ELECTRONIC HOUSE CALL - February 5, 1998

CYBER HORROR STORY?
I recently received the following note from Jason Post of the Centennial Inn in Concord, New Hampshire. With all of the new marketing potential of the Internet, it appears that there may also be a new downside.

"My old provider just went out of business....with NO notice whatsoever. This is an important lesson for many first time users of e-mail. We have a 1000 member mailing list that has our old e-mail address on it, not to mention the fact that all 1998 publications for this property will now have the defunct address on it, along with a tremendous amount of in-house printed materials. It just goes to show you, that you had better pick your provider very carefully!"

SWEATSHOPS R US?
The note below is not the first I have received from employees expressing a similar concern.

"Does anyone know the extent of the laws that allow an employee a break for a certain numbers of hours worked in a day? I work where shifts range from 8 or more hours a day and we are not allowed any sort of break. I know this is against the law, but I need specific laws to back up my fight against my managers. If anyone has any suggestions as to what I should do to solve this problem, please email me. I am sick of working all day without any sort of break!"

What are we thinking if we do not allow our staff some break time? A little decompression time is essential to the well-being of our staff . . . and the well-being of our staff is essential to the well-being of our guests! The phrase "the fight against my managers" speaks volumes about what it must be like in this establishment. What's going on at YOUR place? Are you sure?

TESTING THE WATERS
Please give me your reaction to the following idea: Jim Laube (CPA/restaurateur/speaker from Houston), Max Hitchins (restaurateur/hotelier/speaker from Australia) and I are planning a series of special programs in late May and early June to take advantage of Max' visit to the US to speak at the NRA Show in Chicago. This is a longer (2 half days, one full day) program modestly titled "How to Increase Your Cash Flow by 50% and Get Your Life Back . . . in 90 Days . . . Guaranteed!" Tentative schedule is in the Chicago area just before the show (5/14-16), Seattle (5/28-30), Florida (6/1-3) and Denver (6/5-7). It will be a small group with a lot of personal attention. You will leave with a fresh perspective, new ideas (and a detailed plan to implement them) as well as on-going support to help keep you on track. (We said "guaranteed" after all!) Projected cost: $595 for one person, $400 for each additional person on the same reservation. (Bring a buddy and save some bucks!) I am interested to know what you think of the idea, the timing and the fee before we finalize plans.

SPEAKING OF NRA AND CHICAGO . . .
I will be on the NRA program on Monday, May 18 from 10:00-11:30. Topic: "There's GOT to Be an Easier Way to Run a Restaurant!" Max Hitchins' program: "Zebra Marketing: How to Stand Out From the Herd" follows mine.

GOOD NEWS ABOUT BAD NEWS
We have three Friday the Thirteenths this year (February, March and November.) I'll bet you could work up a cute promotion around that fact! Friday the 13th could be your lucky day!

THERE IS NO EXPERIENCE LIKE THE EXPERIENCE
Disney says that you can't deliver a higher level of service than you have experienced. I think the same holds true in the kitchen. Would you like some cheap and effective training for someone in your kitchen? Send them off to work with one of your colleagues for a week or two.

There is nothing like immersion to help implant new ideas and new ways of thinking. Since you would be paying their time anyway, the only additional cost is lodging and travel -- cheap when compared to the alternatives. The host restaurant gets some "free labor" and you get back an employee who is re-energized and ready to try new things. It's a great way to break the winter blahs. Choose your host site well (you will want your folks working with someone who can -- and will -- show them new ideas) and be prepared to reciprocate by offering the same opportunity for someone else to visit and learn in your operation.

If any of you are interested in participating in a program like this, let me know. I will put a list together and send it out!

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