Anyone who works with the Restaurant industry needs to learn how to deal with constant change and stay sane. Whether change is by choice or imposed, negative or positive, personal or professional, it is always a challenge. Four people in the industry talked to us about the changes they experienced and how they managed. Gwen Sheard has been working for…
Long hours, high pressure, stress and opportunity contribute to incidents of drug and alcohol abuse in the restaurant industry. This can result in loss of productivity, customer service, and profits, from the kitchen to the corporate level. Only when an organization recognizes that drug and alcohol abuse is an issue amongst its ranks can solutions be found. When one of…
Almost everyone who works in the restaurant industry at any level would agree that it is a 24-7 business (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Stress can be high and life/work balance can be minimal. Recent and past studies have shown that stress and life/work balance are directly related to productivity, turn-over and the bottom line. Rick and…
Everyone needs to get away for relaxation, but for people in the restaurant industry, that can be more difficult than most due to long hours, endless days and constant customer needs. The stress and frustration can be ongoing and a long vacation can be just a good dream. In order to stay focused and somewhat calm, you need to be…
How do you know when you have achieved success? The answers depend on who you ask. Julia Stewart, president of Applebees Restaurants and the first woman president of a publicly owned restaurant corporation said that for her professionally, it means ensuring the success of her organization. ãIts important that I develop other people and enrich their lives to help them…
Whether its serving the customer, training employees or working long hours, the restaurant industry can be very stressful. Having to create new menu items, deal with investors, and stay ahead of the competition can take its toll on relationships and health. Even though your work can be challenging and exciting you may still experience stress symptoms such as headaches, neck…
Not many industries have as much chaos potential as the Restaurant industry. There is constant activity, conflicting personalities and customers that need to be served. Your mental, physical and spiritual health are directly impacted by how you deal with these factors on a daily basis. Two people who own busy, successful restaurants practice meditation and have more energy, stay calmer,…
Many restaurants start out with exciting concepts and ideas, but as they grow they lose the culture that made them successful. Other restaurants manage to continue growing and keep the culture they created. What separates one type of restaurant from the other? One of the key factors is to define the culture you want to create, and integrate that in…
Working with family members can be wonderful, but it takes a lot of work and the willingness to be flexible. David and Hiromi Vardy have owned O ChamŽ, in Berkeley, Calif., for 10 years. David is the chef and Hiromi runs the front of the house. They enjoy working together. “With all the hours we put in the restaurant, we…
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