ELECTRONIC HOUSE CALL - August 11, 2000

GET OUT OF TOWN
The interesting thing to me about travel to other countries is that I tend to notice things in other cultures that I often overlook in my own. That being said, the travel does not have to be international to get the benefit of a different perspective. Often just a trip to a different market area can start your wheels turning . . . as long as you approach it with an open, curious mind. The goal is never to copy, but to see what is working and see if you can adapt the ideas to fit your own operation.

Part of the value may just be in getting out from under your own problems for a few days -- amazing how that can help clear your head. When you go, be sure to look at operations that are "farther up the food chain" from yours as well as a few a step or two down. Become a student again. Ask a lot of questions of whoever will talk to you. Most operators will give you some time and information once they know that you are not planning to build a competing restaurant next door.

Find out where your regular guests go on vacation and check out restaurants in their destination cities. The ideas your guests see on vacation will establish their future expectations. Talk to your regulars when they return. Where did they eat? What did they like? The best defense is a good offense.

But go. It is tax-deductible and essential to your professional education and survival. If you really want to get the most from a research trip like this, take a few of your key staff along. They will see things that you miss . . . and it is a nice perk for them, too.

A POINT TO PONDER
This from Steve Straus' 3-Minute Coaching newsletter"It's not your Policies and Procedures that matter, it's your Practices." His point is that they watch what you do more than they read what you say.

A note from the Doc:
What behavior are you modeling for your staff? I would hope that they would see flexibility, a sense of humor when things get rough, patience with unexpected change, respect for everyone in the organization, a willingness to pitch in where needed and a passionate focus on guest service. They may be seeing something else. Whatever you model, what THEY see is what YOU will get.

Note #2:
Steve has some mind-stretching ideas in his e-letter. If you would like to receive a free copy of the S3MC each week, send an email to <majordomo@StrausUSA.com> and in the body of your email include this textsubscribe 3-minute-l youremailaddress (that's an "el" not a "one")

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