It Worked For Warrent Bufett
I often draw parallels between losing weight and achieving success in business, where small, consistent steps in the right direction over time are crucial. But I’ll be the first to admit, it’s tough when you want results faster.
At the gym, I caught up with a longtime friend. She told me she’d almost reached out about a job I recently posted. As we talked, it became clear she’d been following my journey on Facebook and could see herself being part of it, even if that specific role wasn’t the perfect fit.
That conversation got me thinking about how often people from my past resurface, wanting to work with us, whether as a customer or an employee. It’s never from one post or one campaign. It’s the result of playing the long game.
The Question Behind the Success
We’ve all asked someone who’s accomplished something we admire: “How did you do it?”
Your friend lost 100 pounds.
They sold their company and retired.
They bought a vacation home with cash.
They grew their restaurant from $500k to $5M.
We might be jealous, but are we ready for the real answer? Or more importantly, the work behind it?
Take your favorite band, you know them for today’s hits, not the 15 years they spent grinding before landing that first song on the radio. Or your friend who lost 100 pounds, you see the before and after, but not the daily grind, the “suck” they pushed through to get there.
Warren Buffett summed it up perfectly in an interview:
“I did the same thing over and over for 50 years.”
And that, my friends, is the answer to most problems: doing the right things, consistently, for a long time.
Two Restaurant Owner Complaints I Hear Every Week
1. Hiring
Since 2008, I’ve heard the same excuse: “I can’t find anyone who wants to work.”
Translation: You can’t find anyone who wants to work for YOU. Not because you’re a bad owner, but because you’ve failed to excite anyone with your journey. A single “Now Hiring” post won’t bring you top-tier talent. For over a decade, most owners have ignored the power of storytelling on social media.
That job post from my gym conversation? It was just one “ask” in a marketing plan I’ve executed since 2008, telling my story on my personal Facebook. I have 48 employees, and most came through that channel, many through parents who’d been following me for years.
Here’s the plan: Post 2–3 times a week for the next 3 years. Tell your story. Have fun. Share your vision. Paint the mountain you’re climbing. Make people wish they could work for you, so when that “Now Hiring” post goes up, they’re ready.
2. Sales
Every week, I hear about lagging sales, often from owners who quit marketing programs after 2–3 months. You change strategies as often as you change your underwear: a Facebook post here, an ad there, a viral video idea you drop after a few weeks.
No wonder it’s not working. You’re the opposite of Warren Buffett.
It’s like expecting a miracle drink to erase a decade of weight gain in a month.
Marketing is the same. There’s no quick fix. It takes 2–3 years for most programs to fully hit their stride:
Today’s Facebook post isn’t about tomorrow’s sales; it’s part of a bigger plan.
Your loyalty program needs years to truly pay off.
Your email list must be massive and built over multiple years before it drives sales on your promotional emails.
Pick a lane and do it over and over for the long haul.
Proud… But Not Done
Back at the gym, my friend ended with: “You must be so proud of what you’ve built, it’s been fun to watch.”
Without thinking, I said, “Not yet, but we’re getting there.” Then I caught myself: Matt, you’re a jackass. People are envious of what you’ve built. It’s special. Why can’t you be proud of today while still chasing tomorrow?
Let’s agree to appreciate the wins we have, while accepting that where we want to go won’t be easy, and won’t happen fast.
– MP Out
This week’s song: “Come With Me Now” – Kongos, let’s agree today, let’s take this journey together
This week’s book: Restaurant Marketing That Works by yours truly, it’s the blueprint for falling in love with the long game.
