# Letting go of the day-to-day: Tom Schmidt's journey from busser to leader | 073

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-pre-shift-3009561/letting-go-of-the-day-to-day-tom-schmidt-s-journey-from-busser-to-leader-073
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-pre-shift-3009561/letting-go-of-the-day-to-day-tom-schmidt-s-journey-from-busser-to-leader-073.md
Podcast: [The Pre-Shift](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-pre-shift-3009561)
Published: 2026-06-03T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1937749/episodes/19260710-letting-go-of-the-day-to-day-tom-schmidt-s-journey-from-busser-to-leader-073.mp3
Audio file: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1937749/episodes/19260710-letting-go-of-the-day-to-day-tom-schmidt-s-journey-from-busser-to-leader-073.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1680

## Resource

The Pre-Shift Podcast is back! Tom Schmidt, co-owner of Salt + Smoke BBQ, talks with host D.J. about shifting from hands-on restaurant work to leading an eight-location, 550+ employee business, a transition he says truly began around the fourth location and felt like a “phantom limb” loss of how he measured success. He explains how delegating to partners and leaders—especially co-owner Haley, a director of operations, and later hospitality, HR, finance, and catering roles—enabled growth while...

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