A Better Life!

Thank You

Thanks to;

• every client who allowed me to help them make 2008 a banner year.
• everyone who read, agreed, argued and contributed to all of our forums and the ideas behind them.
• Ben, Kevin, Lu, David and Joe for all your help, support and hard work.
• Bill and Roy for your inspiration, perspiration and friendship.
• Alan for being my Coach, mentor and overall bright light.
• Andy for giving me hope that some chain people get it.
• an industry that continues to allow me to have more fun than any sane man should be allowed in one lifetime.
• my wife Lori for being my hero - you are my sunshine.
• Dr’s Canavan and Krekow for working diligently to allow me more time to grow older with my hero.
• Jennifer and Scott for being pretty great kids.
• “the boys” for always greeting me with anxious abandon when I arrive home every night.
• every owner, operator, manager and business person who didn’t make headlines for scamming someone out of something.
• every server, cook, host, cashier, chef, bartender, parking lot attendant, bus boy, waiter, food runner, and order taker for the service you give every guest, every table, every day.
• everyone I encountered during tens of thousand of miles of travel who made them easier, comfortable and more enjoyable, and
• our men and women standing a post far away from home so that the rest of us can whine about having it rough…

…for a tremendous 2008. See y’all next year!

Jeffrey

Popularity: 13% [?]

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icip.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Happy Thanksgiving

Popularity: 9% [?]

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icip.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

What’s New?

I’ve logged nearly 27,000 air miles lately, working on some of the most challenging client projects - which is why I haven’t posted in a long time! I am back in the office for two weeks before flying off again. Look for several posts on these experiences over the next few days - they are extremely interesting!

Popularity: 9% [?]

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icip.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Personal Update

What most of you don’t know, because I am a very private person, is that about 6 weeks ago, my wonderful, beautiful, loving wife & soul mate was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Fortunately, we found it in a Stage 1 existence and have since then been to biopsies, MRI’s, consultations and just 2 weeks ago, her surgery - lumpectomy - to remove the cancer . The good news is that they got it all out. There is still one more minor surgical procedure to “clean up the margins”, this followed by 6 weeks of daily radiation therapy. The prognosis is that in 8-12 weeks, she will be cancer free.

I am writing this for multiple reasons, not the least of which is that, once again, we find ourselves faced with our own mortality as well as the further validation of the fact that you only get once shot at living. And traveling around the country in the past two weeks from one coast to the other and all points in between to meet with clients and work on helping then discover - or rediscover - their own dreams, has taken on new meaning for me.

Those of you who know the level of my passion for helping people would not believe, unless you see me on a regular basis, the extra high gear I have kicked my life into because of this situation. It has even taken me by surprise.

Life is short. Even shorter for some.  My hope and prayer is that you understand this as well and are about getting on with the living of life and enjoying all it has to offer. That means embracing your fears as well as the challenges inherent in the goals you set for yourself - living your life as a testament to those dreams and hopes realized after the energy and effort has been put forth in their accomplishment.

This was on my mind.

Popularity: 8% [?]

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icip.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

More Proof That Environment Makes A Difference

Seth posts about an NEJM article that says obesity can be contagious - just like the flu! You can read about it in this article from the LA Times.

Could we drill a little deeper and say that the culture you want to exist in your business - or your life - can be realized by simply practicing the right values and behaviors, thereby making them “contagious” to your staff, friends or family too?

Dare we think about the possibilities that could be realized just by acting our way into a better way of life? So now how important is it to hang out with winners - and surround yourself with them too in your business - and jettison those in your life - and your business - that have no business being there in the first place?

If you haven’t read Malcom Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point“ , you should do so.

Popularity: 7% [?]

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icip.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Seth On Coachability

Now when Seth starts talking about Coaching, isn’t it time you got off your butt and started moving yourself - and your business - to the next level?

Check it out here..

Popularity: 7% [?]

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icip.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Consumer Preferences - “Health”

Popularity: 13% [?]

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icip.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Flat Daddies

Flat Daddies is undoubtedly a cool new company.

Flat Daddies are full-size printed posters of parents who are serving overseas in the military. Flat Daddies (or Flat Mommies) are free to children who are directly affected by the military deployment of a parent. Others can purchase them for $49.50.

The free Flat Daddies are supported by donations from individuals, companies and organizations, and anyone can donate money on their website at http://www.flatdaddies.com/.

Kudos to Guy Kawasaki for coming across Flat Daddies and writing about the company. Good ideas that do good and can be profitable (in this case if non-military Flat Daddies catch on (maybe among frequent business travelers)), are always worth telling people about.

Popularity: 4% [?]

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icip.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Bruce Tulgan: It’s Okay To Be The Boss

Get This Book!

I don’t recommend a lot of other people’s books,
but when I come across one as good as this one,
I jump in with both feet!

It’s Okay to Be the Boss

Bruce Tulgan
$16.29

Popularity: 5% [?]

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icip.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Healthy Food Not A Restaurant Priority

ATLANTA, April 12, 2007 (UPI) — U.S. restaurant chains are committed to serving healthier foods only if they generate profit through high sales or other benefits, a study says.

The study, published in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, used in-depth interviews with 41 senior menu development and marketing executives at leading casual dining and fast-food restaurant chains to learn about current practices barriers to offering more fresh produce.

For a majority of the interviewees, the most important issues are growing sales and increasing profits, with about half as many operators concerned about food safety, meeting customer demand and labor issues.

Health and nutrition were mentioned by only nine respondents and social responsibility by three, according to the study.

The majority of chains interviewed would not add new items to their menus unless they are confident that their customer base will accept them and that the items will contribute to sales and profit growth, according to study leader, Dr. Karen Glanz, of the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University.

Popularity: 7% [?]

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icip.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it