THE EL ARROYO SIGN STOLE MY CLEVER INTRO!

Join us for this week's episode of Unlocking Moves with Clay McPhail - the restauranteur behind Austin's iconic El Arroyo Tex-Mex restaurant and its legendary roadside sign! Known for its witty, satirical, and sometimes controversial messages, the El Arroyo sign has captured the hearts and occasionally provoked the tempers of Austinites for decades. But there’s much more to Clay’s story than clever jokes and Tex-Mex!

Unlocking Moves dives into the pivotal moments in a leader's journey that unlocked their true potential! Most of us only like to talk about our "glory" stories - but host Kurt Wilkin is a firm believer that we learn more from our stumbles and mistakes, our "gory" stories.

In this week’s episode, Clay reveals the accidental origins of the witty (and sometimes controversial) El Arroyo sign, and how the sign became both an amazing marketing superpower AND the bane of his existence (because he and his team had to come up with clever new messages EVERY…SINGLE…DAY for over 25 years!

Clay also shares his origin story - from working his way through college at Texas to creating the legendary and controversial sign and the Tex Mex brand you know and love - with many lessons learned along the way. Clay reflects on the courage required to leap into entrepreneurship and missed opportunities, and he shares the raw and unexpected power that mentorship can have on those around us. Whether you're a fan of the infamous signs, or interested in the journey of a legendary restauranteur, this episode is for you!

(00:00:00 ) From Sandra Bullock to Elf on the Shelf – 26 Years of El Arroyo

(00:01:50 ) The Dumbledore Sign and Viral Marketing Backlash

(00:03:34 ) Clay’s Accidental Path from Insurance to Restaurant Empire

(00:05:04 ) The Yellow Legal Pad Pitch That Launched El Arroyo

(00:10:53 ) Sponsor – HireBetter: Your Strategic Talent Partner

(00:11:15 ) Building a Legacy with Humor – The Power of the Sign

(00:17:10 ) Why Clay Left Restaurants After 26 Years (and Came Back)

(00:18:45 ) Launching 5280 Burger Bar in Denver and Returning to Austin

(00:22:48 ) Unlocking Move: Bet on Yourself and Say “Yes”

(00:29:45 ) Do You Wanna Know Who's Your Mike? Take the Quiz Here

About Clay McPhail - Clay has over 35 years of experience in the restaurant industry. He’s the former owner, founder & CEO of El Arroyo restaurant and creator of it’s famous sign, and now the owner of 5280 Burger Bar. Clay is a legend and continues to impact lives through food, laughter, and genuine connections.

About Kurt Wilkin - Kurt is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For over 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as chairman of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He's a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unlocking-moves

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unlockingmoves

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