We were lucky enough to hear the restaurateur behind Nashville's most recognizable restaurants (Acme, Fin & Pearl, Woolworth on 5th) share his secrets on success. The Nashville native, Morales, went from working at Shoney's, to catering top movie productions, to lovingly owning some of Nashville's best restaurants. Here's what he had to say on success in the restaurant business:
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Staff retention: "It's where you choose to pay people." You can pay in health insurance or pay in turnover. He has over 700 staff members with very little turnover.
"Pay attention and take the blinders off"
"Encourage everyone to act like an owner"
"If you place yourself in the shoes of your employees, it changes your perspective"
Training: "Hire personality and teach the skill."
Owning a business: "Business is a struggle, but you have to love it... I never feared it"
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Fear is a bad thing, it's a bad emotion.
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