Michael Muser is the Co-Owner of Ever, After, and The Canvas in Chicago, Illinois. Michael studied theater in college in Southern California. After graduating and waiting tables in SoCal, he decided to train as a sommelier. He worked as Wine Director under Chef Curtis Duffy at Avenues in The Peninsula Hotel, a 5-star hotel in downtown Chicago. There the team earned two Michelin stars. In 2011, Michael and Chef Curtis left Avenues to open their own restaurant, called Grace. They left Grace in 2017 after a failed attempt to buy the restaurant from majority stakeholders. In 2020, Chef Curtis and Michael opened Ever in Chicago. In October of 2022, they opened a cocktail lounge called After. Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and get your first 30 days on me!  Connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favor success quote/mantra: "Give them (your employees) them the tools they need to be successful. hold them to the highest standard possible and get out of the way." In this episode with Michael Muser we will discuss: The relationship with staff Working in a hotel Advice on choosing a location BOH layout Partnerships Today's sponsor: At Popmenu, we know that in today’s world, a great hospitality experience usually begins online. Keeping the conversation with guests going beyond the meal also requires simple, powerful, fun technology capable of expression through all kinds of channels. Our team takes pride in helping restaurants put their best foot forward digitally so they can focus on what they do best. We think PDF menus are super boring, we believe 3rd party platforms have had too much say in how consumers find their next dining experience and we deeply feel that sharing your beautiful menu doesn’t have to be so difficult, time-consuming and expensive. As a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable, you'll receive $100 off your first month of Popmenu! Join the 60-day Restaurant Systems Pro FREE TRAINING. This is something that has never been done before. This 60-day event is at no cost to you, but it is not for everyone. Fred Langley, CEO of Restaurant Systems Pro, will lead a group of restaurateurs through the Restaurant Systems Pro software and set up the systems for your restaurant. During the 60 days, Fred will walk you through the Restaurant Systems Pro Process and help you crush the following goals: Recipe Costing Cards; Guidance in your books for accounting; Cash controls; Sales Forecasting(With Accuracy); Checklists; Budgeting for the entire year; Scheduling for profit; More butts in seats and more… Click Here to learn more. 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring to scheduling, training, and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Unstoppable listeners get 3 months for free. Sign up here: https://www.7shifts.com/unstoppable Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? I show up What is your biggest weakness? Too emotional What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team? a real sense of commitment What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Finding committed employees Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Always remember that the person you are talking to is dealing with a million things that you don't know anything about. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Name check What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owne