Haven Hot Chicken’s Post

Thank You, Taco Bell Foundation, for inviting me to share my insight during this month’s Pathways & Perspectives session. I am looking forward to taking part in this discussion! #BroadcastingGraceInEveryStory

$113 million in total compensation and WFH on a California beach 🏖️. That's the power move Starbucks’ new CEO, Brian Niccol, just pulled off! For the second time, he has made a career move that has not required him to move out of his home in Newport Beach, California. Niccol successfully negotiated the same swanky deal in the past when he became the CEO of Chipotle. However, later Chipotle shifted its headquarters from Denver to Newport Beach. During Niccol’s reign at Chipotle, the stock price skyrocketed by an astounding 𝟴𝟬𝟬% in just six years! 🚀 Before Chipotle, Niccol steered a similar success story for TacoBell where he served as the CEO from 2015 to 2018. “𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗹𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗲,” Niccol told the Los Angeles Times in 2015. By the time Niccol left Taco Bell in 2018 he had transformed it with an innovative menu, convenient digital ordering system, and creative marketing.  According to Financial Times, Danilo Gargiulo from Bernstein says, “Right now, he’s considered the LeBron James, Tom Brady, or Messi of the restaurant industry.” 🏆 And the market agrees! With Niccol stepping into Starbucks, the stock surged by 24%—all in the brand’s signature green. ☕💚 So, what do you think? Will Brian Niccol bring that same magic to Starbucks and give it a shot of revitalization? Share your thoughts below! 👇

For years, I have counseled my clients about the importance of consistent and clear messaging. You can't say one thing to your employers, another to your customers and yet a third thing to Wall Street. This week, Wendy's was the prime example why that doesn't work. If, indeed, Wendy's wants to offer discounts to customers at low-traffic times to drive additional foot traffic to stores and then basically ask if the customer "wants fries with that"...well there's not much new or controversial about that. Presumably, the innovation comes from being able to offer discounts that incentive customers on a hyper-local level. But you have to say all of that to everyone. And if you ever do find that you need to issue a statement clarifying a previous statement admit that the reason it was necessary was because you did not clearly articulate your initial message and not because the media"misconstrued" what was said. #corporatecommunications #clearcommunication #leadership #soapbox https://lnkd.in/gMEW7jP6

Hey LinkedIn Family, Reflecting on a powerful quote from Will Guidara's book Unreasonable Hospitality: “I’m also clear about what my job is, which is to do what’s best for the #restaurant, not to do what’s best for any of you. More often than not, what’s best for the restaurant will include doing what’s best for you. But the only way I can take care of all of you as individuals is by always putting the restaurant first.” In #business, it's not just about people, KPIs, or numbers. It's about the #brand. When you serve the #brand right, it takes care of everything else. By putting the brand first, we create a foundation for #excellence that benefits #everyone—from our #team to our #customers. Let's commit to nurturing our brands with passion and integrity, knowing that a well-served brand paves the way for success and growth for #all. #BrandFirst #Leadership #Hospitality #BusinessPhilosophy #Teamwork

Want to expand your restaurant business? In this video, Jamie discusses 4 proven growth strategies to help you meet your industry goals. https://buff.ly/3Y6032b #businessgrowth #expand #growthstrategy #restaurants

One question. ➡️ Would you share THE one question you would ask this panel? Topic: building company culture through intentional relationships Adjacent curiosity… why pursue intentional company culture anyway? 🚙 Oh and, if there’s any chance you could be in Holland, MI next week, may I encourage you to join the dialogue? #peopleandprofits #leadership #futureofwork #respecthumanity #improvework #continuousimprovement #tps #lean #consciousleadership #servantleadership #culture

Chicago People Leaders - check this out 👇

In March’s Pathways & Perspectives with the Taco Bell Foundation, I spoke about leaning into discomfort and trusting your gut. No matter your next move or pursuit, have faith in yourself. Check the snippet out below!

To evolve is to stay curious in the innovation to defy the standard.

Building loyalty takes time  Take care of your loyal fans  Here’s some inspiration from Beyonce...  I recently had the pleasure of dining at Union Square Cafe with Union Square Hospitality Group CEO, Chip Wade. I was transported back to my days as a leader there in the 90s, seeing the place bustling with guests and spotting my favorite item on the menu—the bibb and gruyere salad. Chip and I sampled several dishes, and our two favorites were a brand new item—sardines—and that beloved salad. On the train ride home, I felt grateful to experience the same flavor from decades ago. Ironically, this reminded me of Beyonce. She has been a superstar for decades, continually evolving while staying true to her loyal fan base, the BeyHive. Her concerts are legendary, and her ability to balance innovation with loyalty is something any brand can learn from. Later, I thanked Chef Lena Ciardullo for our dining experience and asked why she still kept that salad on her menu after so many years. She responded with an important rhetorical question: “Why would I upset our loyal guests? I am here to serve them.” Her wisdom struck me. Just like Beyonce, Union Square Cafe has found a way to innovate while honoring the past. It’s not an either/or decision. It’s both/and.  Maintaining loyalty while embracing innovation is a delicate balance, but doing it well leads to lasting success and happy, returning customers.     #business #hospitality #hospitalityindustry #leadership #management #restaurants #restaurantbusiness #community #purpose #culture       #unionsquarecafe  #customersatisfaction  #loyalty    Maynard Consulting