#139: Restaurant Owners Share Their Struggles and How They Overcame Them
December 10, 2025 by David Scott Peters
You know things are bad in your restaurant when you’re so overwhelmed you forget to eat for three days and your debit card is declined at the gas pump. In this episode of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula” podcast, I sit down with Kristi and Tracy Carter, owners of JAC’s Craft Smokehouse in West Monroe, Louisiana, to talk about how they went from that rock-bottom moment to running a profitable, values-driven barbecue restaurant with a management team that lets them travel without worrying.
In our conversation, you’ll hear how they turned an award-winning sauce company into a full-service smokehouse, how they used systems to get out of survival mode, what changed when they finally embraced budgets and prime cost, how they rebuilt their marriage and work-life balance, and why they now feel confident opening a second concept.
Tune in for a front-row seat to what it looks like when an operator fully commits to the Restaurant Prosperity Formula and uses leadership, systems, training, accountability and taking action to completely change their life.
Think of this episode as a glimpse into what happens when restaurant owners stop trying to figure it all out alone and decide to build prosperity on purpose.
----
Ready to learn more? Get a free 30-minute training video where David outlines exactly what you need to do.
Sponsor
Service With Style: Secret Shopping That Drives Performance
Know exactly what your guests experience — without the guesswork. Service With Style’s secret shopping program delivers photo-rich reports, customized visit templates, a vast network of experienced shoppers and a clear scoring system you can act on.
Comprehensive reports with photos
Customized visit templates
Experienced shoppers and actionable scoring
You control frequency and rotation
No minimums, no contracts, no cancellation charges, no hidden fees
👉Access industry-leading reporting and scoring software, plus 10% off — and your first shop is free. Set up a quick call today at www.servicewithstyle.com/DSP
Rate, Review, & Subscribe
Please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you happen to listen to podcasts. By leaving us a review, other restaurant pros seeking out this information are able to find it. I read the reviews and hearing how this information has benefited you, does wonders for me. Also, if you find any of the discussions helpful, share them! The more restaurant pros who have access to them the better we become as an industry.