How shifting your mindset can reframe success for your pizzeria
Tony Fevola started his own pizzeria in 1989 when he was in his twenties. He says he “fell into the business,” but he comes from the descent of Italian immigrants who opened their own pizzerias. When the time came, Tony studied the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur through magazines and books. Even though his family has owned and operated pizzerias for years, he says it took him 25 years to finally figure out how to successfully run his business. Today, he owns and operates Fevola’s Pizza in Lanoka Harbor, NJ.
According to Tony, one of the biggest struggles in pizzerias is time management. He says each owner has to find balance in their own way. In his words, “success is normally measured by how much is in your bank account… to me it’s the worthy pursuit of a worthy idea or goal.” Instead of focusing on the dollar amount, he focuses on being creative and following his passion.
Growing up, Tony’s parents were focused on growing their business and their financial needs. Outside of the pizzeria, they didn’t get the quality time he wished for. He knew he wanted to spend more time with his own kids and watch them grow up. That’s why Tony has set rules for himself surrounding his business — so he can be there for his family and give them his time.
Tony spends each morning offline, writing down his thoughts the prepare for the day ahead. He views his days as 8 hours of sleep, 8 hours of work, and 8 other hours to do what brings him joy. Tony says it’s far better to make 3 big decisions per day, than try to be overwhelmed by 90 decisions. By taking the time to do what his business needs, he’s able to be fully present with the people he loves most outside the shop.
