Restaurant industry veteran George McKerrow shares his remarkable journey from founding Longhorn Steakhouse in 1981 to building it into a national chain before selling to Darden Restaurants in 2007. Starting with just one location in an old adult bookstore that served only 14 lunches on opening day, McKerrow emphasizes treating each restaurant as an individual small business focused on genuine hospitality, flexibility, and community connection.

Currently CEO of Ted's Montana Grill, which he co-founded with Ted Turner in 2002, McKerrow discusses their mission to save the American bison while pioneering restaurant sustainability. Ted's was among the first to eliminate plastic and styrofoam, with McKerrow helping reintroduce paper straws to the industry in 2001. The restaurant cooks everything fresh from scratch and maintains only 1% food waste. McKerrow shares insights on restaurant culture, the "Gumby philosophy" of flexibility, avoiding "pigeon management," and how the industry has adapted through COVID-19 and current economic challenges.