Good Morning Friends! Here are my 5 Things to Consider this week!
Culture – As you get into your 30’s and 40’s, you need three hobbies; one that makes you fit, one that makes you money and one that lets you be creative. I hesitated to write about this because it really doesn’t fit with my usual format. Technically it’s not what I would usually consider a “cultural element” of our company. But I think it’s worth discussing because work-life balance is so important to us…and, like it or not, we’re all getting older. And as we do, we begin to replace those habits of youth (read: drinking, partying, staying out late) with habits or hobbies that feed our more productive sides. We begin to look for activities that feed souls as opposed to take from them. As we all grow and change, as do our priorities. You may have had the thought lately, “I just don’t feel like (insert anything which used to cost you time, money or brain cells) anymore.” Here’s the thing…that’s okay. In fact, it’s just a natural part of maturing and one of the hard truths about maturing is that things that used to come easy to us, like eating whatever we want, drinking every night or doing the occasional booger sugar, just cost us too damn much. This year, find three things that fill your soul. A great guide is one that helps you be creative, one that makes you money and one that helps you stay in shape.
Leadership – Refuse to let anything slip. Being in the mindset where you, as a leader, refuse to let things slip sets an expectation that you won’t accept anything less than the standard. When you create this “do it again until it’s done right” mentality, you can trust that your shops will be run properly even when you’re not there. Everyone respects the standard that exists. Conversely, what you let slip is the standard you actually set. Is a dirty, unmopped floor acceptable? If you don’t say anything when it’s not done, then it IS acceptable. If every Thursday the ovens are supposed to get cleaned but you come in Friday and it’s not been done, saying nothing is accepting that it’s not a priority. One of the hardest parts of leadership for most people is confronting someone when an action needs corrected. Finding your “leadership voice,” or the specific way you communicate expectations will help you to refuse to let anything slip.
History – Our Pizza Sauce. As we’re on the horizon of changing something that I said I would never change, I wanted to talk quickly about one of the most important parts of our product. Back when Jason and I lived in Key West for a winter, our favorite local pizza joint, The Upper Crust, was the place where I’d study pizza making. The had a bar you could sit at, grab a drink and watch the guys make pizza. They used a rolling pin to roll out the dough, a thin but chunky sauce, oil on the crust and Italian seasoning all over the pie. Years later, we still use many of these methods today. The reasons we are changing our sauce today are multifaceted. They include financial, process and taste considerations. All in all, it’s the right move for the company. The sauce is easier to spread, tastier and more affordable. Win-win-win.
Motivation – “I’m blessed, but I make my blessings.” – Oprah
What I’m Reading or Watching – A Marriage Story. More like Divorce Story. This was one of the most depressing movies I’ve ever seen. I actually hate movies like this. I get it, couples fight. People get divorced. I just don’t want to spend two hours of my life watching every shitty detail of it. I finished this movie and felt like I had just gone through a nasty divorce myself. Pass.
Baby Update – I just drew a face on a grapefruit and William’s been staring at it and talking to it for 30 minutes now. I seriously love this phase!
Thanks for reading! Like or hate any part of this? Let me know! I really value your feedback.
Have a great week!
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