Tim Sweetman
@timsweetman.bsky.social
Husband + Dad to 5 | Helping families, leaders & teams align for flourishing. Chick-fil-A Operator. Leader, thinker, builder of meaningful legacies. 🌱
Podcast: www.timsweetman.com/podcast
Essays: www.timsweetman.com
Podcast: www.timsweetman.com/podcast
Essays: www.timsweetman.com
It's back.
Do you love this or hate it at Starbucks?
Do you love this or hate it at Starbucks?
February 6, 2025 at 5:00 PM
It's back.
Do you love this or hate it at Starbucks?
Do you love this or hate it at Starbucks?
Really appreciate everyone who listened (and watched) in 2024.
Doubling down on what I hope is high-value and high production content in 2025.
www.timsweetman.com/podcast
Doubling down on what I hope is high-value and high production content in 2025.
www.timsweetman.com/podcast
December 11, 2024 at 8:16 PM
Really appreciate everyone who listened (and watched) in 2024.
Doubling down on what I hope is high-value and high production content in 2025.
www.timsweetman.com/podcast
Doubling down on what I hope is high-value and high production content in 2025.
www.timsweetman.com/podcast
“It’s generally human nature to overestimate risk and underestimate opportunity.”
- Jeff Bezos
- Jeff Bezos
December 10, 2024 at 5:44 PM
“It’s generally human nature to overestimate risk and underestimate opportunity.”
- Jeff Bezos
- Jeff Bezos
These values from Sator Grove's @buhrman_rick and @PaulBuser are just so good and worth revisiting often:
December 2, 2024 at 7:21 PM
These values from Sator Grove's @buhrman_rick and @PaulBuser are just so good and worth revisiting often:
Looking back, one of the most important personal decisions of 2024 was selling this watch.
November 28, 2024 at 2:00 AM
Looking back, one of the most important personal decisions of 2024 was selling this watch.
Taking the next 30 days as a sabbath from social media. Only scheduled posts will go out.
I’m stepping back to focus on what matters most—family, faith, and creating with purpose.
Sometimes, to hear what’s essential, we have to embrace stillness. See you soon.
I’m stepping back to focus on what matters most—family, faith, and creating with purpose.
Sometimes, to hear what’s essential, we have to embrace stillness. See you soon.
November 24, 2024 at 1:53 AM
Taking the next 30 days as a sabbath from social media. Only scheduled posts will go out.
I’m stepping back to focus on what matters most—family, faith, and creating with purpose.
Sometimes, to hear what’s essential, we have to embrace stillness. See you soon.
I’m stepping back to focus on what matters most—family, faith, and creating with purpose.
Sometimes, to hear what’s essential, we have to embrace stillness. See you soon.
6️⃣ Expense Tracking: Auto-captures receipts, organizes them for bookkeeping.
November 22, 2024 at 11:13 PM
6️⃣ Expense Tracking: Auto-captures receipts, organizes them for bookkeeping.
5️⃣ Notes & Recaps: Summarizes meetings + tracks weekly to-dos in Google Docs.
November 22, 2024 at 11:13 PM
5️⃣ Notes & Recaps: Summarizes meetings + tracks weekly to-dos in Google Docs.
4️⃣ Meeting Prep: Sends detailed briefs on attendees w/ LinkedIn + past interactions.
November 22, 2024 at 11:13 PM
4️⃣ Meeting Prep: Sends detailed briefs on attendees w/ LinkedIn + past interactions.
3️⃣ Scheduling: Cc Lindy, and it handles back-and-forths to find meeting times.
November 22, 2024 at 11:13 PM
3️⃣ Scheduling: Cc Lindy, and it handles back-and-forths to find meeting times.
2️⃣ Reply Drafting: Auto-writes emails w/ prompts like “Be succinct yet gracious.” Huge time-saver!
November 22, 2024 at 11:13 PM
2️⃣ Reply Drafting: Auto-writes emails w/ prompts like “Be succinct yet gracious.” Huge time-saver!
1️⃣ Email Triage: Labels emails (Important, Spam, Receipts). Customizable & accurate.
November 22, 2024 at 11:13 PM
1️⃣ Email Triage: Labels emails (Important, Spam, Receipts). Customizable & accurate.
I’ve started using AI agents to automate my email and calendar—triage, scheduling, replying, and even meeting prep.
Here’s how I’m using Lindy for <$100/mo (link at end of the thread):
Here’s how I’m using Lindy for <$100/mo (link at end of the thread):
November 22, 2024 at 11:13 PM
I’ve started using AI agents to automate my email and calendar—triage, scheduling, replying, and even meeting prep.
Here’s how I’m using Lindy for <$100/mo (link at end of the thread):
Here’s how I’m using Lindy for <$100/mo (link at end of the thread):
Why I Hate YouTubers: open.substack.com/pub/tension/...
November 20, 2024 at 9:34 PM
Why I Hate YouTubers: open.substack.com/pub/tension/...
Just watching closely, that’s all I’m saying.
November 20, 2024 at 12:03 PM
Just watching closely, that’s all I’m saying.
Check out The Soul of Starbucks: www.timsweetman.com/p/episode-44...
November 20, 2024 at 1:33 AM
Check out The Soul of Starbucks: www.timsweetman.com/p/episode-44...
"Protect and preserve your core customers. The cost of losing your core customers and trying to get them back during a down economy will be much greater than the cost of investing in them and trying to keep them.”
- Jim Sinegal, Founder of Costco
- Jim Sinegal, Founder of Costco
November 20, 2024 at 1:30 AM
"Protect and preserve your core customers. The cost of losing your core customers and trying to get them back during a down economy will be much greater than the cost of investing in them and trying to keep them.”
- Jim Sinegal, Founder of Costco
- Jim Sinegal, Founder of Costco
Next time you're in northeast Tennessee or southwest Virginia, visit a Pal's.
You might experience the fastest, most accurate fast food service of your life!
You might experience the fastest, most accurate fast food service of your life!
November 18, 2024 at 8:26 PM
Next time you're in northeast Tennessee or southwest Virginia, visit a Pal's.
You might experience the fastest, most accurate fast food service of your life!
You might experience the fastest, most accurate fast food service of your life!
4 Keys:
1. Obsessive focus on training can yield extraordinary results
2. Speed and accuracy aren't mutually exclusive.
3. Continuous improvement and recertification keep skills sharp and standards high.
4. Sometimes, doing one thing extremely well in a focused market beats rapid expansion.
1. Obsessive focus on training can yield extraordinary results
2. Speed and accuracy aren't mutually exclusive.
3. Continuous improvement and recertification keep skills sharp and standards high.
4. Sometimes, doing one thing extremely well in a focused market beats rapid expansion.
November 18, 2024 at 8:26 PM
4 Keys:
1. Obsessive focus on training can yield extraordinary results
2. Speed and accuracy aren't mutually exclusive.
3. Continuous improvement and recertification keep skills sharp and standards high.
4. Sometimes, doing one thing extremely well in a focused market beats rapid expansion.
1. Obsessive focus on training can yield extraordinary results
2. Speed and accuracy aren't mutually exclusive.
3. Continuous improvement and recertification keep skills sharp and standards high.
4. Sometimes, doing one thing extremely well in a focused market beats rapid expansion.
Pal's approach has earned them accolades beyond the fast food world.
They became the first restaurant company to win the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Despite their success, they've resisted the urge to expand rapidly, prioritizing consistency and quality over growth.
They became the first restaurant company to win the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Despite their success, they've resisted the urge to expand rapidly, prioritizing consistency and quality over growth.
November 18, 2024 at 8:26 PM
Pal's approach has earned them accolades beyond the fast food world.
They became the first restaurant company to win the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Despite their success, they've resisted the urge to expand rapidly, prioritizing consistency and quality over growth.
They became the first restaurant company to win the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Despite their success, they've resisted the urge to expand rapidly, prioritizing consistency and quality over growth.
This focus on people development extends to leadership too.
Pal's leaders are expected to spend 10% of their time teaching, with a daily goal to teach at least one thing to one person.
In 33 years, only 7 general managers have voluntarily left the company. Turnover is 1/3 the industry average.
Pal's leaders are expected to spend 10% of their time teaching, with a daily goal to teach at least one thing to one person.
In 33 years, only 7 general managers have voluntarily left the company. Turnover is 1/3 the industry average.
November 18, 2024 at 8:26 PM
This focus on people development extends to leadership too.
Pal's leaders are expected to spend 10% of their time teaching, with a daily goal to teach at least one thing to one person.
In 33 years, only 7 general managers have voluntarily left the company. Turnover is 1/3 the industry average.
Pal's leaders are expected to spend 10% of their time teaching, with a daily goal to teach at least one thing to one person.
In 33 years, only 7 general managers have voluntarily left the company. Turnover is 1/3 the industry average.
Employees are daily selected for "pop quizzes" to recertify their skills. Fail? You're retrained before you can work that position.
Pal's CEO Thom Crosby: "People go out of calibration just like machines go out of calibration. So we are always training, always teaching, always coaching."
Pal's CEO Thom Crosby: "People go out of calibration just like machines go out of calibration. So we are always training, always teaching, always coaching."
November 18, 2024 at 8:26 PM
Employees are daily selected for "pop quizzes" to recertify their skills. Fail? You're retrained before you can work that position.
Pal's CEO Thom Crosby: "People go out of calibration just like machines go out of calibration. So we are always training, always teaching, always coaching."
Pal's CEO Thom Crosby: "People go out of calibration just like machines go out of calibration. So we are always training, always teaching, always coaching."
The secret? An obsessive focus on speed, accuracy, and employee training.
New Pal's employees undergo 120 hours of training before working solo. That's right - 120 hours for a fast food job.
New Pal's employees undergo 120 hours of training before working solo. That's right - 120 hours for a fast food job.
November 18, 2024 at 8:26 PM
The secret? An obsessive focus on speed, accuracy, and employee training.
New Pal's employees undergo 120 hours of training before working solo. That's right - 120 hours for a fast food job.
New Pal's employees undergo 120 hours of training before working solo. That's right - 120 hours for a fast food job.
Pal's drive-thru service is mind-blowingly fast.
Average time at the order window: 18 seconds. Average time at pickup: 12 seconds. That's 4x faster than their closest competitor!
Pal's makes an error only once every 3,600 orders - a rate 10x better than the average fast food restaurant.
Average time at the order window: 18 seconds. Average time at pickup: 12 seconds. That's 4x faster than their closest competitor!
Pal's makes an error only once every 3,600 orders - a rate 10x better than the average fast food restaurant.
November 18, 2024 at 8:26 PM
Pal's drive-thru service is mind-blowingly fast.
Average time at the order window: 18 seconds. Average time at pickup: 12 seconds. That's 4x faster than their closest competitor!
Pal's makes an error only once every 3,600 orders - a rate 10x better than the average fast food restaurant.
Average time at the order window: 18 seconds. Average time at pickup: 12 seconds. That's 4x faster than their closest competitor!
Pal's makes an error only once every 3,600 orders - a rate 10x better than the average fast food restaurant.
Founded in 1956 by Fred "Pal" Barger in Kingsport, Tennessee, Pal's Sudden Service has built a cult following with its lightning-fast service and unwavering commitment to quality.
With just 31 locations, Pal's punches way above its weight class in the fast food industry.
With just 31 locations, Pal's punches way above its weight class in the fast food industry.
November 18, 2024 at 8:26 PM
Founded in 1956 by Fred "Pal" Barger in Kingsport, Tennessee, Pal's Sudden Service has built a cult following with its lightning-fast service and unwavering commitment to quality.
With just 31 locations, Pal's punches way above its weight class in the fast food industry.
With just 31 locations, Pal's punches way above its weight class in the fast food industry.