We recently connected with Nathan Splese and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nathan, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
My confidence as a chef didn’t really develop until after graduating Johnson&Wales university in Charlotte, North Carolina. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts I was able to really hone my craft working at one of Emerils previous restaurants called E2 Emerils Eatery. Working with esteemed head Chef Brian Mottola and Sous Chef Douglas Braselman they taught me how to develop flavor and bring creativity to every moment of the dining experiance. The pressure these two chefs created in a kitchen was really something magical to create confident cooks.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Working in professional kitchens during and after college from E2 to Hyatt House to even Hilton hotels I felt that I needed a change from the big city. In 2015 my wife and I decided to move back home. I wasn’t sure where this would take my career as a chef, however after a few years working in michigan breweries we found ourselves taking on our first restaurant venture called Mr. Gyro’s. This spot is still a legendary Greek restaurant for our small town and when we approached the previous owners about purchasing we started to form the deal. We took over the restaurant officially in 2018 and have done our best to preserve the legacy that is a Mr. Gyros dining experiance while still trying to add our personal touch to the new menu. The community in our hometown of Stevensville is nothing short of extraordinary, and not only did they show us support when we took over they grew our business during what some will say the hardest time for any restaurant, the 2020 pandemic. Currently we look to the future with building our brand with only one thing on mind. Yes, you can say you came for the great gyros, maybe just to try our fries, or grab something to-go but the one thing we want everyone to walk away from Mr. Gyro’s is MEMORIES!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Exuberance. Yes it seems cheesy and over the top but most people do not even know how to process it when they see it. Use it in everything. It is a skill that requires practice that most people will write off, however it is one quality that will allow you to win people over that are just watching you.
Adapt and change. Perspective typically changes within everyone every ten years or so. This means you will see priority shifts in your life, passions fade and respark, and maybe different goals that you once thought unreachable now withing your grasp. Evolve with these feelings and take your own time to understand them. Nothing can kill your passion faster than losing sight of why you started it, lack of creativity, or simply the stubbornness to not evolve adapt and change to our industry.
Lastly I would say discipline. Stay focused on your goals and know they are not instant with a tap of a button. True meaningfulness is putting in the hours and disciple to learning something others take for granted. Not only will this help you understand and better your craft but it gives you the ability to difenciate the talkers from the walkers.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
How to Argue by Johnathan Herring is a book that helped me very early on in my career. Finding myself in a management role at the age of 19 and having several employees that worked on my team well into their 40’s and 50’s did not get recieved so well by most. After proving my knowledge of the job my boss had given me my first shot in management. It was a small role but nothing really prepares you for team leadership or worse team confrontation. This book was a tool that I was able to utilize and form my own form or management style. It’s more than just trying to win an argument with someone. How can you confront someone in a healthy positive manner? How could I engage with someone who is visibly upset and still maintain a calm cool head? Lastly how could I take control of a conversation and steer it without the other person feeling undermined or dismissed? This book helped with all of that. In addition it provides scenarios that most people would not want to be in and explains how to navigate with minimal damage done to the team.
Contact Info:
- Website: Mrgyrosstevesville.com
