Mike Rypka, CEO, owner and co-founder of Torchys Tacos, has been in and around the food business for almost 20 years. With 130 stores across 16 states, he is still focused on creating innovative food across the country.

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Guest Resources

Torchy’s Tacos – Check out their website.

The Devil is in the Details: Mike Rypka and the Torchy’s Tacos Story – Get a copy of his book on Amazon.

Mike’s Instagram – Follow Mike on Instagram.

Torchy’s Tacos Facebook – Like Torchy’s Taco on Facebook.

3 Value Bombs

1) If you are doing something you are passionate about, you have more chances to win than when you don’t have passion to do it.

2) When it is coming from inspired places and out of passion, the right stuff comes for the right reasons and people get it.

3) Hire people that are better than you at things that you are not good at. Have that humility to know that you are not going to do it all. Follow that passion and fulfil a need that needs to be fulfilled and go after it.

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Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

Today’s Audio MASTERCLASS: The Devil is in the Details: How Torchys Tacos Founder Built His Empire

[1:12] – Mike shares something that he believes about becoming successful that most people disagree with.

• Some entrepreneurs start into a business base on finances because everyone needs a buck but its hard to go wrong if you are following your passion. Every entrepreneur knows how much work it needs to start a business and how much of their life that they have to give to get that business off the ground. If you are doing something you are passionate about, you have more chances to win than when you don’t have passion to do it.

[2:20] –  Mike talks about Passion & Persistence and shares his journey.

• Getting a second chance in life and being able to do things different, you start to realize that a lot of people can influence you  either good or bad . Its about the people you bring along the journey with you that create the foundation and opportunities. And that is the foundation of Torchy’s, to do something fun with food, streetfood and tacos and to provide opprotunities for people. They were able to do that 10-fold.

[3:22] – Mike talks about Innovation & Authenticity and how he stayed original and have taken creative risks.

• They do things from a place of inspiration and to a much more authentic place because it takes a little longer if you are not inspired. His huge background in international cooking and having all of that available in his real house separated him from other folks.
• One of his inspiration was when he was young he had a fried avocado stuffed chicken and cheese that he ate in a restaurant. It stayed in his memory and when he was looking for a vegetarian option, he played around avocadoes and started frying it and he then came up with fried avocado tacos.

[5:29] – Mike talks about Risk & Reward and share a bold but calculated risk he took and how it worked out.

• He started in a food trailer which was a very risky deal that time but now you can find it in different towns.
• He couldn’t get a bank loan to fund his business and he also didn’t have a bunch of rich friends that he can take a loan. He literally took a loan from his house and max out all his credit cards to open a food trailer in South Austin. He had a lot of passion in the food  that he was doing and that was his main thing. Serving good food and making sure that it is authentic and not frozen, home made stuff and people responded to it.
• He doesn’t have some big bank account to back him for months of losses so he had to go figure out how he can pay payroll every week and buy groceries for the trailer. He had a little red Vespa and literally canvass the street and handed out as much as free tacos, chips and sauces just to get his food in people’s mouth and that paid in dividends. He develop relationships and letting them know who he was. After a year, he brought in a 3^rd partner with his wife and they helped him to fund a 2^nd trailer. Those 5-6 years, they found investors to help them open restaurants and shared the profits that is a win-win for everybody.
• He still has the red Vespa in their office until now.

[9:34] – A timeout to thank our sponsor.

• ThriveTime Show: Become the next success story, schedule a free consultation and request tickets to join Football Star, Tim Tebow & President Trump’s Son, Eric Trump at Clay Clark’s next business conference today at: ThrivetimeShow.com/eofire!

[12:09] – Mike talk about Brand & Culture and how he created a unique, engaging customer experience.

• They are very purposeful in their brand and they wanted something spoke not just to a certain group of people but to everybody in general . His original partner Bill came up with the word ‘Torchy’s’ which he got from a vision 10-12 years ago while having a late night taco in a taco stand.
• After coming up with a name , they thought about iconic brands having a symbol or a mascot that really speaks to the brand. Torchy’s is really a place where you can just come and let your hair downand enjoy a really good taco that is authentically made from scratch with a lot of flavour.
• Their tagline “Damn Good”  came from their original customers who says after eating their food “damn those tacos are good”. It became there guiding light that really help them set a high standard in the beginning.
• When it is coming from inspired places and out of passion, the right stuff comes for the right reasons and people get it.

[16:10] – Mike gives his best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

• Passion is the biggest thing. Find what you are passionate about and really dig in to that and make that as a bigger part of your business.
• Hire people that are better than you at things that you are not good at. Have that humility to know that you are not going to do it all. Follow that passion and fulfil a need that needs to be fulfilled and go after it.

[17:08] – Mike talks about what’s next for Torchys.

• They have expanded a lot in the last couple of years and they will be focused on doubling down in their operations in a lot of states. They have not yet fully decided where they are going next in terms of states and cities.

[17:54] – Mike talks about the Book: The Devil is in the Details: How Torchys Tacos Founder Built His Empire.

• The phrase “The Devil is in the Details” is in the kitche of all their restaurants . There are a lot of details in a business and making it successful depends on how highly focused you are on those details. Make sure that there is an undying passion in everything you do and for other people, who will say it is ‘damn good’.
• Its really about your people who are going to get all those details across the board. Provide for them opportunities and chances to succeed and let them own a piece of the business by developing them and letting them shine.

[18:50] – Call to action.

• Torchy’s Tacos – Check out their website.
• The Devil is in the Details: Mike Rypka and the Torchy’s Tacos Story – Get a copy of his book on Amazon.
• Mike’s Instagram – Follow Mike on Instagram.
• Torchy’s Tacos Facebook – Like Torchy’s Taco on Facebook.

[20:03] – Thank you to our Sponsor!

• ThriveTime Show: Become the next success story, schedule a free consultation and request tickets to join Football Star, Tim Tebow & President Trump’s Son, Eric Trump at Clay Clark’s next business conference today at: ThrivetimeShow.com/eofire!

Killer Resources!

1) The Common Path to Uncommon Success: JLD’s 1st traditionally published book! Over 3000 interviews with the world’s most successful Entrepreneurs compiled into a 17-step roadmap to financial freedom and fulfillment!

2) Free Podcast Course: Learn from JLD how to create and launch your podcast!

3) Podcasters’ Paradise: The #1 podcasting community in the world!

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