Every child I know who overcame long odds and grew into a responsible adult can point to an adult who stepped into his or her life as a FRIEND, a MENTOR, and a GUIDE.

Learn to love your work and you'll never have to 'work' again.

No goal is too high if we climb with care and confidence.

You don't have to make the headlines to make a difference.

Ringing the cash register is not the name of the game. It's only the scorekeeper, and it's not what motivates me. I'm motivated in my business by the compliments I receive about our people, our service, and the quality of our food.

In most cases we perform better when we're busy than when we're not busy. When we're slow, our mind wanders. We're not as attentive to our business. When we're on the firing line, we're sharper. We move more quickly and get the job done right.

I believe no amount of business school training or work experience can teach what is ultimately a matter of personal character. Businesses are not dishonest or greedy, people are. Thus, a business, successful or not, is merely a reflection of the character of its leadership.