Thanks to a Referron connection, I spent time with Tim Gannon — legendary co-founder of Outback Steakhouse and a true business force.

Thanks to a Referron connection, I spent a day with Tim Gannon — legendary co-founder of Outback Steakhouse and a true business force.

Tim and his partners built 1,300 restaurants in one of the toughest industries on the planet—where most ideas die, margins are tight, and scale usually destroys culture.

Yet they didn’t just grow… they dominated.

Here’s what stood out:

🔥 Culture was the strategy.

They built people first, restaurants second. Loyalty wasn’t a KPI—it was a way of life.

🍽️ Quality stayed sacred, even at scale.

Growth never replaced soul. Systems amplified experience rather than diluting it.

🚀 Innovation was constant.

They evolved without abandoning who they were.

But the biggest surprise?

Tim is humble. Grounded. Generous with wisdom.

Success didn’t make him untouchable—it made him more committed to lifting others.

Grateful for connections like this—made possible because of Referron—that turn networking into real relationships, access, and growth.