Watched Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares while waiting for Man U’s game. It’s a reality tv show revolving around a chef trying to help people running a restaurant. In this episode, Ramsay is trying to make a vegetarian restaurant work in Paris, a city where the majority are meat eaters.
What I like about it are the lessons to be learned about business. You must have the passion and motivation. Your staff must be equally motivated and skilled too. Friends doesn’t necessarily make good staff. The following parts of the episode are
Common themes of this show
- Every part of the machinery must work well. Especially the boss and the chef.
- The boss must be able to do everything himself. Lead by example.
- Attention to detail is crucial
- there must be a system, communication, organisation, orderliness to handle the work
- fast and efficient is the name of the game
- listen to the customers. Understand their needs
- Promotion and marketing
- A staff is not necessarily a friend. A friend however, will try his best
- You must be prepared to work your butt-off in order to be successful
- Develop your skills and knowledge of the business
- Fresh ingredients and clean environment makes a huge difference
- Treat your clients with respect and care.
- There will be some nasty clients and they are out there to create a scene and give you a tough time. Customers are right only when they are right and reasonable. Give them hell.
- If you got good location and everything is going for you, then failure is largely due to your own weakness.
