ELECTRONIC HOUSE CALL - March 19, 1999

GOING, GOING . . .
The Internet is a great place to buy stuff. I have told you several times about a personal favorite of mine, www.onsale.com, the online auction for computer equipment. (If you haven't visited the site, you will be amazed!) Onsale now also includes sporting goods, office toys and vacations. At any rate, I just got a note about www.kitchenstuff.com, an online auction for the entire food industry where you can buy and sell new and used equipment and supplies for commercial kitchens and food processors. It is new and therefore a little light on offerings but that should change. If you are in the market (or are lightening up your back room) it might be worth a look.

ADVISE AND CONSENT
From time to time, I include questions and answers as a way to make a point (and get other opinions.) Here is a recent one

Problem: Our cook/chef (How do you define the difference?) has started to do "home" cooking. She has 2 clients that were in no way related to our store. She has one client that is our customer. Her rationale for accepting the job from our customer is that he has people cook for him anyway, he was not happy with the people he had, he had been asking her for 8 months, and he still purchases his usual items from the store. Upon finding this out we felt a little uneasy. Would you call this a conflict of interest? Should we be uneasy? Might we draft some agreement to provide a guidline for her to work within?(Is this stupid?) If not already, at what point would this be considered a conflict of interest? HELP DOC! :-)

The Doc replied: If it has nothing to do with what she does for you, my suggestion is to stay out of it. I can't see a conflict of interest but I can see a major energy drain (for you) in worrying about it. Wish her well, be happy she has some side income so she doesn't have to push you for pay raises and put your attention into the restaurants!

NOTE FROM THE DOC
While you need to be aware of what is going on in your business, anything that diverts your attention away from Job One (making your guests happy, focusing on the success of your business and protecting your peace of mind) must be recognized for the distraction it is. When you find a distraction, you can eliminate it either by handling it now . . . or by just forgetting about it (is that too easy?) Don't make problems where none exist and never waste time solving a problem you can eliminate!

GOT A QUESTION?
If you have a question that is bugging you, feel free to ask. I guarantee you that others are having the same concerns and my opinion,-- well worth every penny you pay for it -- is free! Names are never used without permission.

Happy springtime!

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