The Restaurant Doctor - Electronic House Call

ELECTRONIC HOUSE CALL - April 23, 1999

I STILL DON'T KNOW
My colleague, Robert Kausen, passed along the following regarding our on-going discussion of the power of "I don't know." Robert and I are collaborating on a book, "The Effortless Organization," scheduled for release late this year.

People might find it helpful to think of "I don't know" as the button you press to access deeper creativity. The "Know it All" accesses the data banks for old information. The humility required to go into the "I don't know mode" (the unknown) instantly calls on our deeper creative resources to see something brand new. Our egos hate this as a rule, but then when did the ego ever come up with anything new and insightful? Getting comfortable with the feeling of free-falling in the unknown takes some courage initially. But the results of spending more and more time in that centered, creative flow of our innate healthy thinking is well worth it.

MORE SCAMS
This one has been making the rounds of restaurants in California recently -- if it has not hit your area yet, be on the lookout:

A company called World Wide Pumping is sending out invoices for trap pumping, jet pressure pipe cleaning and sewer service for a total of $332.87. The return addresses in California have been in San Francisco and Sacramento but this may well be changed as the scam moves around the country. Of course, no work was authorized or performed by these folks. Amazingly, it seems like a lot of people are paying the invoice without questioning who the company is or whether, in fact, they have provided services to the restaurant. If it shows up in your area, notify your restaurant association at once . . . and don't pay the bill!

A note from the Doc:
This might be a good time to review your procedures for approving and paying invoices. Could a bill like this get paid without someone raising a question about it? If you received a "second notice" on a bogus invoice, would somebody panic and write a check?

A LITTLE ASSISTANCE, PLEASE
Mark Corner <sealvi@ntr.net> writes, "I was recently moved from the back of the house to the front of the house. I am in need of some games and things to motivate my servers. Can you ask your readers to send me ideas via email? Any help would sure be appreciated.

Paul Brock <pbrock@skynet.ca> writes, "We're having trouble generating sales early in the week. Can you post this for some possible ideas?

A note from the Doc:
If any of you have ideas in these areas, please contact Mark or Paul directly. If you will copy me, I will pass it along in a future EHC.

GOING TO CHICAGO
I am planning on being in Chicago for the National Restaurant Association show. If you will be there as well and would like to get together, let me know. Happy springtime.

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