776: Jeff Dixon on The Relationship Game

776: Jeff Dixon on The Relationship Game

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee February 1, 2021 Duration: 2:11:07

Western Oklahoma native, Jeff Dixon, attended Oklahoma State University. While at Stillwater he obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management. He then spent the next 15 years in Edmond where he became a General Manager & Proprietor for the Hal Smith Group.  Today, Jeff serves as Co-Founder and CFO of Provision Concepts Jeff Dixon.

Check out The Great Game of Business: The Only sensible Way to Run a Company by Jack Stack as mentioned in today's episode!

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • "If you don;'t like something about yourself, change it."

In today's episode with Jeff Dixon we will discuss:

  • BOH organized chaos
  • Early mentors
  • Taking a 1.5 year break from the industry
  • Best interview tactics and advice
  • Opening vs. running a restaurant
  • Building a team
  • Building an energy drink company
  • Budgeting
  • Raising capital
  • Operational expenses
  • Trust, checks, and balances
  • The Trust and Track method
  • Sales and labor
  • Opening a restaurant during the COVID pandemic
  • Collaboration

Today's sponsor:

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99designs is the global creative platform that makes it easy for designers and clients to work together remotely - no matter what your budget. From logos and brand identity, to menu and packaging, 99designs has helped more than tens of thousands restaurant owners build their brands. 99designs will match you with the right professional for your project from their curated community of talented creatives, and stay with you every step of the way so you love the outcome. Head to https://99designs.com/unstoppable to learn more or get $20 off your first design contest!

Ecolab: Streamline your clean with Ecolab's new EPA-registered 2-in-1 solution, Sink & Surface Cleaner Sanitizer. It will help reduce risk, simplify your procedures and help ensure compliance. This solution cleans and sanitizes hard non-porous surfaces with a single product, eliminates the rinse step and equips your staff to clean more efficiently. Clean simplified, confidence delivered.

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Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • Fire under my ass always
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • Organization
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • Outgoing
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • Juggling the growth
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • Embrace change
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Don't be an order-taker, be a salesman. Care about your guests!
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
  8. What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
    • When you scale you need to invest personal time in ALL of your stores
    • Give more praise
  9. Name one service you've hired.
  10. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations?
  11. 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?
    • Treat others how you want to be treated
    • Go for no
    • You can do it

Contact info:

Email: jeff@eatdrinkpc.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!

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

Huge thanks to Jeff Dixon 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
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