The Restaurant Doctor - Electronic House Call

ELECTRONIC HOUSE CALL - July 9, 1999

EFFORTLESS REVISITED
As always, my colleague Robert Kausen added an additional dimension to the message I was struggling to convey last week. He wrote

If you decide to hike in rugged terrain off the beaten path, it can be stimulating and rewarding. Sometimes as you hike along you run into brambles and thickets that become difficult, if not hazardous to surmount. That is a good time to stop and look around to see whether there is an easier route to your destination(or even whether the original destination still makes sense.)

Effort is a great wake up moment. When the going gets tough, the savvy step back and reflect. Does this still make sense? If it feels difficult and effortful to me, it is a sure sign that I'm either headed in the wrong direction or going about it in the wrong way. The step back (moments of detachment and reflection) are a leveraged investment of time.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
You know that I am an advocate of restaurant management contracts -- a way to have all the entrepreneurial latitude of an owner without the need to come up with all the cash. The problem has always been how you get your first contract. If you are ready to make the step, I may have an opportunity for you with a client of mine in Southern Colorado. The restaurant is attached to a hotel. We have just finished a "concept transplant" and major renovation of the space. The season is here and the place needs someone with vision and people skills to take the helm. Prove yourself and the owners would like nothing better than to convert the operation to contract management. If this sounds interesting, drop me a note and I will put you in touch with the right people.

A CORRECTION . . . AND A CONTACT
Two weeks ago, I included material from Steve Straus' newsletter (chemical vs. organic.) The correct name of his newsletter is Steve's 3-Minute Coaching. To receive S3MC free each week, send an email to <majordomo@StrausUSA.com> and in the body of your email include the text -- subscribe 3-minute-l youremailaddress -- (that's an "el" not a "one" )

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Finally, my friend, Aussie marketing guru Max Hitchins included this note in his recent newsletter. I thought you might find it interesting.

Marketing expert Winston Marsh recently attempted to determine the most effective advertising colors. In order of effectiveness, here is the result of his research:
1. black on yellow
2. yellow on white
3. black on white
4. white on red
5. white on black
6. green on red
7. green on white
8. white on blue
9. yellow on black
10. white on orange
11. red on yellow
12. red on green

If you want to receive Max' insights more regularly, you can subscribe at his Web site: www.hitchins.com.au/hospitality.html.

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