GJ Hart grew up in a household of hard-working immigrant parents who taught him about the importance of taking a risk to end up in a better place. Although he was good enough at basketball to attract interest from colleges, GJ eschewed college hoops for working his way through James Madison University while sending much-needed checks home to support his family.
His work ethic and capacity for taking risks took him from hanging turkeys at a poultry farm to pay his way through college to a career in which he has been at the top of some of the country’s most successful restaurant businesses. Over 35 years in the industry, he served as executive chairman and CEO of California Pizza Kitchen and CEO of Texas Roadhouse, where during his ten years there, he transformed the brand, overseeing growth in revenue from $63 million per year when he arrived to more than $1 billion annually when he moved. He wanted to take on one more challenge when he decided to head to Austin in 2018 to join the rocket ship that is Torchy’s Tacos, one of the fastest-growing brands in America.
A proud graduate of James Madison University, GJ wanted to offer opportunities to students like himself and, in 2012, made a substantial donation of his time and resources that led the university to place his name atop the Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management. In this episode, GJ shares why he hires for attitude over ability and offers listeners six proven lessons for leadership.
You will learn:
- 4:30 How basketball shaped GJ’s leadership.
- 12:30 How to hire for attitude over skill.
- 16:30 How to create trust on your team.
- 22:30 What a great entrepreneur needs to succeed.
- 29:00 Lessons from Torchy’s Tacos’ Owner Mike Rypka.
- 31:30 Six strategies for effective leadership.
Resources:
- Find a Torchy’s Tacos location near you.
- Read my Forbes article on GJ Hart.
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