Olivia Cook on Fostering Unity and Local Partnerships

Peter Pappas: Good evening. Welcome to the Carolina cabinet. I'm Peter Papas, your host tonight. The Carolina cabinet is a voice for conservatives in Fayetteville, Cumberland County and beyond, bringing you straight talk, strong opinions and real conversations about the issue shaping our communities, our state and our country. As we know, this is the smartest hour of radio. Now we are streaming wherever you get your podcasts. So today joining us in the cabinet is lovely Mrs. Laura Musler. Hello, hello. My dependable co-host as always, the loveliest Olivia Cook. Welcome. And you are, you are the director of people for people. am one of the leaders. I'm the director of marketing. I'm the executive director of marketing as well as a leader over the Southeast region. Um, so I have two positions with that and I manage a restaurant and I've got two little boys, woman of many talents. So I, cause I don't think anybody in this, uh, this day and age can get by with just one job, whether they pay or not. You've got more than one job. I think I'm just more purpose driven. Okay. Okay. Rather than, you know, even cause if it wasn't for the money at this point, we're building something. It's okay to admit where we are money grubber capitalists here. It's okay. So, ⁓ look, we, let's get into it. This week's GOP talking points. They're all about one thing. Trump's making America affordable again. But before we get into that, What did you what you've been up to last week or so I have been sick as a dog and I finally have the last Like ⁓ of it and I don't think you were contagious but whatever you had now I have yes, you sure you share the office now Thanks a lot office mate. Yeah, I sneeze on all your stuff. Yes, you don't you're on I'm gonna get so I put that past you some time But that's sometimes my yeah, she's probably crafty enough to do that. Yeah, I've been out sick, but also Meeting so my birthday your birthday that I I did wish you a happy birthday on the day of you did I called you and to check on you to make sure you were alive right I spent the entire day by myself alone in the office. Yeah, I know it's just horrible I bought my own birthday cake, and it's still in the refrigerator. We haven't had it's it and that's sad. It's sad I'm like you hear the passive you know I did see a new commercial this weekend the passive progressive have you seen those yet? No new insurance commercials from progressive. They're pretty funny, okay So I did see something that I thought was funny. The Japanese prime minister was visiting President Trump and a reporter asked him, you know, why didn't you tell your allies about, you know, going to Iran? And he says, well, who knows better than the Japanese for surprises? He can be funny. He can also be disgusting. And what did he do to counter the funny? Yeah. Then he said when Mueller died that he's glad he's dead. What a disgusting thing to say about anybody. that's dead. Yeah. Disgusting. Why? I mean, I understand his point of view. It's not excusable though. No, it's not even my own worst enemy. I don't I wouldn't be happy. He's dead. I mean, I wouldn't care. I there's a song and I want to dance on your grave, you know, yeah, that's okay. But privately, you can say anything you want, but how disgusting of our leader and how can you say that you want to make the country great again and speak about one of your He's former FBI director. I understand that he's still an American citizen. Absolutely. You don't speak about other American citizens that way I think it's disgusting but I love Trump. Well, we're not gonna argue that I'm not having over to dinner, but I all of his policies. So so all right Well, let's look at these talking points We're gonna run through him because I want to be time with our guests here But so Trump is lowering cost inflation is down. So what do you think Laura? We ⁓ is that the truth or not? Well, yeah, that's true. that's about it doesn't mean things are getting cheaper, right? Things don't get cheaper. That's not what happens with inflation. What happens is it does because that's this is you're talking about economics and you're talking about reality. Inflation goes down. It's not rising at the same rate that it was. It was going up six, eight percent. And now it's at like two, two point something percent. So nothing is going to get cheap. The idea is that the cost of things rise at a lower rate than incomes So that's all so things are getting more expensive slowly there. Yes, that's correct I mean, that's life. I mean if you think about it you should take 20 cents to the bank I mean to the store and you could buy groceries for the month now not so much I don't know Olivia your food cost gone up over at the restaurant Yes incoming cost Absolutely. Yeah, Yeah, how sensitive are the the So you're in a real restaurant business. just run like local family stuff. ⁓ How do the, they like, are they that sensitive that they'll like get a 50 cents more for some item and then they'll change their menu price or will they absorb it for a few months? no, definitely absorb it for a few months. ⁓ but Bahama Breeze is actually, they're dissolving the brand. ⁓ here in Fayetteville. out of a job? No. I work for a phenomenal company. Darden restaurant group. Yeah, a phenomenal company. So what they're doing is they're transitioning Bahama Breeze in this location to Chewy's. Sounds like a place for dogs. I know. Because of the, that brand that sells stuff through. Right. Yeah. like that stuff. it's. Before my dog died after 15 years, I, that's where I got my dog food. ⁓ So yeah, but it's a it's a Tex-Mex place. And I know we already have enough of those here. However, I love the fact that we're going to be able to give phenomenal service at a lower cost while everything else is expensive. It's so expensive for people to go out to eat nowadays. It's $32 right now. We range our price per guest ranges from 32 to 38. Per person and my background I used to work at Morton's the steakhouse in downtown st. Louis So our price point was a lot higher than as well. It's about a hundred and twelve There's a market quality difference. Oh, well a different quality and service expectation of Hortons versus no offense or a bomb a breeze. Oh, of course But you know like and when I saw that and I worked there for four years and then I moved here my husband's Air Force and but just being able to service the people here at a lower cost is going to be something that's nice because most people are just taking lower cost than Bahama Breeze. Yes. Okay. Yes. Cause Chewy's price point is significantly lower, but I do believe we're going to have a great volume. The management team here opened that store. did a million dollars consecutively for the first three months. That was a phenomenal market. I love, but we've also maintained some very good market share. So if this if our restaurant were to stand alone and not be a corporate we would we would still be really good It's unfortunate that we're part of a corporate company and it is what it is, you know It doesn't matter how good you do if your brand itself is not doing phenomenal then you know, it is what it is So I would eat it. I'm eating it chewie's You know, not no I don't What do I? ⁓ my god, it's too spicy. was the word that comes out? Spicy. I don't eat spicy. That's true. She doesn't. I don't like spicy food either, but I think that there's some other options. And I mean, the thing is everybody tries something at least once. No, you know, know that. Yeah. No, you. No, she's see I'm past the point where I need to try spicy food. I don't need to prove my manhood. Eating the spicy so I'm like I'm Everybody's that I know that eats spicy food is like ⁓ Yeah, it's not necessarily that spicy Yeah, okay, I'm going if I'm gonna go to Mexican food. I'm going to El Casador. Mm-hmm Well, you want real Mexicans not no Mexicans. I want real Mexican food So I did depend on me because it is chicken soup this last weekend. Have you have you had that? I don't need to damn it. Yeah, no, I this is what she's a strange one. This is very strange. Yes I don't do I don't do caffeine. I don't do alcohol. I don't curse. I know it's weird that no space get along to do the show. I don't understand how ⁓ that ⁓ works So Olivia that's realistic, you know price points and I kind of thought Bahama Breeze was a little bit a higher end for certainly although I'm going to be like these people in the the Facebook groups about Trader Joe's I kind of a chart house just yard house yard house I would have loved a yard house that would have been phenomenal right yes and there's two chewie's in ones in Raleigh ones in Kerry it's one of the fastest growing brands in Darden right now but And I think that I trust that their judgment that they they know the numbers. think it brings more to the bottom line, honestly. but I mean, I would have loved the yard house, but I'm going to just trust their judgment because it's a yard house is similar price point to Bahama Breeze. ⁓ and like I said, I mean, I'm going to be yard house to me when I went there, it was, ⁓ it was a night. It wasn't, it didn't feel like a chain because there was more unique stuff on the menu. ⁓ but. Anyway, when is those tables going to grow up? We'll get there. Yes, we will. well, next claim is that housing is improving rent is down and mortgages are just better. So I mean, when staff from the record high, but it's still way above what it was in 2020. Well, again, prices are not going to just magically gone down. But I mean, the Trump policy is saying that corporations can no longer buy houses that has helped and interest rates are down. But it's not a factor of. So I think who the president is determines the confidence people have in the stock market and other things like that. Right. I think the rents remaining high is because we had such expensive and such big changes with construction material. People weren't able to put enough units in the pipeline, so to speak. So I think until we start building more, that those prices are going to stay high. You know, I see that as you're saying that I see us building Everywhere and especially like ⁓ apartment buildings and things like that. You know, I watched last night The Matrix okay, and they brought up a comment that I just agree with wholeheartedly about there's We as a human beings Are like a virus we just spread and rather and more and of us come and we just kill everything underneath us So my mom looked out in the cut ribs up well lives out in the country now but she had you know all these animals and stuff like that fox whatever well they destroyed all the woods around her house and others a small patch of woods and all the animals are coming up to the house we just devour everything and it's just I think we're building lots of houses. Well we are and so I actually did have a meeting at the Board of Realtors last week for the RPAC Realtors Political Action Committee and ⁓ Councilman Honduras was there. Now he and I, both ran for council the first time he ran as when I ran and when we ran that was 2021 he mentioned the number that we were given by the realtors was in Cumberland County we are down 20,000 housing units. So last week we were having the discussion well where are we now? We're 20,000 behind. So I'm beginning to wonder if those numbers are real. They're not real. Just when I changed when you say 20,000 behind behind who? From the Demand so what I'm told is that we have like a six month supply worth of houses at the current rate that we're selling okay houses so I Think we're more in a stable market right now. That's what I would say ⁓ but again my concern is that In 2021 it was 20,000 units short. They're just making figures. And now in 2026 it's 20,000 units short. just making numbers up. Okay. Let me ask you, okay, so you're a realtor, realtor. Are you getting three, four, five offers on one property? No. Okay. So then how can you say if, because if we were 20,000 houses short. Then everybody would want the houses that are for sale. How's this are sitting on the market for two three months? What housing housing units and I think not everybody's in position to buy so they're considering multifamily apartments stuff like that, too Okay, that's the only thing I can say right now with some kind of authority ⁓ I'd have to research the rest of that ⁓ You know they're considering rental house because this a big rental market it is because because we have a very transient community. Yes, absolutely ⁓ Okay, so What do we got next the economy it's booming? Yeah, buddy, right? So the thousand about fifty thousand for one case of booming Trump Rx lower drug prices Yeah, that was a couple weeks ago. We actually compared the prices and they are way down Especially can we because we looked at good Rx that was supposed to leave like the big deal But no, it's like even half the price of good our X Yeah, but just cuz my 401k is doing well That doesn't mean that the guy coming in their order steak and cheese is doing better at the kitchen table You know, I think people disconnect that well the dogs doing great. Yeah, okay, but for the regular guy working I don't think he thinks is he does he have a 401k? Because if he does when he gets when he retires then that's better for him. You certainly don't want the down down down Okay, I don't know. I look the record does not help me the grocery store. No, but lower interest rates, lower inflation does. I mean, it's not an immediate, we're talking about long-term. We don't want immediate dropping of prices. That's not good for the economy. No, that would be horrible. That would be absolutely horrible. It's weird. It went up really high and that was okay. But it wasn't okay. wasn't okay. lot of people, mean, credit card debt is at an all-time high. Okay, I know it is that is a little thing. Yeah people were living off their credit cards because everything went up so much in their price in their costs of of Their income didn't come keep up with that. That's why it's a bad thing. So let's talk about Homeland Security Mm-hmm because now the line from our party is the Democrats are siding with terrorists Whatever is that is that even fair? a little bit When you have these women in the street saying leave Iran alone and then you have the Iranian women in the street saying thank you, thank you, thank you. There's a little bit of a disconnect. They're not checking the source material on that one. No Kings rally and then but no dictators or whatever it was. No, it's no oligarchs. Oh oligarchs. And then you have the Shimmers and Pelosi's and even on our party too we have these people that have been a trench forever. Like when I saw that disgusting pig. Why is he so, you go straight to like the jugular. What is he to you? Well first of all he likes other people that I know. Why are you looking at me? Cause I'm having a conversation with you. You're just kind of... Are so busy fighting the Republicans as opposed to looking out for the best interests of America. They're too busy fighting Americans. And I will say, grandpa is good fiscally because he does his whole... What is that? Festivist thing that he does when he does it? Whatever. But I mean like Mullins. Because they brought their... want... Okay, so I'm a nerd. 100 % nerd and I sat and watched all of the what are they called the hearings and the the sea span. Yes. Yeah I could do I could like live in the Senate Hall I would just like snuggle up underneath there and go to sleep But anyway, I watched them and they're having an argument about Rand Paul being attacked I guess personally I don't care about your personal feelings. I don't care if you like me I don't care if you guys like each other Will Mullins do a good job? Is he what we need for the DHS? it. That's all you need to worry about knowing you said that it was good that I got in the middle of all this, have the Homeland Security is being essentially they're working without pay. I think there was an announcement by the administration that they're going to start sending ICE agents into to fill the gap. Well, I should make some of the super crazy towns maybe calm down because no ice off the street. Okay. Then they'll be ⁓ like, because they don't live in a reality. Reality, I would say that they'll start I'm not flying anymore because you have ice agents at the um, who knows whatever That's exactly right, you know, you have the Gestapo I don't think that the Democrats are supporting terrorists. I know there's a couple of terrorists like I don't know that they're supporting them But they certainly are not speaking on behalf of the American Patriots that are there fighting. It's not Joe It's not GI Joe down the street that made this They didn't make the decision right? Yeah, they're going to fight so shut the heck up support your troops and and that's it support your troops period and full stop no more no more War okay. Well, and I listened to Rand Paul too. He said, you know, we're war in the Iraq war in Vietnam war well, actually sir Yeah, somebody I know said that's the brand Paul knows I said we haven't had more since World War two and I was told you're wrong Rand Paul said I'm like am I Let's let's look it up. There's no war. After World War II and the formal declaration. That's right. In World War II, there hasn't been an officially declared war. That's right. But that doesn't mean we haven't gotten into trouble. No, we have had conflict. We've had conflicts. Conflicts, conflicts, conflicts, 100%. So you can't say that all of the sudden now orange men in the White House can't have conflicts with every other president up until now. Now I will say I'm really pissed off. apologize that's not nice to say I'm very upset at them backing off of deporting illegal aliens and they're backing off of that that that that's not what I voted for it must be our state senator that chimed in she didn't want to uh you know didn't want her strawberries to be more expensive if we did if we deport the people and your toilet might be a little dirtier get the heck out of here what a disgusting thing to say I'm Hispanic so I take offense to that Look there's signs of improvement, but did you see Did you see the Josh Stein made Ramadan a holiday I Did not well. I saw he did the proclamation. I didn't know he made it like yeah Proclamation about pretty much everything can't you I don't I have no idea what a proclamation a motion a big toe I mean you can okay, whatever making progress. She's been quiet. She didn't agree with us. She's just coming like these guys are crazy. I'm sorry I came here. Well, look, the question is, you know, things better than Biden or but it's really more like our Americans actually are they feeling relief right now? I don't know that there I think that the outlook is relief, but I don't know that they're actually feeling it right yet. But it takes time. ⁓ We did get a little bit of relief when the gas prices were down, but they're back up now. But They'll go back down again, but it's it's not a short-term It's not things that come fast are not necessarily good So well wait until the Venezuelan oil starts flowing that's right You know once we get those because it's not gonna be us like going in there and stealing it It's gonna be now that it's stable companies can go and invest and get flowing Same thing with Iran when we get done ⁓ using all of our toys on them So let's shift gears for a minute. Let's talk about something that actually impacts people day to day. Leadership, workforce culture, and building stronger communities. Today we have Olivia Cook, Executive Marketing Director and Regional Leader for People for People. With people, I said for people for people. People for people. She's also the Local Restaurant Manager with Bahama Breeze, where she's leading teams in one of the most fast-paced environments out there. She is a military wife and mom, balancing leadership at work and at home. Welcome. Welcome, Olivia. It's an honor to be here. Thank you so much. What's People for People? me. People for People is a movement, but it's also an organization. And what we do is it's like a chamber of commerce mixed with a social club. And it's so it's a membership program, but it's to start in all different local communities. So I'm starting the one up here in Fayetteville. ⁓ I'm doing my strategic planning that I'm for all of the states. I'm in I'm doing specific areas But Fayetteville is definitely first because I'm here and I genuinely I love this area I didn't think that I was gonna love it as much as I do but Yeah, it surprised me Because I've lived a few different places As a military wife. So when I met you before and I know you're involved with this organization, but I still don't know much about it. I went to your website and I said, well, there's nobody here. And you said, we're building it. Is that you building out the website? I'm not the one fully doing that. No, I'm not the president and that's okay. ⁓ The president, her mission, it's she's actually in Utah. So we've got leaders all over the country and this started like 10 years ago. And it's now cultivated into what it is now, but we just recently launched, like did a brand new relaunch in October. So I was very fortunate. The reason I got the positions I have is because I was on maternity leave while I jumped into this position. And then I got to. You know, just make it work. Just to just, you know, make my schedule work. But what we do is we connect people. We have a loneliness crisis here. We lack community. We lack ⁓ a strong local economy and that's what we aim to help aid. I used to want to be a mayor in like 20 years. ⁓ I was like, want to be the mayor of Charlotte. No, not anymore. No interest. Simply because ⁓ I think that there are other ways to make change than politics. We are all about unity. So we're not political. We're not religious, although I am a very pronounced Christian. ⁓ I'm an independent. I do lean towards the conservative side, if you can't tell by the way that I am. But ⁓ I say all that to say that there are certain local issues that we can solve by just having good people connected together. And that's really what we do here is I just want to have the best of the best in the organization. So it's for small local businesses, we give them exclusivity. But we also have we've got all these different departments. So we've got our connections department where we connect our businesses and our community members. Then we've got our development department where we put guests on podcasts, we do networking and we do workshops. So people actually get to build the no like trust factor. We've got the impact department where it's personal impact where we have like life coaches and other people like that come on and help you with little tidbits of just improving your life. We've got the preparedness. So that's where your local tax person comes in and tells you the benefits of tax planning. Then you've also got global impact. That's where we have our nonprofits come in and share the local nonprofits in the area share what they're doing. We have a completely different events department as well. And we've got a pathways department that talks about, you know, relationships, businesses, and the shares in the program. So that's really for the builders that want to help build the organization. So, So, all right. You mentioned exclusivity for small businesses exclusivity for what so we only have one real estate agent one broker one of the types of restaurants like so one it would be one Mexican restaurant But it must be small business locally owned. There's enough corporations out there. That's helping corporate business stay afloat Okay, what are we doing to really help our small businesses? so Okay, so I'm the one sandwich maker you have. So I'm the exclusive sandwich maker of People for People. What does that get me? So we promote you. ⁓ to our community. not only do so like B and I, you know, they have exclusivity, but they don't have community. So we have community members that want to support small businesses. So it's getting together those types of people that care about their local economies and wanting to make sure that my HVAC guy isn't going anywhere, you know, that that's more so what we're doing. Question, are we not supporting our local community even by doing ⁓ franchise restaurants? Because the local community also has people like you that work for their managers, if we don't support the corporate restaurants also, then we're not supporting our local community. ⁓ we absolutely are. But this is specifically for our local small businesses. I'm not saying that we shouldn't support bigger things, but to really support stronger local economies and make sure that that American dream is really still realistic. And I think I really believe that that starts at a local level. So you have where you will partner with local businesses to help you take applications and you'd pick which one you want. Yes. Is there a fee for the businesses to participate? It's super cheap. Okay. It's super cheap. It's a hundred dollars a month. ⁓ okay. Like the benefits that they get is it's a dollars a month. Okay. So the benefits they get would be Being on the podcast, have a whole sheet. I'm sorry. I should have brought my sheet with me. Um, but being that exclusive partner. So the community members are ideally to shop with those exclusive partners. That's kind of what the pledge is for the community members is to be a part of that. And, it's our way of doing a little exposure with getting on podcasts and stuff, or, uh, is there marketing support Google, Google reviews. ⁓ so when they come to the work, do workshops, ⁓ one person's do leading a workshop. So all of the meetings, except for the connections meeting is a 30 minute meeting. And that meeting allows for you to jump on zoom. It's all virtual because a lot of people are very busy. It's like the time it takes me to go to a chamber of that. I live in Cameron and so I've got to drive 30 minutes and then I've got to be there for an hour to an hour and a half. And I. barely might get to meet one person. But the thing is a lot of people can jump on Zoom a lot easier and it's a lot more realistic for them to do that. But then you're going to see the same types of people in the community and you'll start to hear their stories and really get to connect with them and build that no like trust factor. So that's the power of that. And there's so much benefit with having good people together and seeing the positives. You know, when you look at magnets, because right now our world is so divided. It's ridiculous. But if you have a magnet, you've got the polar sides, but the attracted sides really connect. And that's what we do. We focus on where we are commonalities and the differences can go away. But right now, how the media portrays us and everything, it's I'm this way. I'm this way. We can't talk, but we But y'all could actually agree on a lot. That's all the media. That's not real people. know. I, which I agree. And a lot of real people want that type of community. They want a place that they can actually sit and talk to people and adulthood. It's so hard making friends. And you think zoom, I'm going to make a friend on zoom. ⁓ yeah. ⁓ yeah. See, I'm tired of the Zoom and the internet things. Like we're having District 7 convention over Zoom. Really? I want to go see these people. I want to touch people and be like, hey, what's the best part of your week so far? I mean, what are you doing? What's going on? What are you working on? What's, you know, Well, I think that she has her target audience. Yeah. And you ain't it. And very inexpensive. cheap. $100 a month. Inexpensive. Affordable. So, okay. So how many of those zoom sessions do you guys host a week? Like as there's multitudes of it's a multitude. There's a lot of it. We go on a four week cycle and then we have holiday weeks. So we've got a bunch of different meetings like on week one is just connection. So that's one meeting. And then we've got what's just, what do mean? Just connection our connections meeting, which is an hour long. So we do 10 of those a year. And that's where the community members and the exclusive businesses can come on and speak. Now that's the exclusive businesses. There's about four that get to speak on the connections meeting. So they get, and we also have other ones that can offer prizes or whatever. like those that don't necessarily want to be in attendance, like they can still get exposure and not be on the meeting. ⁓ then we've got our week two, week three and week four, which are development meetings, impact meetings. and our pathways meeting is on weeks two, three and four. What does that mean? So the development department hosts our networking and that's for businesses. The development department is all for businesses. So it's networking and then the second, the week three is workshops and that's where we would have an exclusive business come on and lead a workshop. And then we do the podcast on week four. And that's where people really get to, we have a focus for everything. We've actually got a lot of handbooks. It's, it's actually a very, very built out, ⁓ the impact department. That's that the week two is the personal impact week three is the, ⁓ preparedness and week four is the global. So global, the nonprofits and preparedness is. You know, like I was talking about the tax person coming in or even the fire department, you know, okay. Okay. So how much, how many meetings have you been hosting for this area? Like national right now we're, we're in our unified meetings. I'm just, I get to just be over the development department right now. Thank God that, and, I lead a lot of team meetings because I have being the executive marketing director, I've got a team under me for that. And I also have a team under me for the Southeast region. So I do two different meetings for them throughout the week. and then we've got our leadership meetings. If I may executive me, I've got a bunch of meetings. So this is sounds to me more and you can correct me if I'm wrong, but this is more like a virtual chamber of commerce. Similar. Yeah. Okay. I'm trying, I'm trying to see how this fits in my world. Yeah. Okay. So virtual chamber commerce, want to be a virtual sandwich maker? I'd love to. I could, if I could phone that in, would, do a quarterly events in person. And it's not to say that you can't meet up with people in person either. know, you definitely can. Um, it's just to make it a lot more convenient for people to just be able to get on and do something more consistently. Um, and of course the community members, get to choose what, they can in your own development right now. So. Are you developing more ⁓ clients like local businesses or are you trying to develop people like individual people that join you? So development, ⁓ that one's the one that has the networking it's for business members. So the networking, the podcast and the workshops is what the development department does. So my, now, my leaders are, you know, I'm refining what they're doing and, ⁓ getting that where it needs to be, honestly. Okay. So, military wife, how long have you been in the military yourself? No. No? No. So how long have you been in the military and voluntarily? Ten years. Ten years. Okay. So how many different postings have y'all had? This is our third duty station. Third move. Okay. All right. Wow. That's tough. you said you have two boys. Yeah. How old are they? A three year old and a nine month old. wow. Congratulations. Thank you. Three and nine. Okay. So, ⁓ managing the employees at the restaurant is kind of being at home. No, no, no, they're much more difficult at the restaurant. No, I genuinely, I love the team that I have at the restaurant. ⁓ it's a very unique opportunity. Are you the gentleman? No, I'm just, ⁓ I do service and events. but. Darden runs the restaurants you you have to be able to run the restaurant. Right? There's plenty of times I'm there by myself. No only manager there. Yeah, so Four managers we have five. Okay, so our GM and then the four other managers, but ⁓ Yeah, I mean I love our team we've got like 80 team members and ⁓ I mean we're very close. It's it's The community we've created it there Unlike any other one I've ever any restaurant I've worked in and I've worked in the restaurant industry for 14 years ⁓ In six different states and Just I mean are we perfect? Absolutely not but we hold our teams to a high standard and We we have honest conversations about mental health about you know, just life. We had a team member her husband committed suicide and We three of the managers, including myself, were at the funeral. We genuinely provide like real genuine support to our team. It's unlike, and I really realize that a lot of places don't do that. A lot of are not people focused. I've got so many regulars. And when I say I'm a people person, I really genuinely take the time to get to know my people. ⁓ We're what matters, you know, we've got AI coming out and it's a tool. I'm not against AI. It's absolutely a tool, but we have to start treating other people better as a society. And if we want to see that change happen, we have to be the change. Understood. I believe you with that. ⁓ AI is not going to replace us being there for a team member that suffered loss or. Yeah, it's not gonna replace. It's not gonna replace making sandwiches anytime soon either. Unless Elon gets those robots he's promised going. bless you. They don't do well with different requests. So they're good with like repetitive items. So if it was a standard sandwich, but if you wanted just a little bit less, it would take a little bit more time. Cause I really looked more into this. Like about, you know, what jobs are AI free? You know, I got some time, but there's also things that you wouldn't want. Robot to do I don't want a robot to do my makeup ever I don't want a robot to do my pictures at a wedding or a major of like lifetime event because they're not gonna capture the real emotion the moments I don't want AI to ⁓ Save me from a building because how are you gonna prioritize me over the cat or the dog or anything like that? How are you gonna make the split-second decisions? Right. Yeah, I take some out of the ketchup and do that So you've been in restaurant business for 14 years and then you found people for people and so how do you How do your managers think about you being involved with this big huge organization out to the side? Do you they know about it or is it something you've kind of involved them with? I'm a very transparent person. I'm not like this. Yeah, yeah, yeah, do they how do they feel about you having multiple hats? They know how I am they just know how you are. Yeah, they know that that they know who i am to i'm a person that wants to make the world a better place and and in doing that in an avenue of that like they're very supportive on the work and i'm so thankful both might like i had a different g ⁓ and i have a new g ⁓ but he has a few open the restaurant with us to so he just got promoted and ⁓ date they're very respectful of my schedule they they give i'd have a very sped up a set schedule and and that's very rare in the restaurant industry so i'm and very blessed. Well, I mean, I wouldn't mind giving more set schedules if the ones that have set schedules show up. Right. It's actually easier to make a set schedule if you have to. Here's what I have open. Can you fill these slots? If not, nope. That would be nice. Yeah. Well, and this doesn't have anything to with people for people. This is more about your restaurant background, but ⁓ what is the, what's a trade that you want your leaders to have when you, when you have them at the restaurant? ⁓ there's a lot of traits, but really a willingness to learn. ⁓ Having a learner's mindset is super important, but personality too. We spend a lot of time when we're interviewing because the thing is I have a lot of great team members because we believe in hiring properly. ⁓ There's some great people here, but you got to hire right. And you have to give honest. ⁓ Clear direction. I even tell my three-year-old he was crying and wine. I said I can't hear you when you're crying I can't hear you when you're whining. I Need you to speak use your words direct honest communication So it's even worse for infants are toddlers, I guess yeah, okay, it's okay Okay, you just beat him every day whether they need it or not. Well, that's nice. Well, Olivia cook, I really appreciate you coming in and bring us real world perspective to the show. End of the day policy is one thing, but what's happening workplace in the communities, that's where people actually live. And that's where you work. So I do appreciate you being here this evening. So what do we got coming up this week? Cook WN here on Wednesday. we should do this. Am I allowed to say that? What did you say? Am I allowed to say that, I like Kirk? No, don't like Kirk. No, Kirk is a good guy. He's a good guy. So that'll do it for this episode of the Carolina Cabinet. Thank you to our cabinet members and our guests. and all of you who continue to support this show. We say it proudly, Carolina Cabinet is a voice for conservatives and still the smartest hour of radio, whether you hear us on a speaker, a phone, or a screen. Follow us, share us, and stay with us at thecarolinacabinet.com and until next time, we're the Carolina Cabinets.