🌱How to Think Like a Successful Multi-Unit Restaurant Owner (3 Mindset Shifts That Change Everything)
A 2 min read and 3 resources to help you grow.
I just finished reading "How Successful People Think" by John C. Maxwell, and holy shit, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
The book isn't about restaurants, but every page screamed truths about why some operators build empires while others stay stuck running one location forever.
Maxwell breaks down the thinking patterns that separate successful people from everyone else.
And here's the thing - most restaurant owners are stuck in survival mode thinking when they need to be thinking like empire builders.
If you're ready to scale beyond your current locations but feel overwhelmed by the complexity, let's talk. Schedule a conversation here and let's explore how to shift your thinking from operator to CEO.
I help independent restaurant owners develop the leadership mindset and systems needed to grow confidently.
Here are three mindset shifts from Maxwell's book that will transform how you approach multi-unit growth:
1. Think Possibilities, Not Limitations
Most restaurant owners think: "I can't expand because I don't have enough good managers."
Successful operators think: "How can I develop the systems and culture that create great managers?"
The difference? One mindset keeps you trapped. The other builds solutions.
Stop asking "What if it doesn't work?" Start asking "What if it does work, and how do I make sure it does?"
2. Think Systems, Not Tasks
Average operators think in terms of daily tasks and putting out fires.
Successful multi-unit owners think in terms of systems that work without them.
Maxwell talks about "big picture thinking" - the ability to see beyond the immediate and focus on what matters most.
When you're in location A, you should be confident that location B is running exactly as it should because your systems and people are solid.
3. Think Growth, Not Maintenance
Maintenance thinking asks: "How do I keep what I have?"
Growth thinking asks: "How do I multiply what I have?"
Maxwell emphasizes that successful people are always learning, always improving, always looking for the next level.
In restaurants, this means investing in your leadership development, creating promotion pathways for your team, and building processes that can scale.
The moment you stop growing as a leader is the moment your restaurants stop growing too.
The Bottom Line
Your restaurant's success is directly connected to how you think as a leader.
If you want different results, you need different thinking.
And if you want to build a multi-unit empire that runs without you, you need to start thinking like the CEO you're becoming, not the operator you've always been.
P.S. If these mindset shifts resonated with you, here are three additional ways I can support you:
One-on-one coaching - Let's work together to develop your leadership mindset and build the systems needed for sustainable growth. Visit christinmarvin.com/contact to get started.
Group coaching program - Join a small cohort of like-minded restaurant owners working together to implement these growth-focused mindset shifts and build scalable operations. Apply at christinmarvin.com/groupcoaching
Leadership workshops - Bring these concepts to your entire leadership team and create alignment around growth-focused thinking. Get started at christinmarvin.com
The question isn't whether you can scale successfully - it's whether you're willing to think differently to make it happen.
