Harvest America CUES BLOG

These are the most significant words of advice I ever received. I have carried this mantra with me for more than fifty-years, a roadmap to not just success but a model that allows hard working people to sleep at night. It’s a simple directive – no matter what you do, what task you are required to perform, how much you get paid to do it, or who you do it for – approach every task with the same level of commitment to doing it the best you can. Interestingly, it goes even further because if you take this approach, you quickly understand you can always do that task better tomorrow. So, the mantra sets the stage for the drive to constantly improve.

If you are opening a hot dog stand then commit to being the very best, knock your socks off, monumentally great, way over the top hot dog stand that anyone has ever seen before. Why settle for “okay” when you can be “world-class”? If you are opening a full-service, high-end restaurant then make sure that it is unbelievably great, a restaurant that becomes a destination, the type of operation that is a benchmark for everyone else, a place that gets people excited and leaves them scratching their head wondering: “how can any restaurant be that great?” Why would you want to strive for anything less?

Check out your competition, study the restaurants that surprise and thrill people, spend time there studying their methods, work there if you can, ask people why they like them so much and then get to work learning how to be even better. Competition is healthy if you use it as a reference to improve. Never settle for good or very good, never allow mediocre or “good enough” to slip into your vocabulary – wake up every morning with one simple goal: BE EXTRAORDINARY!

As a cook – be the person that everyone marvels at when you cut vegetables; be the person that other cooks turn to when they need their knives sharpened to razor perfection; make sure the chef always turns to you for a groundbreaking special or asks your advice on a plate design. As a chef, be the one other’s turn for problem solving; be the chef known in your area as the one who can dazzle guests with incredible flavors. Strive for perfection and find comfort in reaching excellence but rally the next day to work towards perfection once again.

If you are just starting out as a dishwasher, then seek to become a world-class dishwasher. Every plate is perfect, pots and pans glisten and are squeaky clean, floors are spotless and always dry, and the dish machine looks brand new when you finish your shift. People will notice and great opportunities will come your way if you always strive for greatness.

That weekly performance report that you submit to the owner – make sure it is spelled correctly, points well made, numbers accurate, and presented as if it were a thesis for a graduate degree. If you are making a cash deposit – take an extra few seconds to make sure the bills are facing in the same direction, and not bent, properly counted, and double checked for accuracy. People will notice. It may not change anyone’s life, but it will be noted as “your way of doing things”.

Are you a member of the service staff? Approach your station as if it were your restaurant. Make sure the tables are level, windows in that station clean, tablecloths even, silverware and glassware spotless, menus clean and pristine, back-up supplies in perfect order, your uniform impeccable, and know the menu and features inside and out including correct pronunciations and beverages that pair perfectly with food. People will notice, peers will begin to follow suit, and customers will ask for your station. Everyone will notice.

Excellence and world-class is not a destination, it is a mindset, the way you function WITH EVERYTHING and how you interact with EVERYONE. Once it becomes part of who you are then anything less will drive you crazy. Your commitment to excellence will become synonymous with who you are and an expectation that everyone has of you. Excellence will be your brand and people will notice.

Start today with the most incidental tasks and keep adding to it. Ask yourself before you approach each task: “Am I willing to be great at this?” Follow-up after the task is complete, with: “Could I do this task better, next time?” Then go about finding out how to be a world-class dishwasher, breakfast cook, prep cook, grill person cooking hot dogs, server, bartender, chef, or manager.

Start today – one step at a time to greatness.

PLAN BETTER – TRAIN HARDER

Harvest America Ventures, LLC

Restaurant Consulting

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