ELECTRONIC HOUSE CALL - December 29, 2006

This week between Christmas and New Years always seems a little strange. It's not quite holidays and not really business as usual. It is, however, a good time to start implementing plans to tap the last of the holiday business and encourage those guests to come back in the lazy days of January.

For most restaurants, January is a slow month. Others have made it one of the best sales months of the year. The difference? One of these groups was willing to do the work that the other group wasn't. DO THE WORK!

And if you haven't already taken me up on my Best Free Offer Ever -- $700+ worth of my best business- building ideas for just the cost of shipping -- you'd better check it out before I come to my senses.

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 2007? 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.

THE MASTERMIND AND YOU
New Year's resolutions are easily made but rarely kept, primarily because people slip back into old thinking and have nobody to hold them accountable. The key to (finally!) creating massive results is to have a support group to keep you on track and allow you to tap the power of the mastermind principle.

Joel Cohen and I have created just such a high level Mastermind Group to assist a few courageous operators to accomplish 200-300% sales increases in 2007. The group is limited to nine people but there could be still be a few vacant spots. We will know better in a few days.

If you are ready to give up excuses in favor of real results -- and if you have the courage to commit yourself to a massive sales increase in 2007 -- being part of the Mastermind Group may be just the support you need to pull it off.

In addition to the Mastermind Group, we are also finalizing plans for a second level Coaching Group that will help keep you on track with great ideas in a timely manner. It will call for a lower investment than the Mastermind group (although in both groups, if you are not seeing sales increases of at least ten times the monthly fee, we will not let you stay in the group.

The difference between the two groups is that the Coaching Group is entirely done in telephone conferences and the responsibility for implementation is left to the participants. There are no group meetings and less opportunity for participants to bring their problems to the other group members.

If you are interested in being considered for either of these groups if an opening is available, send me an e- mail to that effect and I will get you the details of how the different groups will work. Fair Warning: Once the Mastermind Group is filled, future vacancies will only be offered to members of the Coaching Program.

SUPER SUMMIT 2007
Just as your car needs a major tune-up from time to time, your restaurant periodically needs some detailed diagnostic attention to continue to perform to its full potential. When a concept has enjoyed success in the market over time, it is easy to start taking it for granted.

The concept gradually – almost invisibly – gets stale. With the quantity and quality of the dining choices that consumers have, stale concepts can't survive for long. Super Summit 2007 will provide you with specific skills, ideas and plans to make your operation more competitive and allow you to appeal to newer, larger markets.

The Super Summit will be held from February 27- March 1 in Charleston, SC. Space is limited and the next early registration scholarship expires on January 14th, so now is the time to check it out.

THE DECEMBER SURVEY
Nobody will have time to spend filling out surveys this month, so a few more days off! Next week we will start collecting the best sales-building ideas you have ever seen!

In the meantime, you can download copies of all past EHC surveys -- including the massive WOW Ideas collection.

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

If you can't answer this question every day, you are not listening. If you are not listening, you are not learning. If you are not learning, you are going to end up as road-kill on the road to prosperity!

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

So what did YOU learn from YOUR staff today?

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 above and contribute your insights for the common good (and your own as well!)

© 2006 Restaurant Doctor