I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.
In this episode, I dive into the critical aspects of restaurant marketing, the value of hiring top talent, and how to build a high-performance culture inside a restaurant. I break down why clear roles and defined outcomes are essential, how to financially justify investing in A players, and the role leadership plays in shaping team performance. I also share practical insights for restaurateurs who want to strengthen their operations and elevate their team dynamics.
Takeaways:
- Most restaurant marketing fails because it's built on guesswork.
- I've never seen an underperformer turn into an all-star.
- Early stage restaurants win by acquiring A players.
- We need to get clear and define roles around outcomes.
- Rescuing underperforming employees has hidden costs.
- A players are cheaper than B players in the long run.
- Your culture is what you tolerate, not what you preach.
- Every time you keep a C player, you teach A players that excellence is optional.
- Run the rehire test on your bottom 10%.
- Give your leaders a number to focus on and improve.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Marketing Challenges
01:45 The Importance of Hiring A Players
04:39 Defining Roles and Outcomes in Restaurant Leadership
07:31 Creating a High-Performance Culture
If you’ve got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting
https://joshkopel.com.
What is FULL COMP: The Voice of the Restaurant Industry Revolution?
What if I told you that the difference between struggling and thriving in the restaurant industry is just one conversation away?
I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur who’s spent decades building blockbuster brands across every tier of dining. I know the challenges you’re facing—because I’ve been there. That’s why I created FULL COMP.
Every week, I go one-on-one with the smartest minds in the game: restaurateurs, chefs, and industry insiders who’ve cracked the code. Together, we unpack their biggest wins, hardest lessons, and the strategies that changed everything.
No fluff, no filler—just actionable insights to help you boost profits, build your brand, and create the kind of restaurant you’ve always dreamed of.
So, if you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start seeing results, hit subscribe.