As a lifelong Chicagoan, entrepreneur, and real estate broker, I love everything about this city...but the one thing that makes Chicago so great is the amazing people. On this weekly podcast, We want to pull back the curtain and introduce you to some of the sharpest minds in business, education, and politics so that you can learn how to scale your business faster and more efficiently and achieve greater success in your professional and personal life! You are going to learn from some of the highest-paid experts, entrepreneurs, and business leaders about their specific tactics, strategies, and insider tips on leadership, leverage, technology, hiring, and building an amazing culture so that you can create the success and the change you’ve been looking for. I’m Young Lee…. Welcome to the Success Game. Also, be sure to subscribe, if you haven't already, so every podcast gets sent straight to you and you don't have to go searching for it! See you next week on the Success Game!
https://younglee.captivate.fm
episode 20: Conscious Coffee with Michael Shipley
Michael Shipley is the Founder and Managing Partner of Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters, which has 5 cafes in the Chicagoland area. He’s having an aspirational, caffeine-fueled conversation with our host Young Lee in what is surely a wakeup call for aspiring business owners looking to up their game, especially those in the service industry.
Michael shares his philosophy on the craft that is coffee roasting, and the four pillars that make up his Unique Value Proposition. He expertly shares on Atmosphere, Service, Products, and Systems — and clearly outlines how to provide a high-quality product while providing an amazing experience.
From considering the customer and the employee as the heroes of the business to understanding profitability so that you set yourself up for future success, Michael’s advice is hard-earned as he shows us how caring about your cuppa joe involves far more than sourcing ethical beans at a competitive price point. Please join us.
“We were really dedicated to learning the craft of it. And so craft is science and art. And you’ve got to have a strong understanding of the science of the roasting, and the processing, and the coffee steaming. And you’ve gotta have an ability to bring it together in those moments when you’re roasting the coffee. And we have really, deeply, always cared about that.” ~ Michael Shipley
In This Episode:
- How Michael got inspired to serve good coffee in Chicagoland
- Caring about the craft of roasting coffee
- ‘Patting yourself on the back doesn’t pay the bills’
- Understanding profitability so you set yourself up for future success
- Why the story is not about you, but about the consumer
- Michael’s approach to hiring young staff and being aspirational for 18-year-olds
- Finding the balance between price and providing an exceptional experience
- Surviving as a small coffee brand through the pandemic by engaging community
- Having a healthy cynicism about your business expectations
- Performing due diligence on the financial side of your business
And so much more!
Connect with Michael Shipley:
- Website - https://www.consciouscup.com/
- Email - michael@consciouscup.com
Connect with Young Lee:
- Facebook - Young Lee | Facebook
- LinkedIn - Young Lee - Host of the Chicago Business Review Podcast/Show