“Say Yes” - Chipotle COO’s Advice for Future Leaders

Embracing Opportunities [00:05]

• Chipotle CEO Jason Kidd, a former Taco Bell executive, views his current role as a dream job.
• He advises against waiting for perfect opportunities and encourages saying 'yes' to challenging roles.
• Kidd suggests taking jobs others don't want to gain experience and move forward.

  "Do the job that someone else doesn't want to do, he said. Take the opportunity, move, be uncomfortable."

Gaining Experience Through Difficult Roles [00:33]

• Early in his career, Kidd volunteered for management training programs with difficult shifts, like 4:00 a.m. closings.
• This allowed him to gain experience faster than peers and get promoted quickly.
• He learned how every part of the operation worked by experiencing different roles.

  "He finished faster and was promoted fast first, not because he was the smartest, but because he gained the most experience the fastest and saw how every part of the operation worked."

Communication and Feedback [00:54]

• Kidd emphasizes the importance of strong communication with employees.
• Owning outcomes and providing good feedback are key traits he looks for when promoting workers.

  "owning outcomes and giving good feedback is one of the four traits he looks for when promoting workers."

Personal Anecdote: The Early Shift [01:19]

• The speaker recounts a time after his startup failed, leaving him $49,000 in debt.
• He returned to his former manager, Robbie Solomon, for a job.
• The only available position was opening a club at 4:00 a.m., a shift he initially questioned.

  "The only job opening I have for you, buddy, is opening a Hollywood's club."

Overcoming Setbacks [02:31]

• Despite the undesirable shift, the speaker accepted the job.
• He reflects on how he was a top salesperson previously but was placed in a difficult role.
• This experience, though challenging, was a stepping stone.

  "So, I said, 'Robbie, when do people buy I was one of your top 10 best sales people nationwide after only being with you for 3 months at Bally's. Why are you putting a great sales guy in a morning?'"

The Value of Reading and Learning [03:05]

• The speaker discusses reading business books during breaks, even when his manager was skeptical.
• He mentions books like 'Multiple Streams of Income' and 'Secrets of a Millionaire Mind'.
• The belief is that continuous learning leads to more opportunities.

  "If you can be somebody that's doing that, you're going to get so many opportunities."

Recommended Reading: 'The Goal' [03:10]

• The speaker highlights the book 'The Goal' by Eliyahu Goldratt as a must-read.
• Over 10 million copies have been sold, and it's required reading for those reporting to Jeff Bezos or working with Elon Musk.
• He strongly recommends it to anyone who hasn't read it.

  "Anybody that reports directly to Jeff Bezos is required to read this book."

Upcoming Events and Tours [04:31]

• The speaker announces a networking event on July 29th at their property.
• Attendees can get a tour of the facility, seeing aspects not usually visible.
• Different ticket tiers offer varying levels of access, including tours by Tom Ellsworth and the speaker himself.

  "So, if you want to come down and get a tour and spend 3 and 1/2 days with us at the Vault Conference next Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 to anybody that purchased a ticket that's going to the Vault Conference, general ticket or platinum, you'll get uh networking a chance."