Bryan Tublin

Thoughts on Intentional Living

Be So Good They Can’t Deny You

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“First tell yourself what kind of person you want to be, then do what you have to do. For in nearly every pursuit we see this to be the case. Those in athletic pursuit first choose the sport they want, and then do that work.”

– Epictetus, Discourses, 3.23.1-2a

“So what’s your backup plan? Everyone wants to get into the Business School.”

First month of freshman year, Ogg Hall West. Some kids on my floor were trading notes on how things were going so far when someone asked what we all planned to major in.

I brought up my plan to study business, and one of the kids smirked and let me know it was a really competitive process. Then he dropped a snide reply along the lines of, “yeah, get in line bud.”

He had a point, but I wasn’t having any of his pessimism.

“I’m going to get in,” I responded. “I’m just not going to give them a reason to deny me.”

[Read more…]

The Restaurant Business Hierarchy of Needs

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It’s hard to think clearly when we’re hungry.

Laugh when we feel threatened. 

View ourselves positively when we have no friends.

Our basic needs must be taken care of before we can work on becoming the person we want to be. 

The same is true for any business. The most ambitious owner or manager still has to satisfy a handful of fundamental “lower level” operational requirements before they can focus on “higher level” priorities for the business. 

The pain of unsatisfied needs is even more acute in the restaurant world. There’s a tangible hierarchy to the needs required to operate a brick-and-mortar business that any manager will feel immediately the moment there’s a crack in the foundation. Similar to how we find it difficult to think and focus when we’re really hungry, a restaurant business owner finds it extremely difficult to work at higher levels of the business when a lower level operational gap exists. 

[Read more…]

Try New Things

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I’m a huge fan of routine.

It helps you achieve, learn, and stay focused. It keeps you energized to pour all your effort into the activities that matter most. Repeating the same habits and behaviors—without thinking—enables you to become expert in your craft. Routine enables the process of deliberate practice, which is where world class skills are born.

But I’m also a firm believer in growth. That we should consistently strive to become the best version of ourselves we possibly can. [Read more…]

Add Tremendous Value

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When I graduated college to begin my career in product management, I remember wondering what my role would be within the company I was joining. This curiosity had less to do with the responsibilities of a product manager than understanding how I would be judged and evaluated as an employee.

How will I be evaluated?

What are they really paying me to accomplish?

How will I know I’m doing a good job? [Read more…]

How to Be a Leader in 200 Words

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Anyone who aspires to start their own business should read the book Boss Life: Surviving My Own Small Business by Paul Downs. It’s an honest, no-BS account that details a year in the author’s life running his own small business, Paul Downs Cabinetmakers in Bridgeport, PA.

Paul’s story is raw, fascinating, and a far cry from the typical glossy narratives we read about in entrepreneurship magazines. He’s open about his successes and failings as a boss and business owner, providing a practical lens into what it’s really like to run a small business. [Read more…]

Having Fun Without Drinking

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Imagine it’s Friday night.

You’ve had a long week at work, and just want to relax. You’d love to meet up with your friends, but they all want to go out somewhere. Thing is, you really don’t feel like drinking because you want to have a productive weekend. It would be fun to hang with your boys (or ladies), but the idea of drinking tonight is a little nauseating.

What do you do? [Read more…]

What are we denying ourselves? (and one word that can help)

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“I HATE tomatoes!”

My friend was adamant as he slid the plate of freshly sliced red veggies to the other end of the table.

“Trust me,” he said. “I just don’t like them. Never have, never will.”

It was early fall, and we were enjoying a delicious, home-cooked meal, made with ingredients bought from the farmer’s market that morning. Everything looked and smelled amazing, but my friend simply refused to try the juicy heirloom tomatoes that were newly in season. [Read more…]