Experience Is the Best Teacher: Five Things My Father — and Hard Times — Have Taught Me About Leadership in the Restaurant Industry

I grew up learning the business from the best restaurateur I know — my father, T.J. Moran. He opened the first Ruth’s Chris franchise in 1975 and became one of the company’s largest U.S. franchisees. Throughout his career, which included owning and operating several more restaurant concepts and other service businesses, he spent decades leading his teams through many highs and lows. 

I’ve thought a lot about the lessons he taught me during the challenges of the past year, as...