929: Robert St. John Founder & CEO New South Restaurant Group

Robert St. John grew up in Jackson, Mississippi. At age 19, Robert entered the restaurant industry at a delicatessen where he became the manager. During his very first shift at that job, he decided that he wanted to make restaurants his career. After struggling with substance abuse in his early adulthood, Robert got completely clean in 1983 and went to school to study the industry and in 1987 he opened his first restaurant, The Purple Parrot, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He opened that restaurant with 2 other partners, and he believes partnerships are the right way to go toward success in this industry, still to this day. His restaurant group, New South Restaurant Group, now has 10 unique concepts throughout Mississippi. New South Restaurant group includes: Crescent City Grill, Tabella, The Midtowner, Ed's Burger Joint, The Mahogany Bar, El Rayo, Highball Lanes, The Capri Theater, The Pearl, and Lakewood Social. You can check them all out right here.

Show notes…

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Favorite successes quote or mantra:

• "Onward."

In this episode with Robert St. John we will discuss:

• Get a little bit better every day
• The benefits of partners
• Restaurant culture
• Labor shortage today

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Knowledge bombs

1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • Passion
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • Not being able to say no
3. What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team?
   • Happy people
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • Labor
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Honesty
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • Look for every opportunity to say yes
7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   • Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
   • GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 
8. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations?
   • The Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast (thank you, Robert!)
9. What is one thing you feel restaurateurs don't do well enough or often enough?
   • Don't prioritize their family
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?
    • Prioritize family
    • Prioritize friends
    • Prioritize coworkers

Contact:

nsrg.com

robertstjohn.com

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Robert St. John for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

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