Electronic House Call - November 8, 2002

ELECTRONIC HOUSE CALL - November 8, 2002

After a delightful week at home, I am back on the road again this weekend. On Monday I will be in Phoenix with Rory Fatt and Michael Attias for our sold out Restaurant Marketing Workshop. From there I will accompany Gold Group member Tom Martin back to Clovis, New Mexico for a couple of days to facilitate a discussion with his managers on the future direction of their company.

DOING THE RIGHT THING
Last week, I quoted Paul Williams about the importance of "doing what is right." I hope you understand that DOING right is completely different from BEING right. The difference was highlighted in the following note that I received from my colleague, human relations consultant Robert Kausen. He wrote:

When we are centered and in a healthy state of mind (and we always know that from a certain feeling of well-being), natural conscience and the obvious truth will come to mind. That is quite different from being "right". When we are away from our natural healthy state of mind -- stressed, worried, judgmental, upset -- our thinking will tell us that we are right (even though we are totally lost).

Decisions made from that off-centered state are ones we usually regret later. "What was I thinking?" The beauty of innate health is that choices and decisions made from that quality thinking seldom take us in the wrong direction. Simple, but potent.

FINDING THE RIGHT PEOPLE
While we are on the "right" theme, we should talk about how to get the right people ... the first time. Gold Group member Shanny Covey is in the process of opening her second restaurant in California and recently had this to say:

I want to let you know how pleased I have been with the Sure Fire Staff Selection System. I felt I needed some help in selecting a staff for a new restaurant. I have never had to hire this many people before and I wanted to do the best job of screening while being consistent.

The response I have received from the numerous applicants have been all positive especially about the Advice to Applicants letter. I feel that the system has attracted quality applicants who are excited about being part of a company that is showing commitment to being the best we can be. Thank you!!

A note from the Doc:
Blatant self-promotion? Of course! But staff selection is an issue for everyone and you need to know that A) there is help available out there and B) that it really works well. For more information on the Sure-Fire Staff Selection System, follow the link below. View the Advice to Applicants letter ...

MAKING THE SMOKE-FREE MOVE
I mentioned Tom Martin earlier, so I suppose I should include a few words from him as well:

I finally got around to listening to the Management Insight Series tape on Smoking (I am a little slow). For what my input is worth, when we went non-smoking, we got some flak. One of my responses was that we had nothing against smokERS, just smokING. We welcomed smokers, but asked that they not smoke in the restaurant.

If pressed, I would also tell them that we welcomed soccer players, but only if they refrained from playing soccer and we welcomed the local Air Force pilots, but asked that they not fly their planes inside our restaurant. Some caught the message and saw that I was putting things in perspective, some thought me to be a smart ass and, perhaps, rightfully so.

My favorite "I'll show you" line was the couple who told me that if we went non-smoking they would just take their business to Taco Bell (who had been non-smoking since they opened) and go through the drive-thru smoking their cigarettes. That was one of the few comments cards that I responded to by saying that "Occasionally, I receive a comment card that I can not intelligently respond to. Yours is one of them."

THE LAST WORKSHOP?
The Odd Couple Restaurant Sales-Building Workshop may be the last marketing seminar you will ever need to attend. Joel Cohen and I have combined our collective insights to create a powerful day of proven ideas that you can take to the bank! Look for us in Renton, Tacoma and Spokane, WA on November 18-20 and Louisville, KY on November 25. Click here for details.

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