Little perspective:

John Baldoni's article offers a little perspective:

Gain perspective. The magnitude of this recession is unprecedented to anyone born after 1945. Millions of people have lost their jobs and many more will do so. Yet, if the past is any indicator, most companies will survive and new ones will be born. More importantly, we as a people will persevere.

Keep and Change:

Seth’s post drills down to the essentials:

Keep your customers, but change what you sell to them.

Keep your staff, but change what you do.

Keep your customers, but change how much you sell each one.

The ability to execute effectively has no rival:

Tim Berry’s post nails the fundamental connection between ideas and execution. Quoting Dr. Kanwal Rekhi:

Execution intelligence. Investors pay a premium for this rare skill. For every great idea that you have, there are 10 very smart people with the same idea. What will make the difference is the ability to execute. Ideas are a dime a dozen.

Customers recognize when your business executes effectively.

I’ll have Decaf:

Really how can you tell? Katherine Harmon article explains

long-standing debate among the caffeine-wary is whether decaf served in restaurants is actually what it's billed to be – or is really a cup of the high-octane stuff. Among the skeptics? Read on.

Do-it-yourself caffeine detectors called D+caf Test Strips will tell you if your beverage is – or isn't – the real thing. Just stick one of the tiny strips into a spoonful of coffee or tea (sans any milk or sugar, which eliminates drinks like lattes and sodas) and you'll have your answer in less than a minute, according to Discover Testing, which makes the strips. If the line above "D" (decaf) on the strip is darker, you're good to go; if it's darker above the "C" (caffeine), beware – your drink probably contains more caf than you'd like.

Civic pride in Illinois Government:

Chicago is the greatest city in the world and my home. The state government of Illinois has had a lot of issues recently however, they still find time for the really salient challenges of our time. John Matson reports:

Pluto's demotion to the minor leagues spawned heated debate, as well as the requisite protest T-shirts and conspiracy theories. Now it's the subject of legislation in the Illinois Senate, which recently adopted a resolution declaring that Pluto had been unfairly downgraded. As such, lawmakers proclaimed that Pluto is now "reestablished with full planetary status, and that March 13, 2009 be declared 'Pluto Day' in the State of Illinois in honor of the date its discovery was announced in 1930."

It's Beer Week

When is it ever not Beer Week?

Managing different channels:

I am a huge advocate of embracing the social web. Online presence offers relationship building opportunities like no other, be it a web site, blog, Facebook, Twitter and a variety of niche specific communities. The evolution has occurred so rapidly that many of your customers have not adapted or are lagging.

This was brought into focus for me when Mary Ellen related a story about an experience she had at a quick serve restaurant recently. A customer walked up to the counter and noticed that this location had delivery. The customer asked the counter person, “what is your delivery area?” The counter person replied that “they were not sure but thinking it was 3 miles.” The counter person added, “go online and search for the accurate info.” At this the customer, a mature individual got that glazed look over their eyes, glanced toward Mary Ellen and laughed.

Businesses need to guard themselves against the “gee whiz” of their cool internet channels and remember that everyone is not on those channels. Some people do not text, go online, read informative blogs (like this one) or even fax the order in. Some of your customers just want to use a telephone (how quaint), to call in the order and have you deliver it.

Happy Days are here again, soon!

Stanley Bing’s post “Another week closer to Recovery” reframes the discussion and is the perfect remedy for another week of horrific economic news being deluged on the hapless consumers.

No, but seriously. Every horrendous week that we suffer through this thing brings us closer to the day when everybody will wake up singing. We don’t really know when it’ll be. We will all have to go through a lot to get there. But it will come. And then there will be dancing in the Street and people will start getting jobs again and feeling like they can put their money in a bank without crossing themselves twice.

3 6 9

Early March this year has proved to be a treasure trove for mathematical oddities. Today is 3/6/9. Pi Day is just around the corner

How to get things done.

Bre Pettis' has created the Cult of Done Manifesto

here is just a few:

There is no editing stage.

Pretending you know what you're doing is almost the same as knowing what you are doing,
so just accept that you know what you're doing even if you don't and do it.

Banish procrastination. If you wait more than a week to get an idea done, abandon it.

Thriving.

Phil Vittel's article offers tips on thriving in any environment.

We know we're not going to come anywhere near having one of our best years," Melman says. "But we can build a foundation for the future with better hiring, better training, better buying. When so many things are out of your control, you have to work on things in your control."

More friends more wealth.

Tom Geoghegan's article encourages us to be friendly.

It's widely accepted that friendships are invaluable to the soul but few of us were aware that they could also boost the bank account.

A study of 10,000 US students over a period of 35 years suggests the wealthiest people are those that had the most friends at school. Each extra schoolfriend added 2% to the salary.

The researchers said this was because the workplace is a social setting and those with the best social skills prosper in management and teamwork.

The best way to make new friends is to smile at people.

How have you become more valuable to your Guest?

Martha Lagace's article in HBS Working Knowledge offers guidance

The rule of thumb here is simple: In an economic downturn, consumers consume less of many products. Invariably, this creates the need for substitutes ... at least for some of the most essential products. Another outcome of a drop-off in consumption and employment is a need for products that become more valuable during such periods when consumers have more time on their hands.

Chakravorti goes further and warns against the cost cutting mentality that has so infected businesses,

Think business model, says Chakravorti. Consider the unintended consequences of cost cutting, and instead focus holistically on the interconnected parts of your entire business model.

Happy Square Root Day

There is always a reason to celebrate life. Today is 3 - 3 - 9 which for you lover of numbers out there will immediately realize is 3x3=9.

Demand outstrips supply

Restaurant Week is extended through March 6, so go out and eat it up Chicago!

How to ask for a referral?

Andy Sernovitz’s tweet makes asking for a referral pretty simple:

Just ask. "I'd be grateful if I can quote your kind words" is how I ask.

Tips for making new friends.

Gretchen Rubin’s post at "The Happiness Project” offers several tips for making friends. Restaurateurs should follow all the tips, however two are listed below.

Show up.

Smile.

Easy Ice:

Today's tip for all you enterprising servers hoping for a tip. When a guest orders "easy ice" with their initial drink order, it means "easy ice" every time you refill the drink too!

Looking for a good cup of coffee in Milwaukee?

Monica Eng’s article lists the best bet for a cup of joe in your town:

in Milwaukee it’s Alterra Coffee (alterracoffeepro.com)