603: Calvin Nguyen on Learning How to Scale

Calvin Nguyen has always had a mind for business, management, and marketing. His first experience in the restaurant industry was a two-year stint managing the restaurant Zhabuki. In 2015 Calvin open OMG Tacos. By 2018 they scaled OMG Tacos to 3 locations, and they have opened two additional concept , Chubby Tuna and Sweet Dayze. Needless to say 5 restaurants opened in less the 4 years...yeah, you've got my attention. Show notes… Favorite success quote or mantra: "Control what you can; let go of what you can't."   In this episode with Calvin Nguyen we discuss: Starting from scratch Not knowing what you want to do when you're younger Creating your own opportunities The importance of mentors How to strategize inventory and ordering Realizing when to step down Pulling off "the impossible" Staring out in the restaurant industry not know ANYTHING about how to open Asking for help from mentors Opening with very little experience in the industry: trial and error. Learning how to scale The science and art of cooking Promoting from within Figuring out what makes you stand out Trusting your managers Opening near a university as a great idea Finding your lane and sticking to it The decision to close a restaurant Always find someone who works harder than you and get to know them Use social media to engage your guests Today's sponsor: Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country — they were even named best online payroll by PCMag. And as a listener, you'll get three months free when you run your first payroll. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/unstoppable.  BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more. Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel's streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable.   Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Getting things done fast What is your biggest weakness? Don't sleep enough What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? What's something new you can bring to the processes What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Currently opening a new restaurant with a full bar. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Zero-waste policy What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? We are more laid back What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?  The Checklist Manifesto: How To Get Things Done Right The Four Agreements GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM  What's the one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Zero waste policy What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls restaurant and how has it influence operations? Jolt QSR Magazine Groupme 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? Be adaptable Overcome your pride; be teachable; be a goos student Step out of your comfort zone Contact info: Instagram: @calviin Instagram: @omgtacostx Instagram: @sweetdazetx Instagram: @chubbytunatx 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 Calvin Nguyen 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!