ELECTRONIC HOUSE CALL - August 11, 2006

A few more days enjoying home life, then Margene and I are off on the red-eye at 0-dark-30 on Tuesday morning (assuming that we can get through security in time!) I speak in Louisville on Wednesday, then we head to Cleveland where we both will attend a marketing seminar through the weekend. Summer is the time that I sharpen my own axe so I can stay sharp for you. I just hope I can sneak enough time while I am on the road to get next week's EHC put together for next Friday!

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK
In his book "Don't Worry, Make Money," Richard Carlson asserts that many business people are afraid to ask for referrals or sales, stemming from a basic fear of asking for help. He says that this fear is the "downfall of most businesses."

However, he cautions against even worrying about being afraid to ask for help and encourages you to relax and take it easy. He thinks that you just might not be thinking about whom to ask and when. It's much simpler than you might imagine.

He cites an example of not thinking about referral possibilities and being afraid to ask for help: He and his family are loyal to a favorite restaurant and eat there often. The owner knows them, but has never asked Carlson or his family to bring in friends, neighbors, other family members, or business associates. Carlson suggests that the owner might make a lot of sales if he just asked.

He could sweeten the deal and offer incentives to loyal patrons, such as a half- priced meal or a free bottle of wine, for bringing in new customers. Think about it: Do you have loyal clients or customers, or even good friends or neighbors, who might be happy to bring you new business? Just ask!

A Note From the Doc:
This is just another example of how our own thinking so often gets in the way of making life simple and effortless. When you find yourself entertaining a thought like, "I couldn't do a thing like that," ask yourself, "Who says?" There is never a good answer.

Fear is just a sign that you are getting attached to your own thinking, that you are starting to chase your tail. Who is doing the thinking? Once you start to recognize that it is only your own thoughts that are holding you back -- that there is nothing "out there" doing it to you -- you are immediately and irrevocably back in control of your life.

LISTEN UP ... IF YOU CAN!
Have you thought about the hazard of restaurant noise levels? I understand that the restaurant reviewers for the San Francisco Chronicle are now taking decibel monitors with them and including a "restaurant noise rating scale" along with their reviews.
* How noisy is your place?
* Are you losing business because of it?
* Are you liable if one of your staff suffers hearing loss because of it?

STAFF MEALS SURVEY
As long as you have employees, you will have to feed them. The issue of how to do that and at what price is an on-going topic of concern, so this month we are looking at best practices for staff meals.

As usual, I will provide a compilation of all the responses to everyone who contributes to this project. Just add your thoughts to the August survey.

You can download copies of all past EHC surveys including the massive WOW Ideas collection.

LET’S MAKE IT INTERESTING
Be One of the First 25 to Register For the Super Summit and I'll Give You a Digital Camera!

The best part of traveling is that I see a lot of great ideas that I can bring back to my clients and subscribers. I always like to get photos and I've got several good digital cameras ... but they are just too large to carry around easily. As a result, half the time I don't have a camera with me and I miss the picture. Perhaps you've had the same frustration.

All that is all about to change. Let me explain ...

First of all, you already know about Super Summit 2006 in Charleston on September 25-27. You know that it will be a 100,000 Mile Tune-Up to give your concept a longer, stronger life in the market. You may even know that it will be an extremely interactive "inside out" learning process.

Part of that learning will come from scouting local restaurants to collect ideas that you can adapt to your own needs. We expect the group will amass photos of hundreds of great ideas ... and I want to make that as easy as possible for everyone. So I've decided to give a digital camera to the first 25 people who register for the Super Summit -- my gift for taking fast action.

This will not some no-name piece of junk. I am talking about a full-featured 4-6 megapixel brand name camera, no bigger than a deck of cards and simple enough to effortlessly produce high quality photos. I am still deep in research, but I can tell you that my finalists are from Nikon, Sony, Canon and Casio -- all well-regarded manufacturers. These cameras retail for $300-400 ... and one of them is all yours if you are one of the first 25 to sign up for Super Summit 2006.

You may already have a digital camera, but I bet it won't fit comfortably into your pocket. Look, you can always give this one away as a present or make it a prize in a sales contest ... but once you see what it will do, I doubt you will ever want to let it go!

Use your new camera in Charleston, then keep it in your purse or slip it into your shirt pocket so you will never miss another photo opportunity. Use it to capture money-making ideas in your travels, record special occasions for your guests or catch those priceless spontaneous moments with your family. You will never again have to say, "Oh, I wish I had a camera right now."

Is this a shameless bribe to get you to register for the Super Summit? Of course ... but it relates to the needs of the program ... and it's a really first class bribe! ... one that you can certainly use profitably for years!

Don't Miss Out!
As if the camera offer wasn't enough, act now and you can also qualify for a $250 early registration scholarship ... but only until next Tuesday, August 15. Why not get $250 off AND a cool camera while you learn how to extend the profitable life of your restaurant?

If you have 100,000 miles on your present operation ... and would like it to run smoothly for another 100,000 ... you definitely want to learn what we have in mind for a select group of operators this September in Charleston, South Carolina.

A TWO-MINUTE PRESCRIPTION
A few days ago, I had a long chat with Phyllis Ann Marshall, my co-host for Super Summit 2006. It was a great phone conversation about what restaurants need to do to stay competitive ... and fortunately I had the foresight to record it.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be sending out a series of two-minute snippets from our chat, but only to those who have indicated an interest in special events. (If you are not already on that list, just send me an e-mail and I will add you to the list.

I hope you will get as excited as we are about the Super Summit in Charleston. But even if you decide not to attend, you will still find some ideas in the series that you can use.

Click here to hear the first piece of our conversation. It will only take two minutes ... I promise!

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

I learned that 'managers' (that is, supervisors or more senior staffers) require constant training and re-training just as we preach with 'front line' folks. Putting somebody in a supervisory role is usually as a result of their achievement in, and affinity for, working in this industry.

However, any management technique that doesn't change and evolve over time will eventually stagnate to the point of ineffectiveness. The challenge is on us as owners to help our managers grow into visionaries, rather than advanced task masters. Only then can the owner feel truly comfortable getting out of the restaurant to do some marketing, some brainstorming, or just play a round of golf! -- Seth Monahan, Indigo Joe's, Centennial, CO

There isn't a lot to add to Seth's insight except to note that what the staff sees is what the managers will get. If you want your staff to stay open to new ideas, it is critical that management also be growing and learning. You are the role model ... whether you want the job or not!

Never doubt that the most critical -- and perhaps profitable -- management skill you can develop is your ability to truly listen.

I will continue to collect your answers to this important question ... and you can add comments as often as you want. Just click on the link below and contribute your insights for the common good (and your own as well!)

NOTE: Enhancing your listening ability is just one of the skills you will develop at the annual Foundations Program of the CEO Project. The 2007 program is scheduled for June 11-13. Mark your calendar. We are also offering a no-cost year-long intern program to those who sign up early ... along with the ability to lock in tuition at the 2006 level and spread the payments over ten months. Those options will go away as the months pass. Get the story on the CEO Project at http://www.effortless.org.

What did YOU learn from YOUR staff today?

© 2006 Restaurant Doctor