Latest news with #MadeFromScratch
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
A Founder, A Doctor, And The Unexpected Power Of A Good Book
If you've built something meaningful in your life, there's a good chance people will want to read ... More what you have to say. One built a multibillion-dollar restaurant empire. The other is a physician on a mission to transform how we talk about mental health. On the surface, the late Kent Taylor, founder of Texas Roadhouse, and Dr. Shahana Alibhai could not be more different. But they each made a bold decision: They put their ideas down on paper and wrote a book. And in doing so, they changed more than their careers. Taylor captured the legacy of a company. Alibhai sparked a movement and expanded her influence far beyond the clinic. 'Kent wrote the world a book,' said Texas Roadhouse CEO Jerry Morgan, 'but he left our company a blueprint for our future. We encourage our Partners to read Made From Scratch (Simon & Schuster, 2021) to better understand our history, values, and principles.' That's the power of storytelling. It's more than a marketing tool, it's how leaders distill their values and vision and their lived experience into something that is lasting; something others can pick up and carry forward. And while we do live in a world of TikTok, YouTube, and podcasts, books are far from irrelevant. They are where we go to explore deep ideas, not just quick concepts. They signal credibility and depth of thought in a way few other formats can. My colleague Tasha Eurich recently sold more than 15,000 copies of her latest book, Shatterproof, in its first week of launch, a strong sign that people are absolutely still buying books … good ones, that is. Dr. Alibhai, a family doctor and mental health expert from British Columbia, calls her first book, 'a game changer.' It is titled Feel Better: How Understanding Your Emotional Palette Can Keep You From Getting Swept Away (Throne Publishing, 2024). 'The way I think about it,' she said, 'it is the world's best business card. It allows you to gift something meaningful to someone and share a small glimpse into your inner world, even with a complete stranger.' Since publishing last September, Dr. Alibhai's book has received praise from luminaries such as Mel Robbins and Marshall Goldsmith, and also led her to be invited to speak on stages around the world, including the Million Dollar Round Table in Macau. It's not just about the spotlight for the physician, but about starting a better conversation. 'When people read the book,' she says, 'they don't just hear my story. They start to reflect on their own.' And, she says, it's become a vehicle for giving back, enabling her to raise funds for mental health causes that matter deeply to her. In short, Taylor's book became part of his legacy, Alibhai's became a launchpad. Both created ripple effects. That's the real power of authorship. For business leaders and other experts, publishing shouldn't be about chasing bestseller lists but about clarifying what you stand for: your beliefs, your approach, your unique way of solving problems. Of course, that doesn't stop people from asking me, 'So, how do I hit a bestseller list?' I usually start here: 'Write a really good book.' (I know, groundbreaking advice.) But it's true: when the book is well-crafted and genuinely useful, it can unlock doors to all the things they want, like media coverage, keynote stages, and yes, more clients. A badly written book? That's just an expensive paperweight. Here are three things I've seen make the biggest difference when leaders set out to write their story: 1. First, Clarify Your Purpose Before you write a word, get clear on the 'job' you want your book to do for readers. Is it meant to spark personal transformation? Help future leaders understand your company's values and culture (like Taylor did with Made From Scratch)? Or will it provide practical guidance for businesspeople facing challenges similar to yours? When you focus on the difference the book can make for others, you clarify your message and make it far more powerful. When you write with the reader in mind, your message becomes sharper and your impact greater. Also, once you're clear on your objective and audience, you can make smarter decisions about what the book can do for you--perhaps build your business or leave a legacy. And it will help you set tone, structure, and publishing path. A well-known business founder writing a values-based leadership memoir will take a very different approach from an executive coach aiming to share her philosophy and grow a practice. Both can be highly effective, but only when their purpose is clear from the start. 2. Think Long-Term, Not Just Launch The most successful authors treat their books as a long-term asset. A splashy launch week is nice, but more effective is planning to use the book to support your work over the next five, 10, or 20 years. For Texas Roadhouse, Made From Scratch has become required reading for new employees, who they call Roadies. Says CEO Morgan, 'As we think about the next 30 years, we think it's important for current and future Roadies to study the early pioneers who built the foundation of our company.' For Dr. Alibhai, Feel Better has become the bridge to connect her personal story with a broader mission to destigmatize emotional health. 3. Don't Write It Alone Many thought leaders or entrepreneurs have an incredible story or framework to share, but they get stalled for years by the enormity of writing a full-length book. That's where a collaborative writing partner or ghostwriter can be invaluable. Dr. Alibhai is quick to acknowledge this. 'When you are trying to achieve a wildly important or seemingly impossible goal, having a coach, connector, and mentor is important. I was fortunate to have someone who helped me write as well as coach me through the process of writing. I also found someone who could connect me to others in the world of publishing and, most importantly, I was able to find someone who could serve as a sounding board along the way.' Sometimes, you'll find all those roles in one person. More often, it might take a small team. But trying to go it alone can lead to years of delay, or worse, a book that doesn't land. Here's what it comes down to: You don't have to be a celebrity CEO or famous influencer to write a book that matters. What you do need is the conviction that your principles are worth sharing. Don't let perfectionism or self-doubt keep your story on the shelf.
Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Hardee's Introduces New Menu Offerings to Kick Off Warmer Weather
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hardee's, famous for its golden-brown Made from Scratch™ biscuits, fresh Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders™ and more, is getting a head start on summer with several exciting new offerings, as well as bringing back a customer favorite. Homestyle Breakfast Burritos are the latest addition to the breakfast menu, now available until noon daily. Options include the Homestyle Loaded Breakfast Burrito, which features a loaded omelet filled with crumbled savory sausage, bacon, ham, crispy Hash Rounds® and cheddar cheese all wrapped inside a warm flour tortilla and served with Texas Pete hot sauce, and the Homestyle Sausage, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Burrito, featuring grilled, savory sausage patties, fluffy folded eggs, crispy Hash Rounds®, and cheddar cheese wrapped inside a warm flour tortilla, served with Texas Pete hot sauce. Breakfast isn't the only meal receiving a little extra love. The Duke's® Carolina Gold BBQ Chicken Sandwich, an all-white meat chicken fillet hand dipped in buttermilk, lightly breaded and fried to a golden brown with Duke's® Carolina Gold BBQ sauce, bacon, dill pickles, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise served on a premium bun, is the newest member of the Hand-Breaded Chicken family at Hardee's. Alongside the sandwich, quench your thirst with a Peach Shake, Lemonade or Iced Tea. In addition, Hardee's is bringing back for a beloved customer favorite, the Blueberry Biscuit, available in packs of two or four. And for those looking to celebrate the moms and mom-like figures in their lives this Mother's Day, all other fresh Made-from-Scratch™ biscuits will be heart-shaped from May 8-14. All Hardee's owned and operated by Boddie-Noell Enterprises, the nation's largest Hardee's franchisee with more than 300 locations across Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, are now offering the expanded menu. Mobile ordering is available through the Hardee's MyRewards app. Guests who download and sign up get access to exclusive offers and coupons and can earn points to be redeemed for menu rewards. About Boddie-Noell Enterprises Boddie-Noell is proud to have been a Hardee's franchise operator for more than 60 years. Family-owned, Boddie-Noell is the largest Hardee's franchisee in the United States with 323 restaurant locations in four states. The company is based in Rocky Mount, N.C. For more information, visit CONTACT: Lindsay Priester 919-971-4451 [email protected]
Axios
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Nashville valentines: Celebrating what we love about Music City
Love takes many forms, and on this Valentine's Day we wanted to celebrate our love for the city we call home. We composed valentines for some of our favorite things about Music City. Adam's valentines 🎨 Murals: Art is everywhere in Nashville. Bright and beautiful murals can be found on garage doors, under bridges and on the side of old silos. Some celebrate our city's rich musical heritage, others elevate the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement who once called Nashville home. My personal favorites are the more inscrutable pieces like the Black Cat Tips mural on Charlotte Avenue. The bottom line: Our public art scene stretches way beyond the Angel Wings. ✍️ Songwriters: Musical geniuses live among us in Nashville. Of course some of them are instantly recognizable superstars, but many of the biggest talents on Music Row are career songwriters who make a living writing songs that other artists make famous. You might run into Taylor Swift collaborator Liz Rose at the airport. "Strawberry Wine" writer Matraca Berg might be standing beside you in the Kroger check-out line. Erin Enderlin was a student at Middle Tennessee State University when she wrote a hit for Alan Jackson. Pro tip: Visit The Bluebird Cafe to see these songwriters take their own star turns. 🧁 The Cupcake Collection: This locally owned Germantown bakery has been serving delicious treats since 2008. They have served more than 5 million cupcakes to date. My favorites are the strawberry and red velvet flavors. The bakery offers same-day delivery online and through Uber Eats, in case you're looking for last-minute gift ideas. You can read founder Mignon Francois' inspiring life story in her memoir "Made From Scratch." Nate's valentines 🎶 Music teachers: As you may expect in Music City, Nashville is home to some amazing music educators. Our 8th grader plays trumpet in the magnificent Meigs Middle band, which is led by the impossibly talented director of bands Franklin Norris. Our 5th grader is developing a love for the piano thanks to his fantastic teacher Janne Henshaw. Thanks to these teachers, our boys are likely to end up like singer-songwriter mom and not their dad, whose only musical skill is singing R.E.M. songs off-key in the shower. ☕️ Thriving coffee shops: The number of fantastic locally-operated coffee shops in Nashville has proliferated in the last 15 years. There are too many great shops to single out just one. A few of my favorites are Beck's Farmhouse Coffee in Joelton, Crema in SoBro and East Nashville, Weak Coffee Co. in East Nashville and Steadfast in Germantown. 🍞 Sourdough at Spread Market & Larder: The bakery, craft grocer and wine shop in Germantown may be home to the best sourdough in the city. In addition to their sourdough loaves, Spread does an impossibly good sourdough cinnamon rolls.
