ELECTRONIC HOUSE CALL - January 3, 2003

Happy New Year! I hope you managed to get some quality time with your family and friends amidst all the crunch of the holidays. As my old mentor Mac McLennan said, "Remember that you are working to make a living ... so be sure to leave yourself a little time to live!"

The last few weeks have been busy for other reasons as well. Joel Cohen and I have been putting the finishing touches on our Official Year of the Guest program. It is a great way to build sales at a ridiculously low cost ... with all the money going to Share Our Strength. Look for information this weekend.

REFLECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
So here we are on the brink of another year -- typically a time for reflection and resolutions. It seems like we are usually asking for things that we don't have and making promises to start (or stop) doing things we should have done (or stopped doing) last year ... but never mind.

So what do you want from 2003? Higher sales? A few new restaurants? A line cook that shows up on time? Better health? More exercise? A deeper spiritual connection? More time with your family? Peace on the planet? An end to hunger? Maybe just a little time off? Give it some thought. Write down what you want ... and be as specific as you can.

Understand that there is nothing wrong with wanting these things, but once you decide, once you make your list, the important question is what are you prepared to do to help bring about the results you want? The universe rewards action.

Your sales will not improve by wishing it to be so -- you have to take some action. You cannot think yourself into more exercise, you have to actually make the time and do it. Family time? Schedule it and truly make it a priority. Bring peace to the planet? End hunger? All do-able ... but you have to do something ... and probably something different than what you did last year. Happy new year. Happy new life.

POLITICALLY CORRECT R NOT US
We lost a few subscribers over my predictions last week on how our national situation might affect the year ahead. Some even left in a righteous huff. I thought my comments were actually more social than political, but unsubscribing is certainly everyone's choice to make. Since I don't charge for this e-letter, you don't lose any money by jumping ship. You might lose a few Insights ... but no money. Still I am always sorry to see people go, particularly over their own inability to occasionally hear something that bothers them.

As long-time subscribers know, I never promised to be politically correct ... and I figure if I don't upset a few people every week, I must be pulling my punches. I hope I am wrong on what the new year holds ... but the signs are not encouraging and I report what I see. Sorry if that struck a nerve with anyone.

I have always felt that the ability to express contrary opinions was one of the foundations of our country. The fact that expressing a dissenting idea to the official posture in Washington seems to be stifled gives me great concern. A dissenting opinion is only a different point of view and one can listen to it, even entertain the idea, without having to agree, disagree or have an opinion one way or the other. It is important to do this with your staff in the restaurant ... so why should it be any different in any other venue?

THE GREAT SALE
As if there wasn't enough going on, I am putting the lists together now for my first-and-maybe-last-ever inventory clearance sale. The good news is that the deals will be terrific. The bad news is that the sale itself will only last a few days. This means that you will have to act quickly when you get the sale information next week.

SHARE OUR STRENGTH
Share Our Strength's mission of ending hunger and homelessness is a natural fit for those in the hospitality industry. I tithe to Share Our Strength and I urge you to support their programs in a way that works for you. The Official Year of the Guest Program may just be that way. Watch for it this weekend.

THE PERPETUAL QUESTION:
What did you learn from your staff today?

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