What if the real key to scaling your business isn’t strategy or capital, but empathy?

That’s the belief driving today’s guest, David Steele. With a career spanning finance, hospitality, and the arts, David is the Founder and CEO of One Wealth Advisors, Executive Chairman of Flour + Water Hospitality Group, and Managing Partner at Great Gold Hospitality Group. He’s also a playwright, visual artist, and advocate for the power of people in business.

People Over Profit: How to Build a Team That Grows With You

If you want to build a business that lasts, start by investing in your people. David shares how he’s created a culture where turnover is almost nonexistent by treating every team member like a future owner. Whether you’re leading a small team or scaling fast, you’ll take away practical ideas like profit-sharing instead of bonuses, transparent P&L reviews, and a long-term goal of shared equity. Because when people feel valued and have a real stake in the outcome, they’re far more likely to stick around and help you grow.

Think Restaurants Are Risky? Here’s What Actually Causes Failure

You’ve heard it before: “Restaurants are too risky.” But David challenges that assumption with a powerful reframing: it’s not the industry that’s the problem, it’s the lack of business planning. 

Whether you’re in hospitality or any creative venture, his method applies. Start with a story. Build a 10-year model. Make sure the capital pays back in 3 years or less. If the numbers don’t work, don’t move forward. This approach has helped him grow eight successful restaurants and it might just change the way you assess risk in your own ideas.

Enjoy this episode with David Steele…

Soundbytes

11:17 - 11:56
“I figured one thing out, and all polymaths in business have probably figured one thing out. That is, they know how to activate a coalition of people around a singular idea… Everything that has ever been created in the history of humankind that's been great has been because people symbiotically came together to do it.”

14:08 - 14:22
“I just think the most important variable in any partnership is the most important variable in any real, sustainable relationship, which is always seeking to find empathy for the person you have a relationship with.”

Quotes

“Treat people well. People just want to feel valuable. That's all they want.”

“I have a goal with any business I start, which is to never lose a single employee for the life of the company. Now, it's a ridiculous goal. It's absurd.”

“I still have some of those clients that I started with in 1991.”

Links mentioned in this episode:

From Our Guest

Website: https://davidsteele.xyz/ 

Connect with David Steele on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-steele-76088a/ 

Connect with brandiD

Download our free guide to learn 16 crucial website updates that attract more leads and convert visitors into clients: https://thebrandid.com/website-tweaks/

Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? 
Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/