940: Andrew Choi & Patrick Bouaphanh Co-Owners of Jinsei Motto

Andrew Choi and Patrick Bouaphahn are the Co-Owners of Jinei Motto, a restaurant/bar in Chicago. Andrew is FOH while Patrick is BOH. Andrew Choi moved around a lot as a youth because he had parents in the military, but in 2015, when he was 14, he landed in Chicago. Andrew had his first job in the restaurant industry at Sushi Dock, where he and Patrick first met. Andrew and Patrick became good friends there, and were eventually let go for drinking on the job together. Andrew then moved on to FOH work at Bohemian House in Chicago and stayed there only for 6 months before working with Patrcik again at Union Sushi. Soon after leaving the restaurant industry COVID happened and Andrew decided to team up with Patrick to create Jinsei Motto, which exists inside an existing distillery, called C.H. Distillery. Jinsei Motto and C.H. Distillery are two separate entities operating out of the same space.

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Favor success quote/mantra:

• "The actual prize is the journey, so you have to enjoy it."

In this episode with Andrew Choi we will discuss:

• Distilling
• The world and industry of sushi
• Bettering yourself in order to better your restaurant
• The benefits of pop ups
• Contracts
• The very unique business model of Jinsei Motto

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Knowledge bombs

1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • Grind
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • Too emotional, not enough time
3. What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team?
   • Team work, take initiation
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • Taking the next step (possible brick and mortar)
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Gratitude
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • Cleanliness
7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   • Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
   • Twelve and a Half by Gary Vaynerchuk
   • GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 
8. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations?
   • Apple products (iWatch and AirPods)
9. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? (Andrew/Patrick)
   • Family/Family
   • Trust yourself and believe in yourself/Time
   • Don't take things so seriously and do what you want to do/Trust

Contact:

Website: https://www.jinseimotto.com/

Instagram: @jinsei_motto

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Andrew Choi and Patrick Bouaphanh for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

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