What if the fastest way to build a profitable company is to stop building for profit? That’s the paradox at the heart of our conversation with Ron Ladner, the force behind Shaggy’s—the waterfront restaurant brand born in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and powered by a mission to make every guest leave happier than they arrived. We trace the journey from storm surge and rescue boats to a million guests a year, and the surprising operating system that made it possible: solve your team’s real problems, design for joy, and protect culture with simple, scalable systems.

Ron breaks down how he and partner Rimmer turned a devastated harbour into a community hub, then resisted the urge to chase unit count. Owning their real estate, expanding existing footprints, and adopting a team-service model transformed four-hour waits into smooth hospitality while lifting take-home pay through pooled tips and shared accountability. We dig into the details—why eliminating a suspended licence can change a life and a P&L, how one mission statement outperforms a stack of checklists, and what it takes to keep average tenure at three years in an industry where 75 days is normal.

We also step offshore. From blue marlin in the Caribbean to a kids’ first-fish program with the University of Southern Mississippi, Ron shows how time in nature restores focus, deepens relationships, and quietly trains leaders. His new book, Shaggy’s Cheeseburgers, captures the playbook: turn setbacks into strength, measure success by lives impacted, and let a humble cheeseburger stand for comfort, hope, and home.

If you care about leadership, customer service, restaurant culture, or building a resilient brand without selling your soul, this story will challenge how you work. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s building something real, and leave a review to help more people find the show.