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Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore - 719: Vaughan Dugan on Leading With Confidence and Integrity

719: Vaughan Dugan on Leading With Confidence and Integrity

Explicit content warning

06/01/20 • 95 min

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Vaughan Dugan has been an entrepreneur since his elementary school days cutting lawns in Newport, RI. By the 90's he was a millionaire with his business Stellar Concepts & Design Inc. In 2006, Vaughan entered the world of Food and Beverage with his first concept Pizza Fusion. The brand was a trailblazer in the food industry and set the standard for environmentally-friendly restaurants. After Pizza Fusion, he began working with Rodney mayo and Scott Freilich, two of the most well-known name in south Florida restaurant sense-- and longtime friends from Dugan's college years. Together, they created Kapow Noodle Bar, part of the Subculture Restaurant Group

Show notes... Calls to ACTION!!! Favorite success quote or mantra:
  • "Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations."

In today's episode with Vaughan Dugan we will discuss:

  • Becoming an entrepreneur at a young age
  • Surrounding yourself with great people
  • No bad business with good people
  • Business as relationships
  • Partnerships
  • Opening a restaurant with zero experience
  • Sustainable operations
  • Mentors
  • Struggles with investors
  • Increasing efficiency in your business
  • Transparency with staff and customers
  • Reaction to COVID-19
  • Integrity
  • Social media
  • Diversification
  • Consultants
  • Restaurant tech
Today's sponsor:

Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue.

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • "My team. My partners."
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • Patience. Trusting the process.
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • Service vs. hospitality
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • "Spreading myself too thin. I can't say no."
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • Respect for one anther which translates to treating the guests with respect.
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Storytelling. Asking the guest to tell what we can do better.
  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?
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Vaughan Dugan has been an entrepreneur since his elementary school days cutting lawns in Newport, RI. By the 90's he was a millionaire with his business Stellar Concepts & Design Inc. In 2006, Vaughan entered the world of Food and Beverage with his first concept Pizza Fusion. The brand was a trailblazer in the food industry and set the standard for environmentally-friendly restaurants. After Pizza Fusion, he began working with Rodney mayo and Scott Freilich, two of the most well-known name in south Florida restaurant sense-- and longtime friends from Dugan's college years. Together, they created Kapow Noodle Bar, part of the Subculture Restaurant Group

Show notes... Calls to ACTION!!! Favorite success quote or mantra:
  • "Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations."

In today's episode with Vaughan Dugan we will discuss:

  • Becoming an entrepreneur at a young age
  • Surrounding yourself with great people
  • No bad business with good people
  • Business as relationships
  • Partnerships
  • Opening a restaurant with zero experience
  • Sustainable operations
  • Mentors
  • Struggles with investors
  • Increasing efficiency in your business
  • Transparency with staff and customers
  • Reaction to COVID-19
  • Integrity
  • Social media
  • Diversification
  • Consultants
  • Restaurant tech
Today's sponsor:

Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue.

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • "My team. My partners."
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • Patience. Trusting the process.
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • Service vs. hospitality
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • "Spreading myself too thin. I can't say no."
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • Respect for one anther which translates to treating the guests with respect.
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Storytelling. Asking the guest to tell what we can do better.
  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?

Previous Episode

undefined - 718:Kristina Zhao on The Pivot to 3rd-party-less pickup/delivery

718:Kristina Zhao on The Pivot to 3rd-party-less pickup/delivery

Kirstina Zhao calls San Antonio, TX home. Prior to taking over the family restaurant, Sichuan House, Kristina was being groomed for the medical field... that didn't happen. Zhao ended up at the University of Texas where she studied Communications and Public Relations. Next, she went into the wireless industry on the B2B side. In 2015, Kristina came back home to San Antonio to help her father with the family restaurant. It didn't take long for her to get her millennial hands knuckle deep into the day-to-day operations. 5 years later she runs the show.

Kristina came on my radar by way of Anna Tauzin. Anna is my go-to authority for all things delivery and take-out. So, when she tells me I need to get someone on the show-- I listen. Today we're here to make an example of Zhao's solution for delivery and take out. We share how she came up with her idea and what tools she's using.

Show notes...

Check out Blinkist: Big Ideas in Small Packages as mentioned in today's episode!

Check out Toast POS as mentioned in today's episode!

Check out Summer Glen Creative as mentioned in today's episode!

Check out Re-turnz app as mentioned in today's episode!

Calls to ACTION!!! Favorite success quote or mantra:
  • "Rule your mind or it will rule you."
  • "Happiness is a state of mind, a way of living; it is not a destination."
  • " Don't take 'no' for an answer."
In today's episode with Kristina Zhao we will discuss:
  • Online ordering during COVID-19
  • The pivot to online ordering - best practices
  • The only person you can control is yourself
  • Proving yourself to your parents/mentors
  • Immigrating to the US (immigrant parents)
  • Communication is key
  • Empathy
  • Food as medicine
  • Mentors
  • The benefit of having a little experience when entering the industry
  • Why Kristina chose Toast POS
  • Using built-in iOS technology to forward your telephone to your cell phone. This allows you to text your guest.
  • How Kristina is using Summer Glen Creative for website hosting and web design. This is just for their landing page. Currently offering complimentary landing pages if you use their hosting***
  • Using Re-turnz app as their delivery component
  • Social media
  • COVID-19 best practices
Today's sponsor:

Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue.

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

Contact info:

The Sichuan House Instagram: @sichuaneats

Kristina's Instagram: @xtinazeeeee

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 ...

Next Episode

undefined - 720: Howard Behar on The One Reason for Our Existence

720: Howard Behar on The One Reason for Our Existence

For 21 years Behar led Starbucks' domestic business as President of North America, and he became the founding President of Starbucks International opening the very first store outside of North America in Japan. During his tenure, he participated in the growth of the company from only 28 stores to over 15,000 stores spanning five continents. He served on the Starbucks Board of Directors for twelve years before retiring. Additionally, Howard is the author of It's Not About The Coffee: Leadership Principles from a Life at Starbucks. His second book is titled The Magic Cup: A Business Parable About a Leader, a Team, and the Power of Putting People and Values First.

Show notes... Calls to ACTION!!! Favorite success quote or mantra:
  • "There are no stressful situations, only stressful responses."

In today's episode with Howard Behar we will discuss:

  • Serving others is everyone's purpose
  • People problems are the hardest to fix
  • Going from 28 stores to 15,000
  • Your problems are usually people problems
  • Forget balance; you need integration
  • Depression after retiring
  • The six P's
    • Have a purpose greater than yourself
    • Have passion for what you do
    • Be persistent, figure out how to get over, under, or around d obstacles in life; or change course
    • Have patience about your journey
    • Performance: people don't like to be measured; be in the moment
    • Everything we do in life is about serving people
  • Communcation
  • Trust
  • How and Why Starbucks has so many stores so close together
  • Servant leadership
Today's sponsor:

Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue.

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times.Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

Contact info:

Email Howard's assistant for booking: [email protected]

Email Howard directly: [email protected]

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 Howard Behar 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 product...

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