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The Restaurant Coach Podcast

The Restaurant Coach Podcast

By: Donald Burns
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 Get cutting edge tools, techniques, tips and straight talk from the world’s leading restaurant coach. Donald Burns is know for unique programs and methods that create dramatic results for his clients. When restaurant owners or chefs need change and success they call The Restaurant Coach. Are you ready to take your business and life to the next level?Copyright 2018 The Restaurant Coach Podcast Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Episode 181 – Leadership Is a System with Jarred Patterson

    Episode 181 – Leadership Is a System with Jarred Patterson
    Jan 30 2026
    Leadership Is a System With Jarred Patterson, COO — New South Restaurant Group Most restaurant owners think leadership is a personality trait. Something you’re born with.Something you either “have” or you don’t. That belief is exactly why so many restaurants stay stuck. In Episode 181 of The Restaurant Coach Podcast, I sit down with Jarred Patterson, COO of New South Restaurant Group, to break that myth wide open. Because leadership isn’t luck.It isn’t charisma.And it definitely isn’t title-based. Leadership is a system. And when that system is built correctly, it changes everything. From General Manager to COO — Built, Not Promoted Jarred didn’t come into New South Restaurant Group as an executive. He started as a General Manager at one location. What changed wasn’t opportunity.What changed was identity, structure, and execution. Through the implementation of the TRC Method, Jarred didn’t just “move up.”He grew into the role of enterprise leader. This episode walks through how: Leadership standards were clarified and enforced Culture stopped being a slogan and became a daily operating system Accountability replaced chaos Managers were developed instead of babysat And how that shift produced the most profitable year in company history Not by working harder.But by building leaders who could think, decide, and execute without constant oversight. Culture Isn’t a Vibe — It’s a Framework One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation: Culture doesn’t improve because you talk about it.It improves because you design it. Jarred shares how New South moved away from reactive management and into intentional leadership development, where: Expectations were clear Standards were non-negotiable Leaders were trained to lead people, not just run shifts And results were tracked, reviewed, and reinforced When leadership became systemized, culture followed.When culture aligned, profit followed. Why Most Restaurants Never Make This Leap Most operators stay trapped at the location level because: They confuse effort with effectiveness They promote based on tenure instead of capability They rely on “gut feel” instead of frameworks They never install leadership systems that scale This episode exposes why those habits quietly cap growth—and what happens when you finally replace them with structure. What You’ll Learn in This Episode In Episode 181, we break down: Why leadership is not a personality trait—but a repeatable system How Jarred transitioned from GM thinking to enterprise leadership The role the TRC Method played in transforming culture across multiple locations How leadership development directly drove record profitability What restaurant owners must stop doing if they want leaders who can actually lead This Episode Is For You If… Your restaurant depends too heavily on you You have managers but not leaders Culture feels inconsistent or fragile Profitability improves only when you personally intervene You want to scale without losing your soul—or your sanity Final Thoughts If leadership were just talent, Jarred’s story wouldn’t be repeatable. But it is. Because leadership isn’t magic.It’s method. And when you build the system, the results take care of themselves. Ready to Build Leadership That Runs Without You? If this episode made one thing clear, it’s this: You don’t need to work harder.You need a system. If you want to learn how you can deploy my TRC Method inside your restaurant—to build real leaders, engineer culture, and create predictable profit— Go watch my FREE training at:www.GrowMyRestaurantNOW.com This is where you stop guessing and start building a restaurant that actually works for you, not because of you.
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    57 mins
  • Episode 180 – Why Systems Beat Passion Every Time with Nick Mattia

    Episode 180 – Why Systems Beat Passion Every Time with Nick Mattia
    Jan 13 2026

    In Episode 180 of The Restaurant Coach Podcast, I sit down with Nick Mattia, the founder and owner of Ready Strong Meals, for a raw, honest conversation about what really happens when ambition meets reality in the restaurant and food business.

    Nick didn’t come into the industry clueless.
    He came in with knowledge, confidence, and a clear vision.

    And that’s exactly what almost broke him.

    When “Knowing Enough” Becomes Dangerous

    Like many driven operators, Nick believed that having some experience and surface-level understanding of how the industry works would be enough to win.
    Instead, it nearly cost him everything.

    What Nick learned the hard way—and shares openly in this episode—is that the wrong knowledge, applied without structure, systems, and accountability, is more dangerous than no knowledge at all.

    Good intentions don’t fix broken systems.
    Hard work doesn’t replace clarity.
    And passion doesn’t protect you from bad decisions.

    The Turning Point

    Nick reached a moment every serious operator eventually faces:

    Keep grinding blindly…
    Or step back and rebuild the business the right way.

    That’s when he committed to the TRC Method.

    Not for motivation.
    Not for hype.
    But for frameworks.

    How the TRC Method Changed Everything

    In this episode, Nick breaks down how applying structured frameworks—rather than chasing tactics—allowed him to:

    • Identify where his business was actually leaking money

    • Replace emotional decision-making with disciplined systems

    • Build operational clarity instead of constant firefighting

    • Shift from “owner-operator chaos” to intentional leadership

    • Turn Ready Strong Meals from survival mode into a controllable, scalable operation

    This wasn’t a quick fix.
    It was a rebuild of thinking, process, and execution.

    Why Systems Beat Passion Every Time

    This conversation is exactly what The TRC Method is about.

    Two operators telling the truth.
    No ego.
    No shortcuts.
    Just lessons forged through pressure.

    Nick’s story is proof that transformation doesn’t come from learning more—it comes from learning what actually matters, then having the discipline to implement it.

    Who This Episode Is For

    If you’re a restaurant owner, meal prep operator, or food entrepreneur who:

    • Feels stuck despite working nonstop

    • Has “tried everything” but still feels behind

    • Knows something needs to change but doesn’t know where to start

    • Is ready to stop guessing and start operating with intention

    This episode will hit home.

    Listen to Episode 180 – Why Systems Beat Passion Every Time with Nick Mattia
    And if Nick’s story sounds uncomfortably familiar, that’s not an accident.

    That’s your signal.

    If you want to see these kinds of results in your own restaurant, book a TRC Method Strategy Call (for FREE) with me personally at www.GrowMyRestaurantNOW.com
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    59 mins
  • Episode 179 – From Surviving to Thriving with Madison Bree

    Episode 179 – From Surviving to Thriving with Madison Bree
    Dec 31 2025

    What happens when you refuse to let a good restaurant quietly die?

    In this episode of The Restaurant Coach Podcast, Donald Burns sits down with Madison Bree, a first-time restaurant owner who took a massive leap of faith by buying an existing restaurant in Michigan that still had a name… but was slowly bleeding out.

    The restaurant was Kathy’s 126.
    The reputation was there.
    The energy, systems, and vision were not.

    Instead of trying to “save” a dying brand, Bree made the bold decision to rebuild it from the inside out. She rebranded the concept into Madison’s on Main, reopened with clarity, structure, and standards—and the results speak for themselves. The restaurant has taken off since reopening, proving that survival is optional when leadership finally steps up.

    In this conversation, Bree shares:

    • What it’s really like buying an existing restaurant with baggage

    • Why rebranding was non-negotiable for growth

    • The mindset shifts required to move from operator to owner

    • How working with a coach fast-tracked her progress and eliminated years of painful trial and error

    • How the TRC Method helped her build structure, confidence, and momentum instead of chaos

    This episode is a must-listen for:

    • Aspiring restaurant owners thinking about buying an existing concept

    • Owners stuck “keeping it alive” instead of building something that thrives

    • Anyone who wants proof that coaching isn’t a cost—it’s a shortcut

    Bree’s story is a reminder that thriving isn’t about luck.
    It’s about standards, leadership, and having the right guide in your corner.

    If you’re tired of surviving and ready to build a restaurant that actually works for you—this episode will hit home.

    If you want to see these kinds of results in your own restaurant, book a TRC Method Strategy Call (for FREE) with me personally at www.GrowMyRestaurantNOW.com
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
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Most relevant
Loved listening Donald’s brilliant podcasts, I’m about to go back to work after a planned 16 month career break to travel around the world before I’m too tired. I’ve found these podcasts a great resource and highly recommend. I also love that the series is being consistently added to. Thank you Donald!

Wise, insightful and inspiring

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