528: Discovering Authenticity with Tony Tellin

528: Discovering Authenticity with Tony Tellin

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee September 10, 2018 Duration: 1:14:59

20 years ago Tony Tellin stumbled upon the Tazo Tea Offices. He would go on to serve as the right hand man for tea legend, Steven Smith. In 2015 with Steven Smith's passing, Tony Tellin, promise to continue the craft and creativity that made Smith one of the most recognized names in tea. Today, Tony Tellin serves as Head Tea Maker o for Steven Smith Tea.

Show notes…

Favorite Success Quote or Mantra

 Start where you are. Work with what you got. Do the best you can do. 

In this episode with Tony Tellin, we discuss: 

  • How most masters consider themselves students before masters, because they never stop learning. 
  • How Tellin got into tea. 
  • Why we should make "having fun" a core value. 
  • Creating an "we" environment instead of a "us and them" environment. 
  • How curiosity and proactivity has served Tellin's in life. 
  • A little back ground info on Steve Smith. 
  • The role authenticity and being yourself has in branding.
  • Focusing on being the best version of yourself instead of focusing on being like others.   
  • As a mentor, letting your people fail in order to learn. 
  • If you're invited to be a fly on the wall, be a fly on the wall and absorb. Be seen not heard. 
  • Choosing to do big things for small audiences instead of doing small things for big audiences and what comes of it.  

 

Today's Sponsor

Soundtrackyourbrand.comSoundtrack Business lets you play 250 music channels guaranteed to fit any type of business. An easy-to-use dashboard lets you find great music, control all your locations and schedule your sound.

RU50

wisetail.com, A Premier Learning Management System, Wisetail Grew Up Alongside Some of the Most Recognizable Restaurants In the Industry. This Has Helped Shape Their Product and its Functionality Through Real-World Feedback and Rigorous Testing.

 

 

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?

    • Stay moving.
  2. What is your biggest weakness?

    •  Easy distracted. 
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?

    • Make the interview personal.
    • Go with your heart instead of your brain. 
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?

    • Teaching.
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.

    • Just get started, "throw a dart".
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?

    • Making something foreign approachable. 
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
    GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 

    1. Many lives, Many Men, Many Masters
  8. Share an online resource or tool.

  9. What's one piece of technology you've adopted in your restaurant and how has it influence operations?

  10. 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?

    • Slow down a bit.
    • Have fun.
    • Make more mistakes.If you're not making 2-3 mistakes a week, you're not having enough fun. 

Contact Info

SmithTea.com

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.

Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.

Huge thanks to Tony Tellin for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

 

Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

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
390: PART 2- Never do these 3 things with Scott Crawford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:36
This is the second part of a two-part series! In part two, Chef Scott Crawford and I discuss why shutting the door on opportunity is sometimes the best way to open doors to more opportunities, building a reputation by do…
389: PART 1- Focusing on results with Scott Crawford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:20
This is the first of a two-part series! In part one Chef Scott Crawford and I discuss focusing on results, how Chef Crawford found his lane, how to find your passion, working for the best possible people, how to build re…
388: Respect, listen, and push forward with Marc Jacksina [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:27
In this episode with Chef Marc Jacksina, we discuss what attracted Chef Jacksina to this industry, why you need to "remember where the fence is", why a clean workspace is more than just a clean workspace, paying attentio…
387: The 7 Rules of Greatness with Chef Charles Carroll [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:39
In this episode with Chef Charles Carroll, we discuss the power in building your team, the inspiration behind his new book, and we share "Chef's Seven Rules of Greatness". Chef Carroll is an award-winning chef who travel…
386: Writing job posts that convert with Pablo Fuentes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:37
In this episode with guest, Pablo Fuentes we discuss how success starts with discipline, how to use your team to get inspiration for writing a good job post, the elements of a perfect job post, common mistakes to avoid w…
385: Creating opportunity for the talented with Alex Lapratt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:36
In this episode, with Master Sommelier, Alex Lapratt, we discuss hiring those who are persistent about working for you, being positive and humble, knowing your stuff- if you don't know don't make it up, hard work making…
384: Blazing your own path with Colin Lynch & Jefferson Macklin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:16
In this episode, we bring back past guest, Business Manager of Bar Mezzana, Jefferson Macklin, and business partner, Executive Chef, Colin Lynch. When Jefferson first came on the show (episode 228) he and his partners, C…
383: 5 places NEW customers come from with Erik Shellenberger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:54
In this episode, we discuss what makes Erik Shellenberger an authority on the topic of marketing, and we cover the 5 areas you're most likely to find your next NEW customer: word-of-mouth, reviews, search engine optimiza…
382: Collaborating with the greatness in others with Donnie Madia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:18
In this episode with Donnie Madia, we discuss the power of collaboration, knowing your strengths, attracting onto yourself those who are strong where you're weak, taking the ideas of others and tweaking them to make them…
381: Summarizing your brand by being the best with Jennifer Pelka [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:42
In this episode, we discuss how Jen Pelka got her start in the industry, how you got to "fake it till you make it", how to create opportunity for yourself by creating positions, the power of side hustles, having great co…