429: Growth from within with Raji Sankar

In this episode with Raji Sankar, we discuss:

• Freedom by way of discipline. 
• Anything being possible.
• The story behind Choolaah.
• Creating jobs where people meet their full potential.
• Buying into a franchise model to learn the business.
• What Raji learned from operating a 5 Guys Burgers and Fries franchise.
• The result of growing too fast and desperately.
• Not sacrificing your values.
• Growing slowly outward. 
• Growth from within.
• Using competency charts with monetary incentives.
• Never ending learning. 
• Outsourcing and surrounding yourself with the best. 
• Getting people aligned with the same cause.
• Creating systems and tracks for training.
• Educating your guest especially when you're doing something strange or unfamiliar. 
• Educating your team. 
• The importance of everyone buying into your mission, vision, and values when scaling.
• Using success stories from your team to grow your brand. 

Raji Sankar left a life of science, tech, and consulting to pursue the life of a restaurateur. In 2004 they started Wholesome International, the business entity that would start opening 5 Guys Burgers and Fries throughout PA, and Oh. It didn't take long before her own vision for Choolaah began to sprout. Today, Wholesome International operates a total of 20 5 Guys locations and they're opening their 5 Choolaah Indian BBQ Location.