Andy Swingley's Page

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About Me

: Male, Age 45
Lewis Center, OH
United States; Member # 2,862; 45 Referrals; Joined Feb. 21, 2008; Seen 19 hours ago

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The Multi-Unit Leader (63 members)
The Perfect Beer (55 members)

Multi Unit Managers (43 members)
Local Store Marketing (168 members)

Trainers (139 members)
CHART Training (180 members)

Leadership (246 members)
Restaurant Marketing (384 members)

Talent Revolution Inc (198 members)
Thomas & King (72 members)

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Andy Swingley's discussions

How are you using Linkedin

Added a post Jan 29

Business Lessons Learned from Sprint

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Over qualified and frustrated...

Added a post Dec. 31, 2008

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Latest Activity

Andy Swingley commented on the blog post Don't shoot me, General Patton! 19 hours ago

Andy Swingley commented on the blog post Don't shoot me, General Patton! Jul 3

Andy Swingley commented on the blog post The 8th Habit Jul 2

Andy Swingley added the blog post 'Don't shoot me, General Patton!' Jul 2

Andy Swingley commented on the blog post The Dark Side of Twitter Jun 25

Andy Swingley commented on the blog post Don't Be a Twit, Be a Twitter Master: Adding Personality to Your Icon Jun 23

Ty Sullivan and Andy Swingley are now connected

Jun 23

Ty Sullivan left a comment for Andy Swingley Jun 23

Profile

Title: Regional Manager

Company: Thomas & King

Website: http://andyswingley.blogspot.com/

Email: aswingley@insight.rr.com

Restaurant Segment: Casual Dining

I work at the corporate level and my functional area is: Operations

In which categories do you purchase, or specify the purchase of products for your organization?: Chemicals, Dry Goods, Equipment, Fresh Foods, Frozen Foods, Liquor / Wine / Beer, Paper Goods, Systems (technology), Services

Interests: Career Advancement, Consulting, Learning, Making Friends, Networking

Other Interests: Visit talent revolution

Personal Quote: It's the people, stupid.....

Biography: Andy Swingley has 12 years of experience in multi-unit leadership and 25 years experience in the food service industry. Currently the Regional Manager of 30 restaurants at Thomas & King, DBA Applebee's Andy leads teams in producing over 80 million in annual sales. Prior to Applebees, Andy spent ten years with the famous upscale restaurant and nightclub group Bobby McGees working from hourly Food Server to General Manager. Andy is well known for his leadership and team building development, sales building, and intense focus on the profitability of operations.

Specialties:
Future operational planning, leadership development, large group teaching, new restaurant openings, hiring, training, business plan development, operations process management, dynamic public speaking skills, proven time management skills and forward thinking

Years in the Industry: 25

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Andy Swingley's Videos

Cooking with Liquid Nitrogen Added by Andy Swingley
50 kids get a Wii Added by Andy Swingley
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Andy Swingley's Blog

Don't shoot me, General Patton!

By Andy Swingley on Jul 1, 2009 at 8:53pm | 5 Comments (Add) | 40 Views

I want to take this week to introduce all of you to an up and coming blogger I met on Talent Revolution by the name of Don Hart. He just "gets" leadership and training. His message below is indicative of one of the Leadership roadblocks I see often in the workplace. ... more

How did you get so Damn Smart?

By Andy Swingley on Jun 18, 2009 at 4:51am | 9 Comments (Add) | 60 Views

One of those leadership road hazards that most of us hit head-on at times is thinking that we have it all figured out and know all the answers. We spring to conclusions, discount ideas, and generally don’t listen either intentionally or not. Now, I don’t know about y... more

Values Based Leadership

By Andy Swingley on Jun 3, 2009 at 7:44pm | 10 Comments (Add) | 117 Views

I got the chance a couple of weeks ago to attend the CHART Regional meeting in Louisville, KY at the enormous and expansive Papa John’s Corporate Campus. What a great opportunity to network and I got to meet some “internet” faces. It is always so cool to come face to... more

Linear Thinker

By Andy Swingley on May 27, 2009 at 7:33pm | No Comments (Add) | 44 Views

Alright, so by natural path I am an: Operational Business Strategy Trainer In Neede OBSTINATE if you are looking for an acronym. If I had a nickel for every time someone said Andy, don’t be so damn obstinate this is a lot bigger issue than you think! Yeah, whatever….... more

Social Media or Social Maniac

By Andy Swingley on May 20, 2009 at 6:22pm | 10 Comments (Add) | 99 Views

If it’s not Facebook, LinkedIn, RSS feeds, MySpace, Google Reader, Twitter or some other all obsessive time consuming captive you are spending your time networking with, it’s just running a business, right…. Here are my top ten red flags you may be spending too much... more

Please Help!

By Andy Swingley on May 6, 2009 at 5:15pm | 5 Comments (Add) | 64 Views

Dear Mentor….. I know I am a good leader. I spend the largest percentage of my time developing the knowledge and strengths of my team. I help. I open myself up to learning and improving. My self-awareness feels stronger than ever. I engage my team at all levels, lis... more

Prejudice

By Andy Swingley on Apr 29, 2009 at 7:29pm | 23 Comments (Add) | 136 Views

Let’s face it we are surrounded by prejudice every day in our business and those around us. Sometimes it is bold, blatant, and in your face. Other times it is quiet, unaware, and unintentional. Social Media and the power of the internet such as this network bring us... more

Training 101

By Andy Swingley on Apr 22, 2009 at 5:10pm | 10 Comments (Add) | 72 Views

You've decided to improve operations in your restaurant by either training new behaviors or retraining old ones. Before you can begin to introduce or modify any behavior, however, you need to understand the perspective of the person you are training. What do they see... more

You know your significant other is a restaurant manager when.....

By Andy Swingley on Apr 15, 2009 at 8:42pm | 45 Comments (Add) | 477 Views

My wife Janie (frankly the smartest person I know) and I were debating the usual struggles of the restaurant significant other. Though the restaurant business has taken good care of us it has certainly presented itself with a few struggles along the way. It has also... more

R. O. C. D.

By Andy Swingley on Apr 8, 2009 at 8:22pm | 10 Comments (Add) | 117 Views

You are going to ask yourself quickly, what the hell does Andy mean by that catchy title and I want you to know it has become my personal model for doing business, well, frankly, doing anything! R estaurant O bsessive C ompulsive D isorder Yep, I got the disease an... more

The Gap

By Andy Swingley on Apr 1, 2009 at 7:46pm | 10 Comments (Add) | 82 Views

Over the last month I have been experiencing what I term, “one legged man in a butt kicking contest” syndrome. If you don’t recognize the syndrome from the pictured visual suffice it to say, more work than time but no reduction in results required by the powers that ... more

Advantage….Employer

By Andy Swingley on Mar 18, 2009 at 6:24pm | 8 Comments (Add) | 71 Views

Check out this interesting blog from the People Report on the current trend in job loss and the exodus of workers from the food industry into other industries, most specifically the growing segments of health care and education. Now keep in mind the job loss in the... more

Walk with a Purpose

By Andy Swingley on Mar 11, 2009 at 5:56pm | 15 Comments (Add) | 125 Views

So, I have been on a restaurant binge lately also known as my own version of a personal stimulus package. I’ve hit every restaurant that I enjoy both chain and independent. I’ve gone to each one of them alone, blackberry on fire, and watching how the leadership in ... more

Your Stock is way down!

By Andy Swingley on Feb 25, 2009 at 8:14pm | 2 Comments (Add) | 50 Views

So the economy is tanking, people are saving their money, buying less things, and the stock market is crashing faster than a wet paper plane and let’s face it your stock as an employee, manager, or anything short of owner must feel like it has dropped as well. Yeah... more

Old School Ways

By Andy Swingley on Feb 18, 2009 at 5:40pm | 26 Comments (Add) | 291 Views

Today on FOHBOH I read Jerry Heilpern’s post, To Survive We Must Think Differently, and the reason behind my blog is not to agree or disagree with Jerry. I respect Jerry’s opinion and his professional background and accomplishments. His isn’t the first blog post I h... more

Your view may not always be the best…..another leadership road hazard!

By Andy Swingley on Feb 11, 2009 at 8:21pm | 6 Comments (Add) | 55 Views

This leadership hazard can be best described in the story of the happy beach swimmer. If you are on one of those crowded Southern California beaches with your friend soaking up the rays you have a limited view of things going on around you. The people next to you, t... more

Shake that Coke machine!

By Andy Swingley on Feb 4, 2009 at 7:23pm | 11 Comments (Add) | 103 Views

Maybe you are there, maybe you have been there, maybe you are on your way there but when I was much younger, a food server, married, wife going to school, not much money, I had to go to the Laundromat weekly. I saved all my quarters from my tips to do my wash. As I... more

Nobody cares about my future!

By Andy Swingley on Jan 28, 2009 at 4:33pm | 10 Comments (Add) | 116 Views

What do you do if you have a boss that isn’t engaging your strengths, recognizing your true value, giving you the direction you need to move forward, or in general being the true leader that you would be if you were doing his job? Yeah, ok. I wish I had a nickel for... more

Funny thing happened on my way to work

By Andy Swingley on Jan 21, 2009 at 7:35pm | 18 Comments (Add) | 221 Views

So I am headed to one of my restaurants and I am reflecting on why I can’t seem to make the headway fast enough to make this the best operation in the industry. I think to myself, “Self, you have been doing the same thing you always do in these situations and it wo... more

Weedeater

By Andy Swingley on Jan 14, 2009 at 8:08pm | 19 Comments (Add) | 139 Views

If you have been in the restaurant business long enough you have heard this terminology more than once. It refers to the employee, all levels mind you, that are so busy they are literally covered in a field of weeds, so lost that the only thing that would get them ou... more

Comment Wall (415 comments)

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At 5:34am on June 23rd, 2009, Ty Sullivan said…: Hello fellow FohBohist! Just introducing myself and saying, add me on as a contact and feel free to take a look at the new column/blog they gave me! Looking forward to knowing you and staying up to date with all your postings.
Best,
Ty

At 8:49pm on June 14th, 2009, Rod Guinn said…: The honor is mine, Andy -- and also the embarrassment for taking so long. I thought I'd made the contact long ago.

At 6:22pm on May 28th, 2009, Jeff Tenut said…: Hi Andy, is was a pleasure meeting you in person!

Let me know if you plan on going to CHART in August!

At 5:52pm on May 6th, 2009, taniica jamison said…: Andy in the last week I will say I thoght I had reached my breaking point, I was almost ready to throw in the towel and quit, in the four years I have been with the company, I will say this is the first time I felt lost and alone until the day you stoped in and checked up on me. I will say I was happy to see that you took time out of your day to check on me and to make sure that I was ok, I can't tell you enough how much that ment to me. Thank you so much.

At 12:51pm on March 6th, 2009, Joe Archuleta said…: Hi Andy, haven't forgotten the folks! We have been in transition from closing our commissary and partnering with Sysco-Modesto, CA. Still in the works and takes up most of my internet time. I will return once this is settled.....if ever.

At 10:54am on March 6th, 2009, Craig Priebe said…: Hi Andy
Today is the Deadline!
Here's an opportunity- won't take but a moment and it's fun...
- go here-
http://solofoods.com/page29642842.aspx
-and vote for #F06 Cherry Almond Truffles - vote only once and pass it on to all of your friends
Please...
I am a finalist in a big video recipe contest and I need your votes to win
deadline is TODAY Friday March 6
Thanks
Craig Priebe
"Grilled Pizzas & Piadinas"
www.craigpriebe

At 10:02am on February 23rd, 2009, Sandra Banks said…: Love your blogs...very insightful!

At 9:51am on February 21st, 2009, Ryan Swallow said…: Andy,
My last position was an Area Director with Applebee's. I am still currently looking. I appreciate your help!

At 6:51pm on February 19th, 2009, Bill Baumgartner said…: Hey Andy,

Sorry, I went a little nuts-o with all my comments on your blog, "Old School Ways."
I guess I like to get down to the deeper causes of the why's and the how's of situations.

Bill

At 11:17am on February 17th, 2009, Erle Dardick said…: Hello Andy,
You were asking about how we were trying to change the world for the better at our new site ( at least, that’s what I think you were asking) - I’m finally getting around to this.
Thanks for asking BTW - the question came at a good time, because after an initial flurry of interest internally, we’ve backed off on working on MonkeyMedia.net a little, for various internal reasons. We’re lurching ahead on it again. I feel a little better answering you now - as John just posted one of his interviews on the site last night - see
http://www.monkeymedia.net/index.php/site/article/leading_with_sustainability/

We imagine a place where we could stimulate interest in real solutions that go beyond our immediate self interest/next paycheck. A key motivator for launching was the world food crisis that we felt this time last year. As the year progressed our articles had more to do with the stumbling economy, but we hope to cover more about ’real lasting and necessary change in industry ‘ in the months to come. Our site doesn't have to be “the” platform for content, but we’d like to use it as a place where people can find some articles and expertise that hopefully contribute to humane and future-looking. That could be my pacemaker talking, but I can think of worse things to do.

Erle