Podcast Summary
Starting a business in a small town can lead to big success: Passion for a product, strong company culture, and personalized service are keys to business growth. Famous Dave's, Insparity, and Amica share their success stories.
Starting a business in a small, less competitive location can lead to great success. As heard in the story of Famous Dave's, the passion for serving smoked ribs, chicken, and brisket in Hayward, Wisconsin, led to the creation of one of the largest BBQ chains in the country. Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to the full story of how Famous Dave's grew, ad-free. Additionally, creating a strong company culture is essential for business growth. Insparity, a leading HR provider, offers guidance on building a culture aligned with business goals. Amica, a customer-owned insurance company, emphasizes the importance of empathy and personalized service. Lastly, the How I Built This book, now a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, shares secrets on developing an entrepreneurial mindset.
Growing up Native American: Pride, Hardships, and Cultural Traditions: Despite facing challenges like being taken away from families and forced to learn English, Native Americans instill pride in their heritage and pass down rich cultural traditions to their children through unique culinary practices and community gatherings.
The experiences of Dave Anderson's upbringing in a Native American family during the mid-20th century involved both hardships and rich cultural traditions. His parents, who grew up on different reservations and met at an Indian boarding school, instilled a strong sense of pride in their Indian heritage. Growing up, Dave and his family stood out with their unique culinary traditions, such as eating rib tips at black-owned barbecue joints in Chicago and harvesting wild rice and venison. Despite facing challenges like being taken away from their families and forced to learn English in boarding schools, Dave's parents managed to pass down their values and traditions to their son. Additionally, attending Indian powwows and selling Indian fry bread and wild rice soup helped Dave learn the importance of cooking outdoors and appreciating naturally harvested foods. Overall, Dave's story highlights the resilience and strength of the Native American community and the importance of preserving cultural traditions.
From problematic student to successful entrepreneur: Despite academic struggles and labels, success comes from seizing opportunities and believing in oneself.
Despite struggling in school and being labeled as a problematic student due to undiagnosed ADHD, the speaker found success through unexpected opportunities. This included an encounter with motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, who inspired him to pursue entrepreneurship by selling fuel additives. The speaker's father, who initially doubted his abilities, was won over by Zig Ziglar's message and provided him with the financial support to start. This experience showed the speaker that success isn't determined by academic achievements or labels, but by seizing opportunities and believing in oneself.
Believing in yourself can lead to unexpected opportunities: Hard work and self-belief can transform struggles into successes. Keep an open mind for new opportunities and believe in your unique abilities.
Personal growth and determination can lead to unexpected opportunities. The speaker shares his experience of struggling to sell his father's Steed oil and gas conditioners, but the sales training he received helped him build confidence and transform himself into a successful salesperson. He eventually found success in selling terrariums, which he discovered while working at a new store location. Through hard work and an eye for arranging plants, he was able to create unique and special terrariums that caught the attention of buyers. This experience taught him the importance of believing in himself and seeing opportunities where others might not.
Determination and networking led to business success: Anderson's persistence and connections helped him overcome challenges and secure a loan, but an unexpected event ultimately impacted his business.
Determination and networking were key factors in the success of Anderson's business. Despite facing numerous challenges, including lack of collateral and assets, Anderson persisted and was eventually given an opportunity by Mr. Ashton to sell his terrariums and dish gardens at a local bank. This led to a successful promotion and eventually, a loan from the bank's president. However, even with significant growth and revenue, the business was ultimately impacted by an unexpected event - the Chicago Blizzard of 1979, which caused widespread gridlock and financial hardship for many businesses, including Anderson's.
Dave overcame bankruptcy and transformed struggling businesses for his tribe with help from motivational speaker Zig Ziglar: Dave's determination and identification of morale and focus issues led to significant business improvements after seeking help from motivational speaker Zig Ziglar
During the early 1980s, Dave faced financial hardships and went bankrupt due to a snowstorm. Later, he helped turn around several businesses for his Native American tribe in Wisconsin, realizing that morale and a lack of focus on success were major issues. He sought help from motivational speaker Zig Ziglar and brought his managers to Ziglar's "Born to Win" course. This led to significant improvements in the businesses, and within three years, they were profitable and recognized as one of the top eight most progressive tribes in the country. Inspired by this success, Dave went on to pursue a master's degree in public administration at Harvard, finally completing his education and focusing on community development. Despite earlier struggles, Dave's determination and ability to identify and address key issues led to remarkable transformations.
Discovering opportunities in unexpected places: Identifying unique opportunities and having the courage to pursue them can lead to great success, creating wealth and employment opportunities for communities.
Seeing opportunities where others don't and having the courage to pursue them can lead to great success. The speaker, a Harvard graduate, discovered this when he saw the potential in large-scale bingo games in the early days of Indian casinos. By offering a $20,000 jackpot instead of the usual $1,000, he attracted huge crowds and became known in Indian country. This led to a consulting business and the founding of Grand Casinos, which eventually went public and built eight casinos across the country, including the Stratosphere in Las Vegas. The speaker's success not only brought him personal wealth but also helped tribes develop their gaming industries and provide employment. However, he eventually left the gaming world in the 1990s. This story highlights the importance of identifying opportunities, taking risks, and making a positive impact on communities.
From casino gaming to barbecue: Following passion leads to success: Passion, grit, and determination are essential for building successful businesses, even in unexpected places
Passion and determination can lead to success even in unexpected places. The speaker, Dave Anderson, didn't want to be known for his casino gaming career and instead pursued his love for barbecue. He started by inviting friends over to taste his creations and eventually opened a restaurant in Hayward, Wisconsin, a town not known for southern barbecue. Despite skepticism, he persevered and his business grew, eventually leading to expansion. Atlassian, a software company, shares a similar story of determination and innovation, using AI to transform teamwork and improve workflows for companies around the world. Passion, grit, and determination are key ingredients for building successful businesses.
Using advanced tools and collaboration for accelerated results: Collaboration and advanced tools like Atlassian's JIRA and Confluence, American Express Business Gold Card rewards, and C4 Smart Energy can significantly enhance productivity and help teams achieve great results.
Collaboration and the use of advanced tools can significantly accelerate work and help teams achieve great results. Atlassian's AI-powered software, such as JIRA and Confluence, can assist in accomplishing tasks that would be difficult to do alone. Similarly, American Express Business Gold Card offers rewards that can help businesses grow. Meanwhile, C4 Smart Energy provides a boost to enhance mental focus and productivity. Dave Anderson, the founder of Famous Dave's, demonstrates the importance of continuous learning and improvement in creating high-quality barbecue. He spent 20 years perfecting his recipes by studying other barbecue joints and experimenting with different ingredients and cooking methods. Despite the challenges of starting a business in a small town, he named it "Famous Dave's" with the hope of eventually gaining recognition. The success of Famous Dave's can be attributed to the emphasis on quality, the use of advanced techniques, and the unique flavors that open up the taste buds.
Creating an exceptional customer experience: Focusing on small details can lead to buzz and attract customers, even without formal advertising.
Attention to detail and creating an exceptional customer experience can lead to tremendous success, even without traditional advertising. Famous Dave's, a remote barbecue restaurant in Hayward, Wisconsin, became famous for its delicious food and meticulously designed dining environment, which included top-notch bathrooms, music, and antiques. The owner, Dave Anderson, had a clear vision of what he wanted to be the best at, and he executed it flawlessly. Word of mouth spread quickly, and people traveled long distances to experience Famous Dave's. The success of the first restaurant led to the opening of more locations, all without any formal advertising. The key lesson here is that focusing on the small details and providing an exceptional customer experience can create a buzz and attract customers, even in unlikely locations.
Personal struggles and business success: Recognizing and addressing personal struggles can prevent negative consequences for both personal life and business success.
Personal struggles, such as alcoholism, can significantly impact professional success. Dave, the founder of Famous Dave's, shares his experience of how his heavy drinking, which he later recognized as alcoholism, affected his personal life and his business. He was unaware of the issue due to the prevalence of alcoholism in his family. Dave's drinking escalated to the point of an intervention by his family and friends. After recognizing the toll it took on his loved ones, he chose to seek treatment and has been sober for 25 years. Simultaneously, Dave's business was thriving, with the opening of multiple locations and the decision to take the company public. However, going public led to the loss of control over the company, resulting in a shift to a franchise model that Dave wishes had been kept within the family. This story highlights the importance of addressing personal struggles and the potential consequences of outside influences on a business.
Maintaining quality and consistency in a franchise business: Staying true to core values and mission is crucial for maintaining quality and consistency in a franchise business, even during growth and change.
Maintaining quality and consistency in a business, especially in the food industry, can be challenging when transitioning to a franchise model. Famous Dave's founder, Dave Anderson, shared how he was inspired by keeping things simple and in threes when creating the original menu and training programs. He invested heavily in developing the best training programs to ensure the quality of food and service. However, when the company went public and brought in outside CEOs and corporate folks, Anderson felt that he was losing control over the business and that the focus shifted towards meeting earnings reports rather than maintaining the core values of the brand. In hindsight, Anderson wishes he had fought harder to keep the business focused on its roots and smaller footprints. This experience underscores the importance of staying true to the core values and mission of a business, even during periods of growth and change.
Personal convictions vs. government politics: Former assistant secretary Dave Anderson's entrepreneurial spirit clashed with the bureaucracy of government, causing frustration and eventual departure. However, perseverance and resilience led him back to his business.
Personal convictions and entrepreneurial spirit can clash with the politics and bureaucracy of high-level government jobs. Dave Anderson, a former assistant secretary, shared his experience of having to sign away all business interests to serve in the White House, which led to a loss of entrepreneurial spirit and eventual frustration. Despite his best intentions to encourage entrepreneurship within the tribes, he felt stifled and gridlocked in the political system. After leaving Washington D.C., he was devastated when the board of Famous Dave's refused to give him a seat, despite still being a major shareholder. This experience left him feeling shattered and questioning how his lifelong ambitions could be discarded so easily. However, a surprise phone call eventually brought him back to the business, demonstrating the importance of perseverance and resilience in the face of setbacks.
Preserving a company's unique identity during leadership changes: Leadership transitions can threaten a company's identity and values. Founders must protect their interests and maintain control to preserve authenticity and customer loyalty.
When a business undergoes significant changes in leadership and direction, it can lead to the loss of the founding vision and identity. In the case of Famous Dave's, the new CEO, Ed Rensey, tried to modernize the brand by removing elements that were integral to its history and authenticity, such as the use of garbage can lids for serving barbecue and the preservation of antique decor. This angered the founder, Dave Anderson, who felt that his expertise and passion for barbecue were being disregarded. Eventually, Anderson was financially, legally, and emotionally separated from the company, despite the pleas of loyal franchise owners and customers for his return. The incident highlights the importance of preserving a company's unique identity and values, especially during times of transition. It also underscores the need for founders to seek sound legal and financial advice to protect their interests and maintain control over their brands.
Founder's return revitalizes Famous Dave's: Famous Dave's turned around by reconnecting with roots, new CEO's passion, and focus on training, buybacks, and classic menu items.
The success of Famous Dave's restaurant chain hinges on its connection to its people and its roots. This was highlighted when the founder, Dave Anderson, was persuaded to return to the company in 2016, driven by a desire to reconnect with the franchise owners and loyal customers. The company, which was struggling at the time, recognized the need to reinvest in its training programs, buy back franchises, and return to its classic menu items. A new CEO, Jeff Cravillo, who grew up loving Famous Dave's, was instrumental in this turnaround. Cravillo's passion for the brand and his willingness to engage with franchise partners and even work in the restaurants himself, helped to reinvigorate the company. Today, Famous Dave's remains publicly traded and is adapting to the challenges of the pandemic by focusing on delivery and its picnic-style menu that travels well.
Bouncing back from adversity: Despite facing personal and professional challenges, Famous Dave's founder Dave Anderson persevered, learned from his mistakes, and continued to make a positive impact through his business and creating opportunities.
Resilience and determination are key to overcoming adversity and achieving success. Dave Anderson, the founder of Famous Dave's, has faced numerous challenges throughout his career and personal life, including struggling with ADHD and alcoholism, losing his business, and facing academic obstacles. However, he has always bounced back stronger and continues to make a positive impact on people's lives through his business and creating opportunities. Anderson believes that life's struggles and valleys are essential for growth and learning, and that if one is not taking risks and making mistakes, they won't know what's possible. Despite facing adversity, Anderson's original recipes for Famous Dave's have stood the test of time, and the brand has achieved significant success, with products in major retailers across America. Anderson values his legacy and the impact he's made on people's lives more than wealth, and he attributes his accomplishments not only to his hard work and perseverance but also to his unwavering dedication to his dreams.
Importance of being open-minded when faced with new challenges: Staying curious and open to new experiences, even when unfamiliar, can lead to unexpected discoveries and growth.
The guest shared a story about being caught off guard when they were asked to cook with tofu, despite having no prior knowledge or experience with it. This lack of familiarity led to a significant loss. This experience highlights the importance of being open-minded and adaptable, especially when faced with new situations or challenges. Additionally, the episode featured promotions for various podcasts and sponsors, emphasizing the value of continuous learning and exploration. Whether it's through cooking, business, or listening to podcasts, staying curious and willing to try new things can lead to unexpected discoveries and growth.
