This week, we speak with Chon Nguyen, partner with The Proper House, a multi-unit Tampa Bay area hospitality company with brands that include the Rooster & the Till, Gallito Taqueria and the Nebraska Mini Mart. Chon also founded an IT services company, Newgentek, that's behind Fusionprep, a kitchen recipe software program for multi-unit restaurants.

Together, we talk about how — and why — Chon balances running business in two industries, the lessons Chon has learned in adapting to customer needs and what he looks for in employees and leaders.

3 Takeaways:

1. (08:00) If you are growing your business, treat your processes like you are larger than you are
2. (13:30) You don’t have to go ‘all in’ if your product is outstanding
3. (20:40) Treat your team members with the same level of hospitality as you would treat customers

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Chon Nguyen, serial entrepreneur

(03:30) Chon’s entrepreneurial beginnings

(05:40) Starting in IT

(07:35) Excellent customer service, learning from books & listening to podcasts

(11:20) Getting in the restaurant business

(15:45) Challenges in entrepreneurship and diversifying

(19:00) Characteristics of good leaders

(21:00) Mistakes/failures

(23:15) The value of Vistage

(25:40) What's coming up for The Proper House?

(26:50) Rapid fire questions

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.