“Networking with a pro”

A Marshall & Associates presentation

When I first entered the hospitality industry I had to learn the hard way, “trial and error”.  That was expensive.  I darn near went broke!  I had purchased my business from an older gentleman who had retired on the job.   He had no experienced management employees on his staff.  I was “it”.  The only problem was that I had no idea what price I would pay for assuming, in error, I would get by.

I entered my purchase agreement at age twenty-seven.  We had nine very small locations.  I had no hospitality industry management experience.  Up until then the only food service experience I had was working hourly jobs while attending school and working various jobs in a major commercial full service bakery. 

I was a naive young man who now owed an awful lot of money.  I didn’t recognize the incredible odds against my succeeding.  Thank goodness I was blessed with some wonderfully loyal, hard working competent hourly employees.   They wanted me (us) to succeed and worked hard to make it happen.  Within a short time reality set in!  It was a shock.  I had purchased a business I knew very little about and lots of people were relying on me for their jobs.

One night, at a restaurant association function, I was telling my sad story to a nationally recognized industry giant.  He said “well kid you just took the first step toward success; you admitted you have a problem.  Now you need to be smart enough to seek answers and solutions”.   He then offered me the best advice (solution) I could ever have asked for.  He said “write down all your questions, carry them around with you and ask everyone, one at a time, who you feel may have the answer what their perspective is on a particular (one only) subject on your list.   Do this every time you meet with this group. 

We all believe we know it all and want you to be aware of our tremendous knowledge.  This way you will get the collective benefit of hundreds of years of industry experience without having to grow old acquiring it or going broke because you didn’t have it”.

Marshall & Associates
Round table subjects all the pros love to discuss

• How can I reduce food cost?
• Is it realistic to believe I can cut my turnover in half?
• My labor costs are killing me.  What can I do about it?
• My sales are going down.  What will really work to increase them?
• My employees want health coverage.  How can I afford it?
• I seem to “have to do it all”.  How can I find someone I can trust?
• My sales aren’t too bad but I’m not making any money.  Why?

These round table discussions are best done in small groups and in a quiet setting.  Please contact M&A if you feel you would like to discuss these or other industry related topic.  M&A will tailor a round table meeting designed to bring together a small group of operators who would like to discuss the same issues.

Each of these subjects is approximately two hours in duration. The fee, per individual, for these small intimate work sessions, is typically one hundred twenty five dollars. Larger sessions are available at group rates.

If you are a multi unit operator M&A will conduct closed session work shops with multiple subjects (round tables) exclusively for your organization.
 

M&A enjoys bringing a multitude of industry Pros into these learning sessions.

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