The Martin’s Restaurant Group is a locally owned collection of standout dining experiences in the Roanoke Valley. Owned by Jason Martin, the group includes Martin’s Downtown, Sidecar, and Jaybird Tavern. Each establishment offers its own distinct atmosphere while sharing a commitment to quality food, thoughtful service, and community connection.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Jason Martin and his leadership team about my book, Turning Tables at The Spot on Kirk. It was a great session, and I walked away with some thoughtful feedback and new insights of my own.

The team really connected with the “No Kitchen Errors” concept and how it applies to the work they do together every day. That’s always meaningful to hear. I continue to learn from Jason, and I truly admire the way he and his team approach both their restaurants and their catering work with intention and high standards.

Bruce Bryan didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur. It was a leap born out of necessity during the Great Recession of 2018. But from that uncertain start, he built 5Points Creative into a thriving marketing agency.

In this episode of What Am I Even Doing?, Bruce shares his journey of starting and growing a marketing agency:

How a sudden career shift pushed him into entrepreneurship
The power of authentic networking and vulnerability
Key lessons in hiring, growth, and embracing challenges
Why authenticity is the cornerstone of building trust and lasting relationships
Bruce’s story is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the unexpected paths that lead to success.

Catch the full interview and subscribe to What Am I Even Doing? for more real, unfiltered stories from entrepreneurs and leaders who’ve been through the trenches.

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Virginia author, and former television executive, Bruce Bryan, reveals how skills learned in food service work are the same abilities that drive success in any career. He joins us for Books & Brews at Pale Fire Brewing in Harrisonburg at 7pm on Tuesday, March 10, to talk about those skills outlined in his book Turning Tables. He’ll join valley novelist Rebecca Kaufman whose new novel The Reservation takes place in a restaurant. WMRA’s Chris Boros asked Bruce if skills learned in food service can be translated to other jobs?

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Recently, I was at a function and noticed something I’ve experienced before. We were with a group of people, and I realized no one had asked me a single question the entire night. People were focused on what was happening around them and they were paying attention to the food they were eating, the points they wanted to make, and what was on their mind.

A few hours and not a single question.

Last month I was fortunate enough to launch my new radio show. It’s called Naturally Curious and it airs on Sunday nights at 7 pm on Radio IQ — the NPR affiliate for much of Virginia. (It’s also available wherever you listen to podcasts under the same program title.) The purpose of the program is to dig deep with leaders, actual influencers, and people to ask them the questions we think will spur more interesting conversations.

This project started almost a year and a half ago, but what drove it, as the title suggests, is my desire to better understand people and what drives them. It’s compelling radio if I do say so myself, but more than that, it’s a timely reminder for us in commerce and human services.

How2Take Some Simple Steps for Improvement

Use a question to learn more and to build a connection.

Early in my B2Seed history, I wrote about the power of asking good questions. Now, almost 17 years later, it’s an important time to reinforce that undervalued tool. Ask good questions, get helpful answers, and use that information to ask more and better questions. That’s the format of Naturally Curious, and it’s the formula for better sales processes, employee relationships, team leadership, and medical care.

You may have the answers and know what you want to do but pause for at least a moment and ask a question. When you get stuck in a relationship with a client, a patient, or an employee, you know what to do. Ask a question. Don’t be that person so intent on passing along their wisdom and impressing others that they are sharing content and not gathering valuable information. It’s the gathering information part that drives the best solutions and really helps you get to the heart of what someone needs. Spend time sharpening that skill and make it your mission to really understand where your clients, prospects, employees, supervisors, and patients are coming from.

The “smartest person in the room” is often the one asking the most questions.

To listen to Naturally Curious on Radio IQ, tune in here at 7 pm on Sundays. The program is also available wherever you listen to podcasts. To listen in on the Apple Music Podcast platform visit here.

WSLS brought on advertisng expert, Brue C. Bryan, to talk about Super Bowl commercial trends, predictions, and strategy.

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It’s been around for decades – films and TV shows have been made about it and there has been a lot of discussion and investment in artificial intelligence.  AI is one of the hottest topics in business – just like in so many other sectors.  Seminars, books, online chatter, and you can even ask AI about AI.  There are countless resources for learning about AI and for integrating into your daily routine.

Even the coldest of humans are likely drawn to the benefits of regular AI use.

It helps you chart the next location you are driving to, fixes your poor grammar, guesses what question you are asking Uncle Google, and more.  In fact, as I write this edition of the B2Seed, I have a fake DJ walking me through my favorite tunes with a voice that I’d swear was my friend Tommy Page (who has a radio show of his own).  Even though the tools make our lives easier and better, some short comings remain.  My AIDJ can’t pronounce Matt Nathanson’s name and can’t seem to get Ben Sollee’s last name right either.  It needs more training.

AI’s impact on business is omnipresent. (See "Evolution of Search")

At a recent book event the panel was asked out the impact of AI on the hospitality industry.  My fellow panelist jumpstarted the answer by pointing out that people are hungry (pun intended) for connection.  There are tasks a robot or kiosk can do that can make the industry more efficient and help those who serve to have more capacity to connect with people.  Even with all the benefits of AI – the genuine impact of human interaction is matchless.

But EI Can Make the True Difference4Your Company

Use AI to improve. Even as an older GenX I can embrace that and work to use all the available tools to improve.

Here’s the thing though – in 2026 I’d recommend you focus your energy on upping your game when it comes to emotional intelligence. EI can power your company’s growth, your personal sales abilities, the way you manage your team, and even how you onboard new employees. Being aware of what other people are likely experiencing, thinking, feeling, and excited about goes a long way toward differentiating you as a person and a leader. If enough of your organization’s leaders are practicing EI, you’ll quickly impact your culture, your client relationships, and your ability to attract and retain talent.

People want to get better and more efficient at what they do and AI absolutely helps with that. Employees also want to be connected to your mission, your work, the team, and their roles. That’s where EI comes in. Empathy becomes your secret weapon as you plot and plan your improvements in the new year.

You can order Turning Tables: Everything I Needed to Know about Business I Learned as a Server here. (I’ll happily autograph any copies you purchase if we can find a way to connect in person.)

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