Activate the Remarkable: What Great Leaders Do Differently (3 Real Stories)

Most leaders think they need to push harder to get better results. What I saw inside a Five Guys franchise showed me the opposite.

They’re not using complex systems or flashy strategies. But they are getting extraordinary results.

Last month, I had the opportunity to deliver my Activate the Remarkable™ keynote for Life’s Food, a Five Guys franchise(opens in new tab) with restaurants across the Carolinas and East Tennessee. I left thinking about three exceptional leaders I met there, restaurant general managers whose stories capture something every leader needs to understand right now.

In a world where people are overwhelmed, stretched thin, and trying to keep up in these times of constant change, we don’t need more self-inflicted pressure or productivity hacks. That just leads to burnout.

Instead, we can make a real difference by activating the remarkable in the people around us. Let me introduce you to Tim Peterkin, Rich Cochran, and Kayla Miller, who are doing just that.

Tim Peterkin: The Power of Being Seen

Tim Peterkin is the General Manager of the Five Guys in Florence, South Carolina. But his story starts long before that.

At 19 years old, Tim joined the Army. He came from a small town, raised by his grandmother, without a clear roadmap for what was possible. Like many people, he assumed he was just average.

Until one moment changed everything. A drill sergeant pulled him aside and said, “What you’re doing here isn’t normal.”

Tim was outperforming everyone around him. Physically. Academically. As a leader. And for the first time in his life, someone named what was already inside him.

That moment shifted his identity.

Fast forward years later, Tim walks into a restaurant filled with capable people who were going through the motions but not truly growing.

And then he noticed someone.

Dauntonio Quick, who goes by Quick, had been in the same role for six years. Without any promotions or a clear path forward.

Tim saw something different; he recognized Quick’s untapped potential. So Tim coached and encouraged him. He gave Quick opportunities to stretch and grow. And within one year, Quick was promoted twice.

Think about that.

Nothing about Quick magically changed overnight. What changed was that someone saw him and chose to invest in him.

This is the first step in activating the remarkable. See the individual.

Because before people can be remarkable, they need to feel seen.

Rich Cochran: The Power of Belonging

Now let me tell you about Rich Cochran, General Manager of Five Guys in Kernersville, North Carolina.

Rich believes something that every leader should write down and remember. People do not stay because of a paycheck; they stay because they feel like they belong.

And he lives that belief every day. Rich celebrates his team constantly. He recognizes birthdays, work anniversaries, graduations and other life milestones. Rich actively looks for reasons to recognize people beyond their performance metrics.

The restaurant industry, with its long shifts and high pressure, can leave people feeling invisible. That’s why Rich tries to ensure his team feels known, and that they matter.

As a result, he’s seen stronger morale and higher retention rates. And a team that is proud of where they work.

This is the second step in activating the remarkable – to Spark optimism and connection.

Because when people feel like they belong, they show up differently. They care more. They give more. They believe more is possible.

Kayla Miller: The Multiplier Effect of Leadership

Then there is Kayla Miller, General Manager of the Five Guys in Hickory, North Carolina.

Kayla started as a crew member back in 2011. She did not walk in expecting to lead a restaurant one day. And like so many leaders, her defining moment came when things were not going well.

She was newly promoted. The metrics were not where they needed to be. The pressure was building and Kayla began questioning if she was cut out for management. That’s when her leaders stepped in.

They reminded her of three key beliefs. Struggling does not mean you are failing. Setbacks do not define your future. And that what matters most, is what you do next.

In that moment, Kayla did not just receive feedback. She felt seen, supported and believed in. And that changed everything.

Today, Kayla is a confident and respected leader who is doing the exact same thing for others. She actively looks for people with potential. Then Kayla goes to the third step in activating the remarkable by Creating opportunities for growth.

Because when people are given the chance to step up, they do not just perform better. They transform, and then they help others do the same.

What Does This Mean for You?

Tim, Rich and Kayla are three leaders with different styles – but each is committed to seeing people, building belief and creating growth.

You do not need a new system to build a remarkable team. Leaders just need to pay attention to what’s already working, recognize it, and create space for it to grow

Because the remarkable is already inside your people. Your job is to activate it.

I’d Love to Hear From You

Think about someone in your career who changed how you saw yourself. Who saw something remarkable in you before you fully saw it on your own?

Or, if you are a leader, what is one way you intentionally help your team feel seen and valued?

Drop it in the comments. I read every one, and these stories matter more than you know.