Restaurant Owner Quizzes Restaurant Coach on Operations and Success

In this special episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, I turn the mic over to one of my longtime members and friends, Raul Gonzalez, for a segment we call Flip the Table. Gonzalez is not only an inspiring restaurant owner but also a shining example of what happens when you commit to systems, leadership and constant improvement. In this episode, Gonzalez asks the questions — diving into my background, the lessons I’ve learned and the core of what drives me to help restaurant owners every single day. You’ll get an inside look at the mindset and systems behind the Restaurant Prosperity Formula — and how Gonzalez used them to completely transform his business.

The key takeaways from this podcast episode

Gonzalez starts the conversation by sharing his own story — how he went from running a tiny 998-square-foot kitchen to generating millions in sales and eventually expanding into multiple locations. He opens up about the mistakes he made early on, how he bought out his business partner and how the systems I teach helped him turn everything around. His experience sets the stage for a raw and honest discussion about what it really takes to succeed in the restaurant business.

You’ll learn why I developed these systems in the first place — how my background in restaurant operations and my experience building from the ground up pushed me to find better ways of running restaurants. I talk about the exact turning point that lit the fire in me to teach others: realizing I could take everything I’d learned, from Excel programming to cash flow management, and give restaurant owners the tools to thrive.

We cover the biggest pitfalls I see in this industry, especially when it comes to leadership and financial planning. Too many restaurant owners operate without budgets, rely on their gut or get stuck in the weeds trying to do everything themselves. I break down how you can avoid those traps and how systems help compensate for your weaknesses, whether you're a people-first leader or a numbers-driven operator.

I also share what I consider the three most critical systems no restaurant should operate without: checklists to enforce standards and build consistency, recipe costing cards to control food costs and a proactive budget to steer the business. These tools allow owners to regain control and run profitable operations — even in today’s high-cost environment.

Finally, we go deep into what keeps me motivated: seeing transformations like Gonzalez's. Watching someone go from struggling to thriving, taking control of their business, their life and their financial future is exactly why I do what I do. We get personal, too. I open up about moments of doubt in my own career, who inspired me along the way and the one piece of advice I’d give to my younger self.

Whether you're just starting out or you've been in the restaurant game for years, this episode is packed with insights that can help you make real, lasting change. Listen in to hear a powerful success story — and maybe start writing your own.

Click the podcast player above to listen in, or you can watch the video on YouTube, click here to download the latest episode.