PODCAST · business
Survive: Essentials for C-Store Assistant Managers
by C-Store Center
This podcast provides practical training for convenience store assistant managers. Each episode focuses on the real challenges of running a shift, supporting store managers, handling employees, and keeping operations on track in a fast-paced environment.Assistant managers are often expected to lead without formal training. Survive helps bridge that gap by breaking down shift management, team accountability, inventory control, and problem-solving in a way that can be applied immediately on the job.If you are stepping into leadership or currently managing shifts, this podcast will help you build confidence, make better decisions, and handle the daily pressure of store operations.
Episodes
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THE "LEGEND" STATUS (THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S SYSTEMIC LEGACY)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: The "Legend" Status: The Assistant Manager’s Systemic Legacy (Episode 122) Episode Description: "You are a manager who is confusing 'heroics' with 'legacy'." In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez explains why Assistant Managers must stop being the...
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GOAL SETTING (THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S OPERATIONAL BUDGETING SYSTEM)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Goal Setting: The Assistant Manager’s Operational Budgeting System (Episode 121) Episode Description: "You are an Assistant Manager who is essentially operating as a 'budgetary bystander'." In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez explains why…
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THE YEAR IN REVIEW (THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S OPERATIONAL POST-MORTEM)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: The Year in Review: The Assistant Manager’s Operational Post-Mortem (Episode 120) Episode Description: "You are a manager who is failing because you are treating the past year as a series of unrelated events." In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez...
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THE EXIT STRATEGY (THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S OPERATIONAL REPLICATION SYSTEM)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: The Exit Strategy: The Assistant Manager’s Operational Replication System (Episode 119) Episode Description: "You are an Assistant Manager who is essentially acting as a 'human bottleneck'." In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez explains why...
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THE TECHNOLOGY CURVE (THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S AUTOMATION-INTEGRATION SYSTEM)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: The Technology Curve: The Assistant Manager’s Automation-Integration System (Episode 118) Episode Description: "You are an Assistant Manager who is failing to leverage the very systems that will elevate your career." In this episode of Survive, Mike...
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MARKETING YOUR BRAND (THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S LOCAL EVENT ARCHITECTURE)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Marketing Your Brand: The Assistant Manager’s Local Event Architecture (Episode 117) Episode Description: "You are a leader who is failing to build the 'Store-to-Community' bridge that is essential for long-term growth." In this episode of Survive, Mike...
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MONTHLY INVENTORY PREP (THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S AUDIT-RESILIENCE SYSTEM)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Year-End Inventory Prep: The Assistant Manager’s Audit-Resilience System (Episode 116) Episode Description: "You are an Assistant Manager who is fundamentally misunderstanding the difference between 'cleaning' and 'control'." In this episode of Survive,...
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HOLIDAY MERCHANDISING (THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S IMPULSE ARCHITECTURE)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Holiday Merchandising: The Assistant Manager’s Impulse Architecture (Episode 115) Episode Description: "You are a leader who is failing to curate the 'Impulse Architecture' of your store." In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez explains why…
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THE "ARRIVE" MINDSET (THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S RISK-VS-REWARD DECISION MATRIX)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: The "Arrive" Mindset: The Assistant Manager’s Risk-vs-Reward Decision Matrix (Episode 114) Episode Description: "You are a leader who is missing the secret to growth because you are confusing 'compliance' with 'ownership'." In this episode of Survive,...
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LABOR COST KILLERS (THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S SCHEDULING DISCIPLINE)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Labor Cost Killers: The Assistant Manager’s Scheduling Discipline (Episode 113) Episode Description: "You are a leader who is bleeding your store's profit through hidden labor inflation and static staffing." In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez...
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THE REBATE GAME (THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S COMPLIANCE AUDIT)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: The Rebate Game: The Assistant Manager’s Compliance Audit (Episode 112) Episode Description: "You are a leader who is leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table because you don't know how to audit the 'backend' of your business." In this episode…
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SHRINK IS THE ENEMY (THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S LOSS PREVENTION PROTOCOL)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Shrink is the Enemy: The Assistant Manager’s Loss Prevention Protocol (Episode 111) Episode Description: "You are a leader who is surrendering profit to laziness by treating loss prevention as an administrative task." In this episode of Survive, Mike...
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THE P&L AUTOPSY (THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S PROFITABILITY AUDIT)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: The P&L Autopsy: The Assistant Manager’s Profitability Audit (Episode 110) Episode Description: "You are a leader who is failing to diagnose the silent leaks in your business because you don't know how to conduct an autopsy on your own performance." In...
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Q3 RECAP & THE "DRIVE" PREVIEW (THE OPERATIONAL RECALIBRATION)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Q3 Recap & The "Drive" Preview: The Operational Recalibration (Episode 109) Episode Description: "You are a leader who is waiting for the market to fix your problems instead of diagnosing the systems that created them." In this episode of Survive, Mike...
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BUILDING THE BENCH (THE ART OF SYSTEMATIZING TALENT DEVELOPMENT)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Building the Bench: The Art of Systematizing Talent Development (Episode 108) Episode Description: "You are a victim of your own success—you have become so good at being an Assistant Manager that your leadership cannot imagine the store functioning...
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THE COMPETITOR SCOUT (SYSTEMATIZING MARKET INTELLIGENCE)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: The Competitor Scout: Systematizing Market Intelligence (Episode 107) Episode Description: "You are a leader with blinders on, choosing to work in a bubble while the store across the street actively cannibalizes your customer base." In this episode of...
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DISTRICT MANAGER THINKING (VIEWING THE STORE AS A P&L, NOT JUST A BUILDING)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: District Manager Thinking: Viewing the Store as a P&L (Episode 106) Episode Description: "You are treating the store like a police station instead of a business." In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez explains why Assistant Managers must stop…
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MANAGERIAL ROLE EVOLUTION (TRANSITIONING FROM TECHNICAL EXECUTION TO STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Managerial Role Evolution: Transitioning from Technical Execution to Strategic Leadership (Episode 105) Episode Description: "You caused this systemic failure because you refused to lead, choosing instead to hoard the operational tasks and treat your...
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STRATEGIC TASK DELEGATION (EXECUTING STRUCTURED ASSIGNMENT VERSUS OPERATIONAL ABANDONMENT)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Strategic Task Delegation: Executing Structured Assignment versus Operational Abandonment (Episode 104) Episode Description: "You caused this operational breakdown because you disguised your own leadership laziness as delegation, actively dumping a...
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OPERATIONAL SHIFT ALIGNMENT (EXECUTING HIGH-IMPACT PRE-SHIFT BRIEFINGS)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Operational Shift Alignment: Executing High-Impact Pre-Shift Briefings (Episode 103) Episode Description: "You caused this operational chaos because you treated the pre-shift briefing like a boring administrative lecture instead of a high-impact…
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INTERNAL ASSET PROTECTION (DISMANTLING THE THEFT TRIANGLE THROUGH OPERATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Internal Asset Protection: Dismantling the Theft Triangle Through Operational Accountability (Episode 102) Episode Description: "You caused this financial drain because you chose to rely on personal trust rather than operational verification, completely...
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OBJECTIVE BEHAVIORAL CORRECTION (EXECUTING FEED-FORWARD DIRECTIVES TO ELIMINATE OPERATIONAL FRICTION)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Objective Behavioral Correction: Executing Feed-Forward Directives to Eliminate Operational Friction (Episode 101) Episode Description: "You caused this defensive reaction because you chose to act like a historian, prosecuting his past mistakes instead…
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ABSENTEEISM MITIGATION (ENFORCING STRICT ATTENDANCE PROTOCOLS AND OBJECTIVE ACCOUNTABILITY)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Absenteeism Mitigation: Enforcing Strict Attendance Protocols and Objective Accountability (Episode 100) Episode Description: "You caused this attendance crisis because you accepted weak, informal excuses and completely failed to enforce a strict…
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LABOR MATRIX OPTIMIZATION (ALIGNING PAYROLL ALLOCATIONS WITH OPERATIONAL SHIFT STABILITY)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Labor Schedule Optimization: Matching Payroll to Actual Store Traffic (Episode 99) Episode Description: "You caused this chaos because you treated the schedule like a quick chore instead of a strategic plan, leaving your frontline staff completely...
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STRUCTURED ONBOARDING EXECUTION (REPLACING PASSIVE OBSERVATION WITH ACTIVE PROCEDURAL INSTRUCTION)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Structured Onboarding Execution: Replacing Passive Observation with Active Procedural Instruction (Episode 98) Episode Description: "You failed because you evaluated unstructured, random pairing as a legitimate training program, and you actively forced...
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RAPID APPLICANT EVALUATION (IDENTIFYING OPERATIONAL APTITUDE DURING INITIAL INTERACTIONS)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Rapid Applicant Evaluation: Identifying Operational Aptitude During Initial Interactions (Episode 97) Episode Description: "You failed because you operated from a posture of absolute desperation, you completely ignored the undeniable physical evidence…
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MID-YEAR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (REALIGNING OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES FOR THE REMAINING FISCAL PERIODS)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Mid-Year Performance Evaluation: Realigning Operational Objectives for the Remaining Fiscal Periods (Episode 96) Episode Description: "You failed because you relied on vague human memory instead of objective physical data, and you actively authorized…
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SEASONAL TRANSACTION VOLUME INCREASE (EXECUTING AGGRESSIVE INVENTORY PROCUREMENT FOR THE PEAK SUMMER OPERATING PERIOD)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Seasonal Transaction Volume Increase: Executing Aggressive Inventory Procurement for the Peak Summer Operating Period (Episode 95) Episode Description: "You failed because you blindly trusted a baseline historical algorithm instead of manually executing...
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ASSISTANT MANAGER EXHAUSTION (TRANSITIONING FROM PHYSICAL TASK EXECUTION TO SUPERVISORY DELEGATION)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Assistant Manager Exhaustion: Transitioning From Physical Task Execution to Supervisory Delegation (Episode 94) Episode Description: "You failed because you abandoned your supervisory responsibilities to perform basic physical tasks, and you actively...
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PHYSICAL EQUIPMENT TROUBLESHOOTING (VERIFYING ELECTRICAL BREAKER PANELS)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Physical Equipment Troubleshooting: Verifying Electrical Breaker Panels (Episode 93) Episode Description: "You failed because it is mathematically improbable for three independent machines to suffer simultaneous mechanical death, and you completely...
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CUSTOMER CONFLICT RESOLUTION (ASSUMING SUPERVISORY CONTROL OF HOSTILE INTERACTIONS)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Customer Conflict Resolution: Assuming Supervisory Control of Hostile Interactions (Episode 92) Episode Description: "You failed because you did not physically separate the associate from the hostile environment, and your weak intervention actively...
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RETAIL MERCHANDISING EXECUTION (VERIFYING PLANOGRAM COMPLIANCE)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Retail Merchandising Execution: Verifying Planogram Compliance (Episode 91) Episode Description: "You failed because you accepted verbal confirmation of a physical task, and you allowed your sales associate to improvise product placement instead of...
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INVENTORY AVAILABILITY (VERIFYING THE VENDOR DELIVERY INVOICE)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Inventory Availability: Verifying the Vendor Delivery Invoice (Episode 90) Episode Description: "The driver failed to deliver the product, but you authorized the financial payment anyway. You failed the shift." In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez...
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FOOD SERVICE EXECUTION (AUDITING THE FOOD TIMERS)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Food Service Execution: Auditing the Food Timers (Episode 89) Episode Description: "You failed because you assumed your sales associate was managing the food safety protocols, and you completely neglected to physically verify the equipment yourself." In...
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EXTERIOR FACILITY MANAGEMENT (DELEGATING AND VERIFYING THE EXTERIOR SWEEP)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Exterior Facility Management: Delegating and Verifying the Exterior Sweep (Episode 88) Episode Description: "You failed because you allowed your sales associate to anchor himself to the cash register, and you completely neglected to manage the exterior...
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THE OPERATIONAL INSPECTION (AUDITING THE SHIFT EXECUTION)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: The Operational Inspection: Auditing the Shift Execution (Episode 87) Episode Description: "You failed because you relied entirely on an external authority to identify the physical failures of your own shift." In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez...
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INVENTORY DISCREPANCIES (AUDITING THE ELECTRONIC JOURNAL)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Inventory Discrepancies: Auditing the Electronic Journal (Episode 86) Episode Description: "The items were not physically stolen by a customer. The items were digitally corrupted by your employee." In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez explains why...
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THE OPERATIONAL UPSELL (COACHING NATURAL PHRASING)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: The Operational Upsell: Coaching Natural Phrasing (Episode 85) Episode Description: "Your shift is failing to maximize its revenue potential because you allowed your employee to rely on a forced script." In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez…
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THE MORNING RUSH COMMAND CENTER (DEPLOYING YOUR STAFF)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: The Morning Rush Command Center: Deploying Your Staff (Episode 84) Episode Description: "When all employees stand behind the counter, the sales floor immediately collapses." In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez explains why Assistant Managers must...
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S EPISODE 83: Q1 RECAP & THE "THRIVE" PREVIEW (REVIEWING THE SCOREBOARD)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: Q1 Recap & The "Thrive" Preview: Reviewing the Scoreboard (Episode 83) Episode Description: "Your team executed a poor financial shift that simply looked clean to the physical eye." In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez explains why Assistant...
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THE "DIVE" GRADUATION (IDENTIFYING YOUR REPLACEMENTS)
SHOW NOTES (SURVIVE VERSION) Episode Title: The "Dive" Graduation: Identifying Your Replacements (Episode 82) Episode Description: "David did the physical work himself instead of explaining the process. Felip still does not know how to process a split payment." In this episode of Survive, Mike...
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Survive Resource Intro: Never Cap Your Growth
Show Notes (Survive Version) Episode 81 Title: Survive Resource Intro: Never Cap Your Growth (Episode 81) Episode Description: "I don't believe in capping somebody's growth because I never wanted that, although I experienced that often." In this special episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez…
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WASTE NOT, WANT NOT (VERIFYING THE TRASH)
Show Notes (Survive Version) Episode Title: Waste Not, Want Not: Verifying the Trash (Episode 80) Episode Description: You must visually inspect the trash cans and compare the contents to the written log. In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez explains how Assistant Managers must enforce the...
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S Ep 79: ASSISTANT MANAGER? THE HARDEST TRANSITION (C-STORE TRAINING)
Show Notes (Survive Version) Episode Title: Assistant Manager? The Hardest Transition (C-Store Training) (Episode 79) Episode Description: "You get the responsibility, but you don't always get the backing." In this special episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez shares the raw reality of getting...
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THE VENDOR DANCE (THE SUBSTITUTE REJECT)
Show Notes (Survive Version) Episode Title: The Vendor Dance: The Substitute Reject (Episode 78) Episode Description: You cannot allow vendors to dictate your stock. In this episode of Survive, Mike Hernandez explains how Assistant Managers can enforce authorized product lists and stop unwanted...
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SHIFT CHANGE WARFARE (THE GATEKEEPER)
Show Notes (Survive Version) Episode Title: Shift Change Warfare: The Gatekeeper (Episode 77) Episode Description: "Once the team realizes that you will actually hold them accountable, the rushing stops." The moment one shift ends and another begins is the most volatile time in a convenience…
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THE BATHROOM TEST (DELEGATING THE DIRT)
Show Notes (Survive Version) Episode Title: The Bathroom Test: Delegating the Dirt (Episode 76) Episode Description: "If you just yell, 'Someone check the bathroom!', nobody will do it." As an Assistant Manager, you can't abandon the register during a lunch rush to restock toilet paper, but you...
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THE STING (COMPLIANCE COACHING)
Show Notes (Survive Version) Episode Title: The Sting: Compliance Coaching (Episode 75) Episode Description: "Telling them to check IDs is not training. You have to verify it." When a clerk sells to a minor during a police sting, they get the fine, but the Assistant Manager gets the fallout. How…
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THE GLASS CAGE (CRISIS MANAGEMENT)
Show Notes (Survive Version) Episode Title: The Glass Cage: Managing the Aftermath (Episode 74) Episode Description: "The robbery is over. The crisis has just begun." For an Assistant Manager, the 3:00 AM phone call is the ultimate test. How you handle the first hour after a security incident...
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THE VARIANCE HUNT (INVENTORY CONTROL)
Show Notes (Survive Version) Episode Title: The Variance Hunt: Mastering Inventory Control (Episode 73) Episode Description: "Why are we always short on inventory?" For an Assistant Manager, a bad inventory audit is a nightmare. But the problem usually starts weeks earlier at the register. We…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This podcast provides practical training for convenience store assistant managers. Each episode focuses on the real challenges of running a shift, supporting store managers, handling employees, and keeping operations on track in a fast-paced environment.Assistant managers are often expected to lead without formal training. Survive helps bridge that gap by breaking down shift management, team accountability, inventory control, and problem-solving in a way that can be applied immediately on the job.If you are stepping into leadership or currently managing shifts, this podcast will help you build confidence, make better decisions, and handle the daily pressure of store operations.
HOSTED BY
C-Store Center
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Survive: Essentials for C-Store Assistant Managers have?
Survive: Essentials for C-Store Assistant Managers currently has 122 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Survive: Essentials for C-Store Assistant Managers about?
This podcast provides practical training for convenience store assistant managers. Each episode focuses on the real challenges of running a shift, supporting store managers, handling employees, and keeping operations on track in a fast-paced environment.Assistant managers are often expected to lead...
How often does Survive: Essentials for C-Store Assistant Managers release new episodes?
Survive: Essentials for C-Store Assistant Managers publishes regularly with 122 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Survive: Essentials for C-Store Assistant Managers?
You can listen to Survive: Essentials for C-Store Assistant Managers on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Survive: Essentials for C-Store Assistant Managers?
Survive: Essentials for C-Store Assistant Managers is created and hosted by C-Store Center.
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