Restaurant Leadership Podcast: The Show for Multi-Unit Operators Ready to Scale

You can feel it when a restaurant cares, and you can feel it even sooner when it doesn’t. I took a trip to Santa Fe and had a dining experience that stopped me in my tracks, not because of flashy gimmicks, but because every touchpoint was intentional. From a single phone call that offered me options and made me feel welcome, to a dining room designed with purpose and comfort, the team proved that excellence is built long before the first bite.If you want a clear, trainable playbook for guest experience and restaurant leadership, hit play, share this with your team, and leave a review so more operators can find it. What’s the one touchpoint in your restaurant you want to improve first?P.S. Ready to take your restaurant to the next level? Get the Independent Restaurant Framework that's helped countless owners build thriving multi-location brands. Grab your copy at https://www.IRFbook.comHere is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnwPodcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

The people pleaser saboteur is one of the most common — and most costly — patterns in hospitality leadership. In this episode, we break down why saying yes to everything is burning you out, what boundaries actually look like at every level of your organization, and how to start protecting your time and your team today. IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: The people pleaser saboteur thrives in hospitality — and it's costing you in burnout, turnover, and inconsistent culture. Boundaries start with clarity: schedules built in advance, expectations in writing, and a culture where "no" is respected. You can't expect your team to set boundaries if you don't model it yourself — it all starts at the top. Get the book — Multiunit Mastery: www.irfbook.com Connect + learn more: www.columbinehospitality.comP.S. Ready to take your restaurant to the next level? Get the Independent Restaurant Framework that's helped countless owners build thriving multi-location brands. Grab your copy at https://www.IRFbook.comHere is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnwPodcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

Ever hit that five-year itch wondering what's next after restaurants? You're not alone.In this episode, I sit down with Jim Taylor, founder of Benchmark 60 and creator of the Blueprint program—a framework designed specifically for restaurant professionals who want to transition out of operations and into consulting, coaching, or advisory work.We get real about:Why your experience alone won't generate business (and what actually does)The mindset shift from "hire me based on my resume" to "here's the result I can get you"How Blueprint members collectively signed over $1 million in consulting engagements last year—most starting from zeroKey takeaways:→ Imposter syndrome is a signal you're leveling up. Lean into it instead of running from it.→ There's no magic bullet. Business is an experiment—content, conversations, workshops, podcasts—you won't know what lands until you try.→ Independent consultant is now the 7th fastest-growing entrepreneur title in the US. The market is there. The question is: are you positioned to capture it?→ Fractional roles are exploding. Rising restaurant costs mean owners need expertise without full-time payroll.We also announce that I'm taking over the Blueprint program—bringing it under Columbine Hospitality with Jim's continued partnership.If you're considering the leap: Grab a free copy of Jim's book at BoldConsultingBook.com or reach out at ColumbineHospitality.com/contact to explore the program.P.S. Ready to take your restaurant to the next level? Get the Independent Restaurant Framework that's helped countless owners build thriving multi-location brands. Grab your copy at https://www.IRFbook.comHere is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnwPodcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

Christin Marvin announces that Columbine Hospitality is officially taking over The Blueprint — a coaching program originally built by Jim Taylor of Benchmark 60. This program helps hospitality professionals turn their operator experience into a consulting or coaching business. Christin shares her personal journey from terrified first-time entrepreneur to successful business owner, crediting The Blueprint for giving her the roadmap, community, and mindset shifts she needed. This episode is a call to action for former operators wondering "what's next" and current operators who know someone ready for a new chapter.Key TakeawaysThe Blueprint is now part of Columbine Hospitality — a coaching program for hospitality professionals ready to build consulting or coaching businesses rooted in their real-world experience.Your operator experience is an asset — 20+ years of building teams, solving problems, and running restaurants isn't just restaurant knowledge. It's business, leadership, and consulting expertise.Entrepreneurship requires a mindset shift — Christin had to reframe sales (not pushy, but serving), learn to value herself, and stop underselling her decades of experience.Community accelerates success — Surrounding yourself with people who understand your journey, share resources, and challenge you is what separates successful entrepreneurs.Jim Taylor isn't going anywhere — He'll continue supporting the program through marketing and calls as Columbine grows and evolves The Blueprint.Two paths at Columbine now — Working with multi-unit operators ready to scale AND former operators ready to build something new.Who The Blueprint Is ForFormer operators wondering what's next after decades in the industryGMs quietly burning out after 15+ yearsChefs with more knowledge than culinary schools but no idea how to monetize itOperators who sold their restaurant and don't know what identity looks like without itAnyone who's been "accidentally consulting" — helping friends with their businesses without realizing itWhat The Blueprint ProvidesA structured roadmap to turn operator experience into a coaching/consulting businessClarity on your unique offeringFramework for packaging, pricing, and positioning servicesSales mindset coaching (overcoming the "used car salesman" fear)Community of hospitality professionals at various stagesSupport on time management, content creation, lead generation, and scalingChristin's Personal Journey HighlightsLaunched her first company with 20 years of experience but no business roadmapWas terrified of sales and undervalued her expertise in year oneThe Blueprint gave her structure, permission to take her experience seriously, and a path to scaleRealized she was the bottleneck → led to building Columbine Hospitality with a teamKey moment: Getting her first "yes" — then repeat clients re-enrolling proved the model workedWhy This Matters to the Industry"The restaurant industry creates some of the most capable leaders in the world, and then has no infrastructure to honor that experience when people are ready to move on."Every operator who builds a successful coaching or consulting career becomes a resource for the next generation of restaurant leaders. This strengthens the industry from the outside in.Call to ActionInterested in The Blueprint? Reach out at columbinehospitality.com/contact for a real conversation (not a sales call)Want Jim Taylor's book Bold Consulting? Email the team or grab it on AmazonKnow someone who needs to hear this? Share this episode with the operator in your life who's wondering what's nextTimestamps0:00 — Episode intro: Big news coming1:30 — Welcome & show intro3:00 — Christin's entrepreneurial origin story5:30 — Finding The Blueprint and Jim Taylor6:30 — Official announcement: Columbine takes over The Blueprint7:30 — What Christin was trying to build when she joined9:30 — The fear of sales and mindset shifts required12:00 — What The Blueprint program gave her15:00 — The moment she knew it was working17:00 — How The Blueprint shaped Columbine Hospitality19:00 — Jim Taylor's continued involvement20:30 — Who The Blueprint is for24:00 — What The Blueprint actually does26:00 — Why this matters to the restaurant industry28:30 — Final call to action & closingP.S. Ready to take your restaurant to the next level? Get the Independent Restaurant Framework that's helped countless owners build thriving multi-location brands. Grab your copy at https://www.IRFbook.comHere is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnwPodcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/