515: Creating a Brand Around Your Interests, Stories, and Values with Johnny Hernandez

 

 

Chef Johnny Hernandez is a celebrated chef, entrepreneur, and founder and President of Grupo La Gloria and True Flavors Inc.. He is one of the premier Mexican cuisine chefs in the United States and a recognized authority on Mexican cuisine and culture. To date Chef Johnny Hernandez is responsible for an extremely successful catering business and 14 restaurants with 2 on the way.

Show notes…

Favorite Success Quote or Mantra.

You have to do what you love so you don't work a day in your life.

In this episode with Chef Johnny Hernandez, we discuss:

• How he feeds off his people's motivation and sense of responsibility and it drives him.
• Exercising discipline.
• How Chef Johnny Hernandez crafted his brand around his interests story and values.
• Why you need to open your ears and listen to everyone who speaks to you; you never know where you're going to learn something.
• Why Hernandez chose to focus on catering during the earlier portion of his career.
• Looking at your first few jobs out of college as continued education.
• Why it is beneficial to become a specialist and carve out a niche.
• How Hernandez transition from working in his business to working on his business. 
• Empowering your people to think for themselves.
• Giving your people something worth working for in your mission statement. 
• How Hernandez has gone as far as growing his own heritage, non-GMO corn for the purpose of providing the best possible meal for his guest
• Investing in your people.

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Knowledge bombs

1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?

   • Hard work.

2. What is your biggest weakness?

   • Hard to say no.

3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?

   • Make your interviewee comfortable. Once they get comfortable their true self comes out.

4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?

   • Managing growth and aligning talent with the right responsibilities and skill set.

5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.

   • Respect

6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?

   • Only hiring people with a certain heart for hospitality.

7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
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   1. Setting the Table: The Transformative Power of Hospitality in Business.
   2. Good to Great: Why Some Great Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't
   3. The Army's Handbook.

8. Share an online resource or tool.

   • The Tasting Table

9. What's one piece of technology you've adopted in your restaurant and how has it influence operations?

   • Good communication skills

10. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?

    1. Find your calling
    2. Be Patient
    3. Do your part in developing the youth today.

Contact Info

ChefJohnnyHernandez.com

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

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Huge thanks to Johnny Hernandez for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

 

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