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Yes is the Answer. What is the Question?

Cameron Mitchell’s “dish room to board room story” began in Columbus, Ohio when he was a 16-year-old troubled teen who failed at school and got a job as a dishwasher at a local steakhouse. Two years later when he was working as line cook during a chaotic shift change, he had an epiphany. He realized he loved the restaurant business and set out to make it his lifelong career.

2019 International Book Award-Winner – Business: Management & Leadership Category
Named One of The Best Business Memoirs of All Time – Forbes.com, 2019

In this book, Mitchell tells the unvarnished story of his rapid rise and rags to riches story that any entrepreneur or restaurant enthusiast will love and learn from. With the voice of a natural storyteller, he reveals the highs and lows of a twenty-five-year journey: from fundraising for his first restaurant to coast-to-coast expansion, and his extraordinary sale of 22 restaurants for $92 million—after which he nearly lost everything, then rebuilt again. Most importantly, Mitchell shares the company culture and values that he believes were the secret to his success.

Today, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants remains independent and privately held, collectively generates over $300 million in annual revenue and operates 70 restaurants from coast to coast.

Cameron Mitchell has the guts to look you in the eye, admit his mistakes, and share the lessons he learned, in this straight-from-the-shoulder story of one of America’s most unlikely companies.

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‘Yes is the Answer. What is the Question?’ is a wonderful story about a young entrepreneur who took risks, learned from his mistakes, worked hard, and beat the odds. Cameron Mitchell’s autobiography demonstrates how he created a culture of hospitality and built his business by putting people first. I found it to be an excellent and very personal read.”

Richard Melman
Founder & Chairman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc.

Cameron’s love for food, life, business, and fun come alive in every tasty page of this wonderful book. I ate it up. Cameron tells the story and shares how the operating culture at Cameron Mitchell Restaurants propelled it to become one of the most prolific, private, multi-concept restaurant companies in the United States.”

Michael Symon
Iron Chef, Entrepreneur, TV Personality

Cameron Mitchell’s ‘Yes Is The Answer. What Is The Question?’ is a candid, revealing and highly instructive chronicling of his inspiring journey from a troubled youth, through the Culinary Institute of America—and on to extraordinary success in the restaurant industry. The CIA Family is extremely proud of Cameron and recommends this book to aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike.”

Dr. Tim Ryan
President, The Culinary Institute of America

‘Yes is the Answer. What is the Question?’ is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn the secrets of one of the legends of America’s amazing restaurant industry. From his start as a 16-year-old dishwasher to one of the most respected and admired leaders in hospitality, this book chronicles the spectacular results that come when an authentic leader and an organization put their people first.”

Dawn Sweeney
President & CEO, National Restaurant Association

Cameron Mitchell’s deep commitment to his team’s personal well-being and professional development permeates his narrative of his company’s founding, setbacks, and remarkable success. His book is an important and instructive read for anyone dedicated to building a positive culture while growing a profitable business.”

Lena G. Goldberg
Senior Lecturer of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

Honest and unique … A penetrating insight into the mind of a successful founder . . . a wonderful example of performance and purpose.”

Leslie H. Wexner
Chairman and CEO, L Brands, Inc.

Testimonials

“Thank you for demonstrating the importance of our internal customers well-being, because as you said "when your right at home, your right at work. If you’re not right at home, you will not be right at home." In our profession, this is vital to our overall safety and success to service.”

- Joe R. | Hilliard, OH

“I have always shared with our team a similar model of start with a Yes and we will figure it out. Your book is outstanding. I can relate on so many fronts from the good days to the bad. From the cash flush to the cash poor.”

- Scott L. | Milwaukee, WI

“… I had one of our most delightful dining experiences EVER at your fifth Avenue South Ocean Prime here in Naples. FL.. We relished the two hour dining experience with 4 Jack Daniels manhattans, along with great crab cakes and beef filet. However, the distinguishing feature of this memorable evening was witnessing your "associate's in action.” It all started with our arrival and during a minute or two wait to be seated, I paged through your "Yes is the Answer......" only later to purchase the book and have it added to our check. You need to know that your associate, our waiter [a Patrick Baker] found a way to satisfy any and all of our requests, as well as find the time to engage in an enlightening conversation when time permitted. This guy deserves to go places - I hope you can help him to achieve his career goals.”

- Dan G. | Naples, FL

“When my family and I went to one of your restaurants we had to wait in the waiting room, I saw your books in the lobby so I decided to read it. I think the philosophy behind your business is amazing. I ordered a milkshake at the Ocean Prime after reading some of your book and it was a pretty cool experience… Your book is very well written, your story is remarkable.”

- Sankalp S.

Author

Cameron Mitchell is the Founder and CEO of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR), headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Mitchell has enjoyed success as a lifelong entrepreneur, accomplished businessman, culinary expert and nationally recognized restaurateur.

Mitchell has built CMR around a strong company culture and set of values that put associates first. “Yes is the Answer. What is the question?” is a simple statement that serves as the backbone of a company that identifies itself as “great people delivering genuine hospitality.”

Cameron Mitchell’s successes in business and keen understanding of the restaurant industry have earned him countless awards and acknowledgements. Committed both to his profession and his community, Mitchell completed a two-year term as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Culinary Institute of America, the first alumnus to do so. CMR is the lead donor towards a new, $33 million, state-of-the-art Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts School at Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio, where he lives with his wife, Molly, and their three children. He is also an active member of the Young President’s Gold Organization, the Columbus Partnership, and serves on the board of directors of the charter school, KIPP Columbus.

Cameron Mitchell Restaurants

Yes is the Answer. What is the Question?

In the News

Testimonials

Author

Cameron Mitchell is the Founder and CEO of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR), headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Mitchell has enjoyed success as a lifelong entrepreneur, accomplished businessman, culinary expert and nationally recognized restaurateur.

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