Meet Joan Hutchinson | Restaurant Coach/Consultant, Public Speaker & Podcast Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joan Hutchinson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joan, how do you think about risk?
Its funny. I have been described as a risk taker, though I never really thought of myself that way.

Risks, they are just choices. They could be as simple as a clothing choice, to where you choose to live and work.
I think of CHOICES as an adventure. When my husband decided to go to culinary school, we chose one that was somewhere we hadn’t been before. When the opportunity arose to take over a restaurant in Southern California, we jumped at it.
It is so important to step outside your comfort zone. Think of the missed opportunities to meet great people and go on great adventures if you wouldn’t take that “risk”.
What is interesting- the successful people I have interviewed on You Can Do It TOO! haven’t seen their actions as risky. They didn’t have fear around the choices they made that made them successful. I connect the word “risk” with fear – and that just doesn’t help anyone!
I want as much adventure as possible in this life- as Helen Keller said, “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all.”
I’m willing to step outside my comfort zone and go for it. That has created some terrific learning opportunities for me.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Wow- that is a lot! I am a public speaker – focusing on building strong teams and the importance of teamwork, a Business Coach/Consultant, specializing in Independent Restaurants, and a Podcast Host – my show You Can Do It TOO! – tells the same stories you are! I talk with successful people about where they started, how they overcame fears and obstacles, and ask for their advice.
I really enjoy working with professionals and helping them reach their goals. I worked with a top insurance sales professional who was having one of her worst years. We worked together to define her personal and professional goals, created steps to reach those goals and checked in weekly to create accountability. By the end of that year, she had reached her sales goals and made it to the top sales conference – only the top 20 in the company were invited.

I am super proud of You Can Do It TOO! I look for people who are successful at what they do, and who I think have important information to share with other business owners/managers and people in general. One of my favorite episodes was on Networking. Knowing how to talk with people you don’t know is so important, for all of us. We need to step outside our comfort zone if we want to accomplish great things. I had three women who rock at networking on the show – they gave lots of tips, and were super entertaining.
My goal with the show is not only to inspire folks, but to give them tools to be successful.

I have been in hospitality since I was 16 years old. I worked my way through all front of the house positions, including management. My husband and I started a catering company after he graduated from culinary school. I loved it. I loved meeting all the challenges involved in off-premise catering. We would cater everywhere, from homes to event sites, and even parks. We would set up kitchens out in the middle of nowhere – it was crazy!
Then we found a restaurant in Southern California. We took over as the management team, building the event business, and serving lunch and dinner. We bought the place shortly after taking over. Then the economy tanked(2008). Since our business was so tied into events, we had to shut the restaurant down. That was the toughest thing to get through – we had employees who depended on us.
But, we shut it down, moved to St. Louis and started over. I went to college and got a Bachelor in Business Management and Marketing. My husband became a Chef Instructor at a culinary school there. We learned, we grew. I think I needed that degree to gain my confidence back.
I worked for some big hospitality companies after that – I assumed that big companies that had big budgets could afford to hire and train properly. They might be able to afford that, but from what I have learned – they often don’t!

Since then, I have been working with small business owners and professionals, guiding them on their quest to reach and exceed their goals. I help them fill in the gaps with tools for hiring and training, reporting and tracking, and I do a lot of listening – really listening.
My biggest lessons – care about people. Respect your employees if you want them to respect you. Take the time to give your employees the tools they need to do an exceptional job, and they will!
Step Up and take responsibility. If you make a mistake, admit it and move on.
AND – it’s better to do something you like and fail, than to continue to do something you hate! Go For It! What is the worst that can happen?!?

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I always go to the zoo wherever I go – Phoenix has a great one- you gotta love a zoo with komodo dragons.
The Botanical garden is a must! Who knew there were so many kinds of cacti, and they have some really cool programs
Make sure to plan a hike on Camelback, Echo Canyon Trail is a tough hike but the view is worth it!
While in Phenix, you have to try Belly Kitchen and Bar – truly different and delicious
Also try Sottise, its got a cool hip vibe, and the food is good too! Classic French Bistro style

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh my gosh, there are so many people that have made me who I am! My mother was an amazing role model. My father died when I was 3, there were 6 girls living at home and mom was going to school to be a teacher. She finished school, then went to work- even got her Masters Degree. She drove all 6 of us across country (aged 4 to 15, from California to Michigan and into Canada) to visit family. She seemed to have no fear. She told me daily that I could do or be whatever I wanted to be as long as I put my mind to it. She regularly proved it to me!

Also love Mel Robbins – pretty much everything she does, Jen Sincero’s You are a Badass, and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic.

Website: https://www.yourrestaurantmaven.com/

Instagram: @yourrestaurantmaven

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-hutchinson-26167361/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YourRestaurantMaven

Youtube: @youcandoittoo9305

Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/2spJRgZBVVmWoXxeAFl7eC?si=c0bba123f2554409

Image Credits
Joan and Chef – no credit needed Black and White – Jennifer Haese Brianna Shrader, Shy Heart Studios – third photo