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Thrive

Thrive

By: C-Store Center
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About this listen

This podcast is for assistant managers looking to get promoted to store managers and new store managers. Getting promoted is the easy part. Keeping the job and becoming good at it is where I can help. Good results, good work-life balance, and big bonuses are what I'm talking about!© 2026 C-Store Center Career Success Economics Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • SHIFT CHANGE WARFARE (SCHEDULING THE OVERLAP)
    Mar 6 2026

    Show Notes (Thrive Version)

    Episode Title: Shift Change Warfare: Scheduling the Overlap (Episode 86)

    Episode Description: "If you schedule zero overlap, you are mathematically guaranteeing a fight."

    High turnover on the second shift is rarely about the pay rate; it is almost always about the culture of the shift handoff. In this episode of Thrive, Mike Hernandez explains why Store Managers must use strategic scheduling to eliminate employee resentment and protect their talent.

    What You Will Learn:

    The Turnover Trap: Why the afternoon shift quits when the morning shift treats them like a cleanup crew.

    The 15-Minute Overlap: How investing in 15 minutes of extra payroll saves you thousands in hiring costs.

    The Collision Course: Why back-to-back scheduling creates impossible expectations for your cashiers.

    Resources & Links:

    Download the Shift Change Culture Audit: Text the word BUFFER to 956-897-9192.

    Recommended Listen: Drive: Episode 77 (Learn how District Managers audit overtime caused by chaotic shift changes).

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    3 mins
  • THE BATHROOM TEST (THE P&L IMPACT)
    Feb 28 2026

    Show Notes (Thrive Version)

    Episode Title: The Bathroom Test: The P&L Impact (Episode 85)

    Episode Description: "The dirty restroom is actively stealing money from your food service margin."

    As a Store Manager, you are judged by the profitability of your building. But many managers fail to connect the cleanliness of their facility directly to their food sales. In this episode of Thrive, Mike Hernandez breaks down how to calculate the actual dollar value of a clean restroom.

    What You Will Learn:

    Invisible Shrink: How a dirty bathroom creates lost sales that never show up on an inventory report.

    The P&L Connection: Why diagnosing dropping food margins starts with facility standards, not pricing adjustments.

    The Food-to-Fuel Audit: A three-day challenge to prove to your team that hourly bathroom sweeps directly increase hot food sales and protect the store's bottom line.

    Resources & Links:

    Download the Restroom ROI Calculator: Text the word PROFIT to 956-897-9192.

    Recommended Listen: Drive: Episode 76 (Learn how the District Manager evaluates systemic cleanliness failures across multiple stores).

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    3 mins
  • THE STING (PROTECTING THE LICENSE)
    Feb 21 2026

    Show Notes (Thrive Version)

    Episode Title: The Sting: Protecting the License (Episode 84)

    Episode Description: "A failed sting isn't an HR issue. It is a catastrophic financial event."

    When a clerk fails a compliance check, the clerk gets a fine. But the store gets a suspension. Losing your ability to sell beer or tobacco for 30 days will destroy your foot traffic, your gas volume, and your manager bonus.

    In this episode of Thrive, Mike Hernandez explains how to move from simply "telling" clerks to check IDs, to building a bulletproof "Culture of Compliance." We cover how to audit the Electronic Journal to catch lazy clerks and why zero tolerance is the only policy that works.

    What You Will Learn:

    • The P&L Impact: Why a suspended liquor/tobacco license costs you way more than just the lost product sales.
    • The EJ Audit: How to use your register's Electronic Journal to see if clerks are manually overriding the ID scanner.
    • The Roadrunner Story: Mike shares his experience running 11 stores for Roadrunner Markets, earning his MBA, and brainstorming with Training Manager David Hite—proving that the best operators are always the best trainers.

    Resources & Links:

    • 📲 Download the License Protection Audit: Text the word LICENSE to 956-897-9192.
    • 🎧 Recommended Listen: Drive: Episode 75 (Hear how the District Manager audits the entire territory for compliance risks).
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    4 mins
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