🧠 “I knew right away I wasn’t going to be happy just executing someone else’s plan.” -Mark Brezinski

That mindset shaped decades of restaurant innovation, from the King Solomon Burger at age 16, to concepting Velvet Taco, Pei Wei, Tin Star, EatZi’s, and more.

This week’s episode of the Business of Joy features Mark Brezinski, restaurant conceptor, consultant, & author of Food Fight!


In our conversation on The Business of Joy, we talk about:


🍴 His surprising first jobs (and first off menu item)


🧭 The equation he teaches young leaders: 1/3 of your time controls the other 2/3

⭐️ Why BBQ is the perfect fast casual North Star


📉 The personal bankruptcy that taught him more than any success ever did


📚 What his book revealed to friends who thought they knew him


🔥 Why “authentically good” matters more than “authentic” or “good” alone

Check out Oak'd BBQ: https://www.instagram.com/oakdbbq/?hl=en

#businessofjoy #RestaurantIndustry #HospitalityLeadership #BrandBuilding #RestaurantInnovation

What’s the mistake too many young leaders make?

🚫 Skipping steps. 🚫 Skipping the struggle.

This week’s episode of The Business of Joy podcast features Andrew K. Smith, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Savory Fund!

From cleaning kennels at 14 to co-founding a $500M fund, his story is a playbook for gritty, joyful leadership.

We talked about:

💸 The truth about today’s fundraising climate—and where opportunity still lives

🔄 What legacy brands can learn from emerging ones

🌟 “Don’t be a know-it-all. Be a learn-it-all.”

🌱 How restaurants (and leaders) can be the light others lean toward

💡 Why he believes positivity breeds success

What struck me most? His ability to dream big and stay grounded.

🎧 One of my favorite conversations yet. Packed with perspective, wisdom, and unforgettable one-liners.

And BTW—we even talk favorite bands and music. So cool.

Here were two of the bands that Andrew mentioned:

Zola Blood: https://www.youtube.com/@ZOLABLOOD/videos

Washed Out: https://www.youtube.com/@realwashedout/videos

❌ Innovation by committee.

❌ Waiting for approval.


❌ Endless alignment meetings.

It’s not working. And Rita McGrath, C-suite strategist, professor at Columbia Business School and Founder of Valize, says it’s time to stop pretending it is!

In our latest Business of Joy episode, she breaks down what happens when teams go permissionless—and why it leads to:

✅ 75% faster execution


✅ Smarter, more motivated teams


✅ Strategy that actually keeps up with reality

We also dug into Gen Z, leadership blind spots, and how small changes (just 2% better!) lead to big reinvention.

If you're clinging to hierarchy, you’re already behind!

Rita's Website: https://www.ritamcgrath.com/

Her Thought Sparks Podcast: https://www.ritamcgrath.com/podcast/

Velize: https://velize.com/

Rita's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/rgmcgrath

Her Current Bedside Book: https://www.amazon.com/Wiring-Winning-Organization-Slowification-Simplification/dp/1950508420

From flipping pancakes to flipping strategy—this episode goes where most interviews don’t. 🎙️

Today on The Business of Joy, I’m joined by Julia Stewart, CEO and Founder of Alurx. You may know the highlights: starting as a 16-year-old server at IHOP, leading one of the largest restaurant acquisitions in history, and launching a bold second act in health tech.

But in this episode, we go deeper. Julia shares untold moments from her journey: what it really takes to reinvent, take risks, and lead with relentless curiosity. Just a few of the many highlight moments:

🍽️ Read the table. What she learned at IHOP when she was 16 years old still applies in boardrooms today—it starts with reading the table, trust, and connection.

🛣️ Don’t stay in your lane. Julia didn’t wait for permission to pivot. She chased the experience she knew she needed.

🔄 Reinvention doesn’t have a retirement age. Her second act isn’t a side project, it’s bold, future-facing, and deeply personal.

🌟 Leadership is about giving people hope. Because you never know when your words will be the ones they remember.

🎁 BONUS:

1️⃣ After the official interview, we kept talking, then decided to hit record again. Don’t miss the 8 extra minutes of never-before-shared stories.

2️⃣ And yes… we’re posting the full video for this one and the full episode! Remember..... 💛 Joy is a choice we make—and a business we build. Keep investing in joy.

What if the biggest risk to your business... is your mindset?

Many of you know, I just returned from The Reinvention Summit in Dublin, what some are now calling the “Davos for Doers.”

My guest this week is straight from Dublin, Aidan McCullen, a former international rugby player, global keynote speaker, and one of the masterminds behind the Reinvention Summit. Let me tell you, after hearing Aidan at the conference, I had to have him on this show to share his wisdom with all of you!

From selling strawberries as a kid on the side of an Irish highway, to helping big brands navigate constant change, Aidan lives and breathes reinvention. He has insatiable curiosity. His frameworks are grounded by his love of literary classics and nature.

We talked about:

🌀 Why the “S-curve” of growth is broken—and what to replace it with

🌳 What stress wood, butterflies, and murmurations teach us about leading through change

♾️ How to build a mindset of permanent reinvention as a leader and as a company

I hope this episodes helps you reframe how you think about transformation, resilience, and what it really takes to grow something that lasts.

LINKS:

Murmurations:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/murmuration-organisations-flying-haier-aidan-mccullen-xds8e

Infinity Curve

https://thethursdaythought.substack.com/p/organisational-and-personal-autophagy-the-innovation-show-3d7d5e91f327

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/avoiding-burden-curve-gift-from-your-younger-self-aidan-mccullen-rbepf/

We Are All Astronauts:

https://youtu.be/Boywptyj4xk?si=-ET2vC3lj6tlFIaT

The Book Aidan is currently reading:

https://a.co/d/9zaxiPr

CFO Michelle Hook of Portillo’s joins me to talk about the ingredients behind one of the most craveable brands in the business!

From her first paper route at 13 to overseeing finance, IT, and supply chain for a $9M-AUV powerhouse, Michelle shares so many great insights and leadership lessons.

In this episode:

📰 How coin rolls, customer notes, and rainy-day tips shaped her leadership style

🍕 What Domino’s taught her about technology, timing, and transformation

🎓 Why she went back for her MBA, and what changed because of it

🥤 Chocolate cake shakes and all the moments that make up Portillo’s crave-worthy culture

📈 How Portillo’s is growing fast, even though just 1% of revenue is spent on marketing

The big takeaway from the episode? You don’t need a big budget to create big moments that matter!

John Summit x Portillo's: https://www.instagram.com/johnsummit/p/DA8l6r0uzCB/?hl=en&img_index=1

#Portillos #BusinessOfJoy #Technology #Finance #LeadershipLessons

🌟 NEW PODCAST EPISODE 🌟

I had the absolute joy of sitting down with Danny Klein, VP Editorial Director at WTWH Media (QSR, FSR Magazines), for a conversation that I can't stop thinking about.

We covered so much ground:

💡 How a “breathless” review turned into a rallying cry for differentiation

🤝 Why building a community beats chasing clicks

🛡️ Why authenticity is a business superpower

🎤 And how sometimes, true leadership is handing the mic to others and cheering them on

The conversation is a great reminder that leadership isn't about a title. It’s about taking care of the people who put their trust in you.

There’s so much wisdom packed into this episode, along with a few heartwarming stories about dogs, dads, and daring to try 🐾💛

#BusinessOfJoy #Leadership #Community #Innovation #Authenticity #Podcast

Brand reinvention is about so much more than products! Sharon Price John is the CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, but she's also a storyteller, an innovator, and an empathetic leader who knows how to build real connection.

Sharon’s journey spans Barbie, Mattel, Hasbro, and now Build-A-Bear — but what ties it all together is how she leads: with purpose, clarity, and compassion.

In this conversation, we covered:

🧸 How Build-A-Bear evolved into a multigenerational brand with 40% of sales from teens and adults

🎓 What the toy industry can teach all of us about innovation, speed, and reinvention

📦 An amazing “box of love” story that will melt your heart (and change how you think about leadership)

📕 Get Sharon’s book, Stories & Heart: https://www.amazon.com/Stories-Heart-Unlock-Personal-Create/dp/1950863441

#leadership #brandstrategy #innovation #thebusinessofjoy

#buildabear #retail