In this insightful interview, the founder of Coffee Junkiez and Pizza Junkiez shares his journey of entrepreneurship, the struggles of running a business, and the values that shape his leadership. From the challenges of hiring and firing to the unique story behind the famous Dorito Taco Pizza, this conversation highlights the importance of accountability, teamwork, and innovation in the food and beverage industry.

Discover what it takes to build a business that lasts, navigate the toughest moments, and create a company culture where employees feel valued beyond just being a number.

00:00:00 - 00:00:03 – Opening Question

• Have you ever been close to going out of business?

00:00:03 - 00:00:05 – Entrepreneurship Struggles

• "I don't have enough fingers and toes."

00:00:06 - 00:00:11 – Challenges of Letting Go

• Insights on hiring and firing struggles.

• Learning from a business coach about outsourcing difficult decisions.

00:00:19 - 00:00:23 – Innovation in Business

• The origin story of the Dorito Taco Pizza and how personal experiences influence menu creativity.

00:00:45 - 00:01:11 – Company Culture & Leadership

• Getting employees to understand the bigger picture.

• Aligning personal interests with the company's success.

00:01:11 - 00:01:30 – Documenting the Business Journey

• The importance of sharing business growth over time.

00:01:30 - 00:02:20 – Employee Recognition & Loyalty

• Appreciation for committed employees.

• The impact of work ethic and reliability on business success.

00:02:26 - 00:02:58 – The Challenges of the Food & Beverage Industry

• Managing stress and pressure in a high-paced environment.

• Finding and retaining reliable employees.

00:03:33 - 00:04:10 – Hiring Philosophy

• What traits are essential for a strong team?

• The importance of accountability, reliability, and teamwork.

00:05:12 - 00:06:06 – The Power of Passion & Practice

• How learning an instrument shaped problem-solving skills and perseverance.

00:07:30 - 00:08:11 – Keeping Passion as a Hobby vs. a Career

• The balance between passion and financial stability.

00:08:48 - 00:09:02 – Open Q&A: Business Insights

• Employee-led discussion with curiosity-driven questions.

00:09:06 - 00:11:12 – The Business of Dorito Taco Pizza

• How a childhood favorite evolved into a menu staple.

• The thought process behind making standout menu items.

00:11:56 - 00:13:07 – Considering Live Music at Coffee Junkiez

• Past experiences with live music and poetry readings.

• The challenges of organizing in-store events.

00:14:42 - 00:16:02 – What Makes a Great Employee?

• The challenge of finding the right candidates.

• The importance of accountability over victim mentality.

00:19:22 - 00:21:00 – Entrepreneurship Mindset & Success Principles

• The mindset shift required to build a long-lasting business.

• How to overcome failure and push forward.

00:29:02 - 00:31:02 – Surviving Near Business Failures

• Five times the business was close to shutting down.

• Lessons from staying resilient.

00:34:12 - 00:35:44 – The Loneliness of Leadership

• The burden of protecting employees from financial realities.

• How to maintain morale during tough times.

00:35:44 - 00:37:00 – What Other Businesses Could Have Been Created?

• Why food & beverage was the best fit for his background.

• Thoughts on other industries and their challenges.

00:40:46 - 00:42:19 – Customer Experience & Quality Control

• The philosophy behind consistency in every product.

• How to build long-term customer loyalty.

00:46:07 - 00:49:20 – Video Games & Business Strategy

• The transition from arcade classics to modern gaming.

• Parallels between gaming and business challenges.

00:50:52 - 00:53:20 – Passion vs. Competency in Business

• Why following competency over passion leads to success.

• Developing skills that later become passions.

00:55:50 - 00:58:28 – Building a Business Culture of Loyalty & Teamwork

• Why employees choose to work at Coffee Junkiez.

• The importance of seeing employees as more than just numbers.

01:01:03 - 01:03:32 – Final Thoughts: The Future of Coffee Junkiez & Pizza Junkiez

• The importance of consistency, culture, and customer loyalty.

• Why every product and experience matters.

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