1224: Three Elements that Define Excellence with Rudy Miick, Part 2

1224: Three Elements that Define Excellence with Rudy Miick, Part 2

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee October 2, 2025 Duration: 1:14:44

Rudy's an executive coach, psychologist, restaurateur, writer, speaker, athlete and dad. His clients typically run at 3 – 5 times above median profit within our industry, and they get there within contract periods. He is a co-founder and curriculum creator for UCLA Extension's Hospitality Management Program and was an adjunct professor there for 13 years. Rudy is a Certified Management Consultant, CMC®. This certification is only given after meeting the highest global standards and ethical canons of the profession. Less than 1% of all consultants have achieved this level of excellence. He is also a member of Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI) and has served as a Worldwide board member, Chairman of the Americas, and Chair of Continuing Professional Standards for the Foodservice Industry. Rudy's worked with over 1,750 restaurateurs to shift their dreams to achieved goals. He & his team have over 350 successful restaurant start-ups. And, his client success is consistent in a myriad of industries: restaurants, hospitality, resorts, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, martial arts, retail, film, fitness and more. Rudy also gives his time as a consultant/coach for the Boulder Small Business Development Center.

Rudy Miick has been a guest on Restaurant Unstoppable 5 times before. This episode is part 2 of a 3-part workshop all about the "Three Elements that Define Excellence" in your restaurant or organization. Join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network to join these workshops LIVE and aks the experts YOUR questions! 

Join RULibrary: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/RULibrary

Join RULive: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/live

Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve

Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/restaurantunstoppable

Subscribe to our email newsletter: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/

Today's sponsors:

Meez: Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share, prep, and scale recipes like never before. Plus, engineer your menu in real-time and get accurate food costs. Sign up for free today and get 2 FREE months of invoice processing as a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast. Visit getmeez.com/unstoppable to learn more.

US Foods: US Foods is hosting the event of the year, Food Fanatics 2025. August 19-20, 2025, at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV. Network with over 5,000 Industry peers. Attend Zouk nightclub reception, expert breakout sessions, Keynote speeches, musical performances, and dramatic demonstrations, and sample the latest on-trend dishes. The Clock Is Ticking! Be Ready to Register on April 16 for Food Fanatics® 2025. To learn more, visit www.usfoods.com/foodfanatics2025

Restaurant Systems Pro - Join the 60-day Restaurant Systems Pro FREE TRAINING. This is something that has never been done before. This 60-day event is at no cost to you, but it is not for everyone. Fred Langley, CEO of Restaurant Systems Pro, will lead a group of restaurateurs through the Restaurant Systems Pro software and set up the systems for your restaurant. During the 60 days, Fred will walk you through the Restaurant Systems Pro Process and help you crush the following goals: Recipe Costing Cards; Guidance in your books for accounting; Cash controls; Sales Forecasting(With Accuracy); Checklists; Budgeting for the entire year; Scheduling for profit; More butts in seats and more… Click Here to learn more. 

Let's make 2025 the year your restaurant thrives.

Guest contact info: 

Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share! 


Eric Cacciatore sits down with the people who actually run the show in the world of food service. Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore is built on conversations with established restaurateurs and seasoned professionals who have navigated the intense realities of the industry. Twice a week, these interviews dig past the surface, focusing on the tangible details of leadership, team management, and effective marketing that separate a thriving venue from a struggling one. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of what worked, what didn’t, and the often-overlooked decisions that shape a restaurant's path. This podcast serves as a direct line to collective experience, whether you're dreaming of your first opening or steering a multi-location group. The dialogue is practical, centered on the daily grind and long-term strategy needed to build something lasting. For anyone invested in the business of hospitality, these regular episodes compile a vital resource, turning shared insights into actionable knowledge for your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 1000

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Podcast Episodes
380: It's about sharing knowledge with Ian Boden [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:25
In this episode with Ian Boden, we discuss the power of gathering and sharing knowledge, how this industry is filled with misfits- which makes it awesome, why abusing your mind and body needs to be a way of the past, cor…
379: Strategic risk taking with Jenny Peterson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:36
In this episode, how Jenny Peterson got her start as a baker, getting work experience before opening your own restaurant, learning what not to do from previous experiences, being a strategic/calculated risk taker, making…
378: You get out what you put in with Charles Bililies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:03
In this episode, we discuss the path Charles Bililies took to get to where he is today, the value of working both FOH and BOH to get the "big picture", how Charles landed a job for Thomas Keller straight out of college,…
377: Creating a culture that supports growth Kirk Kelewae [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:54
In this episode, we discuss how Kirk Kelewae got his start in hospitality, never-ending transitional moments, rewarding ambition, taking initiative, creating opportunities for yourself, creating a culture where people fe…
376: Choosing to be great with Tristan Wraight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:06
In this episode, we discuss why you need to "make it exciting", how there is job security in hospitality, how turning your life around is as simple as making the choice to, showing up to work with enthusiasm, using enthu…
375: Become a "Who" not a "What" with Mark Canlis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:45
In this episode, we discuss the Canlis family history, what mark has learned from his family history, highering people who inspire, the difference between being a "what" and a "who", The biggest lessons Mark learned work…
373: Books to improve your systems, culture, and finances [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:04
In this episode, I'm going to solo and sharing the books I most often recommend to learn about systems, culture, finances and more. People often ask me what books I have to suggest. So, in this episode, I'm sharing the b…
372: Overcoming the fear of failure  with Christopher Bates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:23
In this episode, we discuss the value of getting work experience before attending hospitality or culinary school, getting experience working for others before opening your own restaurant, the definition of service, how t…
371: Getting your people to buy in with Jack O'Sullivan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:24
In this episode, we discuss how a "chip on the shoulder" can serve you, working in the industry before opening your own restaurant, how a partnership can work, starting lean and bootstrapping, leveraging your network and…