Last night I spent a few hours at the Columbus Pizza Expo Official After Party at Little Italy Ristorante.

The place was PACKED, over 400 people, all enjoying pizza, drinks, and having real, in-depth conversations about their restaurants.

But what struck me even more was this: a few tables were filled with owners from restaurants in the same area. Five different pizzerias from the same market hanging out, trading ideas, and supporting one another.

That’s rare.

And it’s powerful.

I love seeing this because I think it’s something missing in too many communities: local masterminding.

Too many of you see the pizza shop down the street as your enemy.

So instead of creating a friendship, you build a wall. You see competition instead of connection.

And the truth is, you’re not in a battle, you’re in the same boat.

You’re both trying to find good help.

You’re both fighting food costs and navigating new tech.

You’re both trying to make an impact in your neighborhoods.

When you stop guarding your playbook and start sharing the game, something special happens:

Growth.

Support.

Relief.

Sometimes you trade marketing ideas.

Sometimes you vent about POS issues.

Sometimes you cry on each other’s shoulders after a brutal week.

That’s not a weakness. That’s wisdom.

Collaboration is the cheat code.

It’s how we all get better, together.

But let’s start doing this on our own time, outside of industry events. You need to get out of your 4-walls and into meetings with your peers.  

So this week, I challenge you to do one thing:

Reach out to a “competitor” and start a conversation. 

You might gain more from that relationship than any Facebook ad or food cost strategy could ever bring you.

We’re all slinging slices in the same storm.

Let’s start acting like it.

 

– MP OUT 

 

 This week’s song: Not Afraid by Eminem 

 This week’s book:  Rise & Grind by Damond John