Life comes easy when you don’t have to work and you receive financial assistance from somewhere. But why should I work instead of receiving financial help? Here some reasons that I personally believe that help:

Dignification. Sense of dignification, no matter what you do, no matter the profession, no matter what kind of job you do. Your job gives you a sense of significance, that sense of dignity and exaltation that make you feel proud of yourself. But remember you must do what you love, what you feel passionate about. Very important, work in a place where you can express that love and passion for your job. Otherwise you are not going to succeed.

Experience. There is no other way to have experience than work, work and work. Practice, build talents that you create to share with the world. Guess what? The feeling of experience creates a sense of gratitude that contributes to your self love.

Gratification. Do you remember that feeling after you accomplish a goal? After you finish your job and you realize that you made it completely, the feeling of gratification comes immediately to your heart. That feeling creates a sense of pride for your life.

In the end I believe every person has a mission, a duty. I cannot think that someone came to life to do nothing, you must have something to accomplish, for you, for your loved ones, for society. A financial help cut your creativity and the opportunity to boost yourself. I don’t think that you are happy living a live just paying bills.

Article by:

Alexander Lara

Here is what I see before, during and after the pandemic. Before the pandemic, it was normal like everyone knows, but the day before all the restaurants closed their doors, the first reaction for most of the restaurant owners was fire employees without caring for them. What was the employees feeling? Can you stop for a minute a think about how your employees felt at that time, especially when the restaurant owner just turned their back and not even talk with their employees, like some kind of message: we all are in the same situation but let’s find solutions? In the end, we are in the same ship. But it was a totally different history; there was a broken feeling in the people, without a job, no money in theirs pocket and the place where they use to work just closed the doors in their face.

During the pandemic, solutions were found to make money, people who use to work in restaurants before the pandemic found other ways to make money and even something more convenient for them. And they still do this new work. Doing something where they feel more confortable, appreciated and make money to pay their bills.

Let me share with you a real testimony of an entrepreneur from my country Colombia. He is a recognized business man in Colombia. His name is Mario Hernandez. He has a factory with over 500 employees https://www.mariohernandez.com.co/ When they closed their doors, instead of firing all of the employees, he decided to pay salaries for one month, even if they didn’t work. Think about it.

You as a business owner don’t need to pay salaries when you close the doors of your business, but at least do not turn your back on your people. I share with you my feeling too about this time. I was helping very closely one of my clients and then they turned their back on me as well. The same way that your treat your employees is the same way that you treat your vendors and all the people around your business.

What restaurants need to hire employees? You have to persuade people, you have to show to the world reasons why people should work at your restaurant, show that people can earn good money at your place, plus they have a nice environment and they can feel recognized. Persuade!

Yes we are living in a new era. People want to work in a place where they can make money, but also where they can feel alive. Why do you think there are a lot of people working as motivation leaders such as Tony Robins and others? Because people are looking for happiness. And now as a business owner it is your responsibility too.

Article by: Alexander Lara

What is that thing that you can see and feel when you when through a restaurant or any retail business that make you feel so comfortable and satisfied, that thing make you feel at home. Is there a secret formula on it?

I don’t think so! There is nothing hide to be the best in customer service. There is not secret formula. To be the best in Customer Service is about Values. The formula is something simple but for some hard to implement. I believe is about a life style, a business style, the way to do business.

Let me share with you A FORMULA:

Pattern A: Circle of business. You as a business owner care about your employees, your employees care about your customers and your customers care your business.

Ingredient A: Caring. Treat others the same way you want to be treat. What can you expect if you don’t invest caring about you and others? How do you treat yourself? How do you care about others? Do you love yourself enough? Do you express love to others? All the answers to these questions describe what do you have inside and what do you have to offer. Self love is part of the human component. A humane behavior is express emotions, feelings and connect with people.

Ingredient B: Investing. Don’t expect bananas if you planted orange trees. As business owner you can’t expect business if you don’t invest in your people, your employees, your team. Following the Pattern A What is your investment? Are you investing time, resources, training, worth salary, opportunities and recognition? For sure if you invest in the right people you must have return in your investment.

Ingredient C: Organization. Details counts, off course! Be on time with your customer orders, deliver exactly what they expect and even more, clearness and cleanliness in your products and service.

Ingredient D: A daily celebration. Can you imagine if you go to a special celebration every day. How would you like to setup that place. Let say for instance if it is restaurant Where and how to put the kitchen, decoration, tables, chairs, amenities? In other words How set up your location/business to offer the best experience to your clients. Because all of us love to visit awesome places and your location it doesn’t need to be an exception.

Ingredient F: Products. At the end people buy products, just make sure to prepare the best product with quality ingredients.

The beautiful thing about this formula everyone can implement the same values but at the end is going to be different because each leader have different personality and you reflect your character in your business. This is your identity.

Article written by: Alexander Lara

What happen with the retail industry? How has it impacted Internet with different business like, banks, clothing stores and retail in general, even restaurants?

Couple months ago I had a meeting with a Banker in their office in the city of Coral Gables, their office is like 3.500 square feet approximately! Almost the size of a basketball court, the office was literally empty I am talking about clients or at less visitors, they have 4 desks for customer service representatives occupied for employees and then 5 front desk for tellers with just one spot occupied for an employee (teller) Where are the people? I mean; Where are the customers?

Let’s see another Bank in the Little Havana in Miami, where most of the population are older, the bank is full of customers. People in lines waiting for tellers, others waiting at the lobby for assistance.

What happen? The first bank has no clients and the second does? Nop! Both Banks have clients. Technology is the answer, consumers use computers and most use smart phones to do transactions, now you can deposit a check with your Smartphone through an App if you have to, because you can transfer money with an App too without using checks.

So, How is gonna be a future of banking? How banks can to interact with public in general? In a market where spaces are more relevant than ever and a space without activity loss value and worth; How a bank can generate value to the market?

An Answer. I am lover of innovation, specially in business, reason why I have to give credits to Capital One. Few years ago Capital One came up with a new way to do Banking and I have to admit they are close to the future of banking. I say close because my advice for them is do not forget to create an exclusive space into their locations to create an experience of care, attention, personalization and exclusiveness with they own clients.

Capital One Cafe, is an experience of Bank office plus Coffee place and bakery plus co-working space. When you cross the door of a Capital One Cafe location you find everything that you need from a Bank, ATMs (nobody need a Teller nowadays), Bankers name it Ambassadors, you find a Coffee shop to get a good Coffee with a pastry and you find comfortable couches, nice tables to work or study, private rooms for meetings dedicate to students or Nonprofits and others meeting rooms open for everyone, plus a good WiFi (free). Is an open space to everyone with no compromise to do business with the bank or purchase coffee to enjoy the WiFi. Guess what? The place is always occupied with people, students from different Universities, entrepreneurs and professionals. This is a smart strategy to take advantage of a space, create branding and generate business.

Retail industry is impacting with Online Commerce, I am believer that nowadays design, innovation and strategies in retails need to be present at the store in order to be present in the market otherwise you are in risk of disappear. I think we have a great lesson about what we can do in a retail space even in a restaurant.

Big questions: What are you doing in your business to generate value? Are you doing a good job? Are you doing strategies with other companies that may complement your business?

Looking forward to meet a new business owner.

Alexander Lara

Business Coach & Consultant.

Recently I was reading a post from someone that I follow on social media. For respect I do not mention his name, but It catch my attention that the post have a picture like those “before and after” and the before was working as a Dishwasher and the after working in an Executive position.

Is there something deplorable work as a Dishwasher? I think the Dishwasher position in a restaurant is one of the strategic positions in the restaurant business. Why? Cleanliness is the Key! Every single customer expect to eat in clean dishes, I think in very clean dishes like new ones. The worst experience as a client in a restaurant is realize that you are eating in a dirty plate or you are drinking coffee in a use cup with lipstick on the board of the cup. Disgusting!

I don’t know why some restaurants take the “Dishwasher” position like something superficial and push so mush pressure on the Dishwasher guy to do everything fast and easy. They don’t really care about details and make sure that every single plate, cooking pot or any cooking utensil are 100% clean.

Restaurant owners! A Dishwasher machine does not clean 100% it does not, and run your hand superficially over a plate with a dish wash sponge is not a guarantee to have a clean dish.

Is a responsibility from the restaurant have a micro SIX SIGMA process in the dishwasher department. Yes! Is a department and area, like any other business or company with different departments and areas. If you are taking seriously this business and think in a professional way, you must consider take 100% control on every single plate that comes out of your kitchen.

Statistics about Restaurants and Retails business say: “Clearly, cleanliness is an important component of the consumer experience,” says Randy Wahl, senior vice president of M/A/R/C. “This has a direct impact on the amount of spending a retailer can capture.”

Jim Miller, a principal with the foodservice cleaning and sanitization company Ecolab, says that impact is only going to become more significant as consumers’ wallets tighten in this economy and they grow increasingly less forgiving about a restaurant’s appearance.

“Customers are not as forgiving during these economic times,” Miller says. “When they do actually spend the money to go out and treat themselves, they want to have a good experience. They’re much more discerning these days. If they don’t get that experience, it’s going to lead to a lost customer.”

Off course I totally agree! In my own words: The point is not selling food, the key about the restaurant business is experience. Reason why I think the Dishwasher position is equal important than the waiter or the manager.

And yes! At the beginning of my life in America I was working as a Dishwasher and I do not think this is something less than my profession that I practice today. I do not need to show a “Before and After” Actually the same values and principles that I was practicing at that time I still practicing today. Doing everything with passion, dedication, looking to do the Well Done.

Ladies and Gentleman! The Restaurant business is delivery experience in all aspects.

I am looking forward to meet a new restaurant owner and help them to go to the next level.

Article By Alexander Lara