3 books every restaurateur needs to read

Books are a time machine. H.G. Wells said “The Time Machine is not just a vehicle, it is a gateway to the wonders of the universe.” Through reading, we have the opportunity to learn from the brightest minds in the world. I can chart the major advancements in my life and business through the lessons learned from the following three books. You’ll notice that Danny Meyer and Will Guidara’s books didn’t make the list. I’ve read those too and they’re amazing but the books chosen below were picked because they’re not about our industry specifically, they provide universal principles and processes that work for any business, including yours.

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Before we get into the books themselves, I think it’s crucial to answer the question at the forefront of your mind: Who has time to read? This is the fatal flaw of most business owners, regardless of industry. We prioritize the education of our teams and the improvement of our restaurants over the education and improvement of ourselves. There are few absolute truths in this work but one of these truths is that we are our own greatest obstacles when it comes to achieving success. You are your own greatest asset and you are your greatest liability. Investing in yourself is investing in your business. These books with help you maximize that investment.

Good to Great by Jim Collins

Ever wonder what the essential components of an exceptional company are? Are there universal rules to the companies that scale? Jim Collins and his team did exhaustive research on the best companies in the world and provided a data-driven analysis of what took these companies from good to great.

Here are my key takeaways:

Top-Notch Leaders Who Don’t Hog the Limelight: These are the bosses who aren’t just chasing fame or a fat paycheck. They’re the real deal, humble but with a laser-focus on what’s best for the company. It’s like having that coach who’s all about the team’s win, not just their own glory.
Team Dynamics Matter… A Lot: Imagine a bus. Before you even think about where this bus is heading, make sure you’ve got the right people sitting in it. And equally important – kick off the wrong ones. It’s about having a crew that gels well and is ready for the journey.
Face the Music, But Keep the Faith: It’s like being in a sticky situation but never losing hope. Companies need to look at their problems straight in the eye, yet keep a strong belief that they’ll make it through. It’s not ignoring issues; it’s about tackling them head-on while staying optimistic.
Find Your Sweet Spot and Own It: This is all about knowing what you’re absolutely killer at, what you love doing, and what keeps the lights on (money-wise). It’s your “hedgehog” zone. Stick to it, and don’t get distracted by other stuff.
Discipline is Key, But Keep It Cool: Think disciplined people, disciplined thinking, and disciplined actions. But hey, this isn’t about running a boot camp. It’s about having a focused, yet entrepreneurial vibe.
Tech as a Booster, Not a Savior: Great companies use technology like nitrous in a race car – as a turbo boost, not as the engine itself. It’s about smartly using tech to speed up success, not relying on it to create success from scratch.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race: Transforming from good to great isn’t a quick flip. It’s more like pushing a massive wheel. It starts slow and tough, but once it’s rolling, the momentum keeps building.

It’s about having the right crew, being brutally honest yet optimistic, sticking to what you do best, staying disciplined but not rigid, being smart with tech, and remembering that big changes take time. It’s this mix that turns a good company into a great one.

Traction by Gino Wickman

In my experience, the problem with scaling independent restaurants is that there’s no blueprint to follow. Everything has to be created from scratch, resulting in a ton of wasted time, money, and effort. That’s where Gino Wickman’s book Traction comes into play. Traction provides the framework to build and scale any business. It’s provided in a step by step method that can be executed over time with the support of your team. I implemented Traction’s EOS system across my restaurant group and we saw amazing results.

Here are my key takeaways:

Embrace Change: Wickman emphasizes that if you’re not content with your company’s current state, you’ve got three choices: live with it, leave it, or change it. Most folks don’t opt for change because it’s scary, it admits past mistakes, and it requires a fundamental shift in operation. But it’s the most effective way to improve.
Focus on the Six Key Components: Instead of juggling a hundred different things, Wickman suggests concentrating on six essential aspects: vision, people, data, issues, process, and traction. This approach simplifies operations and brings clarity to what needs to be done.
Create a Clear Vision: A strong vision is vital. It’s about ensuring that everyone in your organization understands and follows the path towards where your company is heading. Clear communication and repetition are key to making sure everyone’s efforts are aligned.
Right People in the Right Seats: It’s not just about having people; it’s about having the right people and placing them in roles that best fit their skills and your business needs.
Data-Driven Decisions: Use a handful of key metrics to keep a pulse on your business. This approach helps in spotting problems early and keeping everyone focused on the right tasks.
Address Issues Head-On: Create an environment where people feel safe to bring up and address issues. Ignoring problems only leads to bigger ones down the line.
Well-Defined Processes: Document your company’s major processes. This clarity enables everyone to know exactly what they should focus on and why.
Gaining Traction: Vision without traction is just hallucination. Set clear, well-defined tasks achievable within 90 days (called ‘Rocks’) and hold regular, productive meetings (Meeting Pulse) to keep everyone on track.
The GWC Framework: When hiring or retaining staff, use the ‘Get it, Want it, and Capacity to do it’ (GWC) framework. It ensures you have people who not only understand and want their job but also have the skills to perform it effectively.
Three-Part Business Structure: Focus on sales and marketing, operations, and finance. This simple structure helps in organizing your business effectively, regardless of its size.
Long-Term Planning: Think about your organization’s future in terms of 10 years, 3 years, 1 year, and 90 days. Setting these time-bound goals helps maintain focus and drive progress.

Traction provides a systematic approach to transforming your restaurant into a more structured, goal-oriented, and effective organization. It’s about changing your mindset, focusing on what truly matters, and systematically improving your business processes.

Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz

The last book we’re going to discuss centers on the greatest professional hurdle for many of us: the art of delegation. I can tell you with absolute certainty that you’ll never reach your potential unless you learn to harness the power of delegation. It’s a process and I found that process beautifully laid out in Michalowicz’s book Clockwork. The book offers entrepreneurs a roadmap to design a business that operates efficiently without their constant oversight.

Here are my key takeaways:

The Clockwork Concept: The core idea is to create a business that runs like clockwork, enabling the owner to focus on their unique strengths instead of being trapped by the day-to-day operations.
Queen Bee Role (QBR): This is the most crucial function in your business, the one thing that must be performed well for the business to thrive. Identifying your QBR allows you to delegate other tasks and focus on what’s most important.
The Four Ds Framework: This consists of Doing, Deciding, Delegating, and Designing. Initially, business owners do all tasks to understand their processes, then decide which are essential and can be delegated. The ultimate goal is to spend less time doing and more time designing – creating strategies for growth and efficiency.
Overcoming Bottlenecks: Identifying and resolving bottlenecks improves overall efficiency and productivity. Continuous monitoring and addressing these points of congestion ensure smoother operations.
Implementing Rituals: Regular, intentional activities establish a routine and focus. These rituals, like daily huddles or weekly meetings, create a culture of discipline and accountability.
Metric Tracking: Keeping tabs on key business metrics provides insights into performance and informs data-driven decisions. This could include financial indicators, customer satisfaction, or employee productivity.
Effective Delegation: This is crucial for freeing up time to focus on the QBR. Delegating non-essential tasks to the right team members can create a more productive environment and prevent burnout.
Creating Systems: Documented processes and procedures ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability. Systems reduce reliance on individual knowledge and facilitate easier delegation and training.
Maintaining Focus: Concentrating on your QBR and avoiding distractions leads to higher productivity. Strategies like time blocking and setting boundaries help in maintaining this focus.
Ownership and Responsibility: Adopting an ownership mindset means being proactive and accountable for the success of your business. It involves embracing challenges as growth opportunities and instilling a culture of accountability and excellence.
Prioritizing Core Tasks: Understanding all your work and removing distractions from your core competencies is crucial. Outsourcing non-essential tasks can significantly improve efficiency.
Efficiency Strategies at Work: Planning a key daily goal, focusing on the biggest bottleneck, and watching your ego to empower others are essential strategies for efficiency.
Time as a Valuable Asset: Recognizing time as your most important resource is a major takeaway. Time should be spent designing outcomes for the organization rather than being mired in daily tasks.

“Clockwork” provides a comprehensive guide for restaurateurs, allowing more freedom and the ability to focus on what you do best, leading to a more successful and fulfilling business.

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