about quality over quantity. Nowadays, we live in a world where it’s difficult to hold the retention of employees. You can’t just expect them to stay as long as they want, you have to start getting creative and show them the true value of working for your company. So, what do you do to keep them hooked?

Join us as we bring you inspirational stories and industry-tested practices that will give you the confidence to walk INTO the storm of the hospitality industry cash in their golden nuggets, and bring your business to new heights!

Timestamps:

(2:21) - What does the “Best First Day Ever” program look like?

(6:43) - Reevaluate how you welcome new hires and your onboarding process

(13:38) - Quality over quantity: giving your employees a good experience to remember

(21:23) - Get creative with the way you retain your employees. Make them feel proud

(28:42) - Retention today is wrapped up in human connection

Follow us on Social: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Website

When you’re young and got aspirations, you have to have a specific goal in mind and be versatile. Today, we’re sitting down to get to know a little bit more about Justin Smith. From his early beginnings, his journey from Buffalo Wild Wings to being COO of Aspire2B, and the life lessons he’s learned in-between!

Join us as we bring you inspirational stories and industry-tested practices that will give you the confidence to walk INTO the storm of the hospitality industry cash in their golden nuggets, and bring your business to new heights!

Timestamps:

(1:49) - From Jersey Boy to Florida Man 

(7:32) - Buffalo Wild Wings & his bartending days

(12:01) - A change in mindset when speaking to people 

(18:15) - Going nowhere but up 

(22:44) - How Justin met Chris and Kim

(28:01) - How Justin always aspired to be more every day

Follow us on Social: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Website

Like, share, and celebrate the good things. Today, we’re diving into why social media plays a huge factor in not only increasing your company’s online presence but also serving as an inspiration for others of the kind of culture and values you live by.

Join us as we bring you inspirational stories and industry-tested practices that will give you the confidence to walk INTO the storm of the hospitality industry cash in their golden nuggets, and bring your business to new heights!

Timestamps:

(1:41)  - Having a social media presence is important for your brand to grow

(5:50) - Posting online is also about personal celebrations

(9:23) - “Supportive Social” boosts the confidence of how people see themselves

(14:37) - Posting on social is a great way to honor your guests, team, etc.

(21:51) - Learning about social takes time, but worth every second of it

(24:59) - It’s not about impressions. It’s about engagement.

Follow us on Social: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Website

Sometimes you need to take a step back to see the bigger picture. In Aspire2B, we’ve instilled a very special way of communication that just involves sitting down for a cup of coffee and talking about anything under the sun. Find out what and how “coffee with the bulls” greatly improves communication in the company both internally and externally! 

Join us as we bring you inspirational stories and industry-tested practices that will give you the confidence to walk INTO the storm of the hospitality industry cash in their golden nuggets, and bring your business to new heights!

Timestamps:

(1:08) -  What is “Coffee with the Bulls” anyway?

(8:11) - Disconnecting from who we are as leaders

(13:17) - Hospitality is a tough business. Not every shift is great.

(16:39) - Where the idea of coffee with the bulls came from

(19:19) - Communication is the foundation of great leadership

Follow us on Social: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Website

They say birds of the same feather flock together. Does this apply to business as well? Find out why culture became one of the core values for Aspire2B’s and what spreading culture looks like for them!

Join us as we bring you inspirational stories and industry-tested practices that will give you the confidence to walk INTO the storm of the hospitality industry cash in their golden nuggets, and bring your business to new heights!

Timestamps:

(1:42) - Why did Chris and Kim start thinking about bringing in culture to the business?

(7:26) - What Aspire2B meant to Justin when he started learning the culture

(12:50) - Herd Mentality & spreading the culture within 

(15:04) - Don’t gatekeep the culture, share it with others!

(20:21) - You have to practice what you preach! 

(25:09) - Come up with a name that is related to your identity! 

Follow us on Social: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Website

Eight brands, three hosts, and one goal in mind: to aspire others to be better than they were today. Find out the early beginnings of Aspire2B, how each of us got into the hospitality game, and where we are today!

Join us as we bring you inspirational stories and industry-tested practices that will give you the confidence to walk INTO the storm of the hospitality industry cash in their golden nuggets, and bring your business to new heights!

Timestamps:

(1:30) - What does “Aspire2B” even mean? Where did it come from?

(8:22) - Get to know who Chris, Justin, and Kim are and how they got into the hospitality game

(18:35) - Aspire2B’s early beginnings to franchising 8 brands.

(33:52) - Buffalo Wild Wings Go!: The game-changer to the business

(42:39) - What does it mean to get “into the storm?”

(50:08) - Proverbs 14:23, and how they are writing their playbook as they go

Follow us on Social: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Website

“Proverbs 14:23: All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”

Don't be afraid to shake up the status quo just because business is hard! In order for the hospitality industry to achieve the impossible, it needs more visionaries who want to build teams and cultures. People bring profits.

Tune in every Tuesday as your hosts Chris Olexa, Kim Olexa, and Justin Smith of Aspire2B Hospitality Group bring you inspirational stories and industry-tested practices that will give you the confidence to walk INTO the storm of the hospitality industry cash in their golden nuggets, and bring your business to new heights!

Follow us on Social: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Website