It's the worst question in the restaurant business...
"Was everything OK Tonight?"
OK? Is that the best you've got?
On nights like tonight that question runs through my mind,
largely because this night is so much better than OK.

I'm at one of my all-time favorite restaurants,
82 Queen in Charleston, SC.
Having dinner on the veranda, in the cool of the day,
with my sweetheart of 27 years.
I've been thinking about this night
since I knew I'd be speaking in Charleston.

Anticipating how good it's going to be...again.
I'm having what I had last time I was here,
and what I'll be having the next time I'm here...
She-Crab soup, Fried Green Tomatos,
and BBQ shrimp with Low-County Grits!
ooooohhh...KAY!

Why not get a better question to ask your customers
that raises the expectation of the "experience"
they are about to enjoy, or to confirm that they did.

How about this question...
"Was there any ONE THING WE COULD HAVE DONE
to make your (dining) experience more MEMORABLE?"

In the case of this night at 82 Queen,
I don't think so.

Pinehurst #2...the U.S. Open.
Wow, today I get to check off another one of my goals,
from a list I made long ago; To see a U.S. Open live!
Today's actually a practice round
but it's still packed here around the village.
I had the opportunity to play golf here just over a month ago
(I'm still repeating to myself...the score is not important)
with some friends and we looked at the
giant corporate tents going up for golf's BIG SHOW!

How many? And how much? You can't help but ask as you see
rows and rows of the white monsters going up along the fairways.
Fortunately my friend Chris is a member and resident
who knows "those in the know" about these sort of things.
So right from the source we got the answer...
Over 70 tents...
With a price tag of between $50,000-$150,000 each.

(What's really amazing is that in 1999 here
there were only about half that many tents)

Wow. Score (another) one for capitalism and free enterprise!
I'm guessing no one delivered the message to them
about how bad the economy is. Or why no one will come...
Doesn't matter, they wouldn't have listened.

Big clue to Big Success: Don't Listen!
At least not to the whiners and complainers and bad news bearers
with their list of why "it can't be done."

This NOW economy is OPEN for BIG BUSINESS!
Get out there and get your share by becoming uncommon.

In Atlanta for the National Convention of
Independent Auto Dealers this week.
After kicking off the convention with the opening session on
"Winning in the NOW Economy"
(get my free E book on this one at www.michaelyork.com/downloads)
I spent a day preparing for my master of ceremonies duties
at the national awards dinner by interviewing "twentysomething"
state and regional award-winning" QUALITY dealers
from all across the country.

These are USED CAR DEALERS...
(don't bother, they've heard all the jokes)
and the best of the best in their industry.

It was cool to be around this group of entrepreneurs
who go out there every day and battle for their share of
the car-buying business in America,
town by town and customer by customer.

But this is not your father's (Oldsmobile, or...)
generation of used car dealer.
These men...and women are focused on continuing education
just like insurance brokers, and real-estate brokers,
and other professional service providers.
Increasingly they are becoming internet-savvy,
improving their business, and making the commitment
to improve the customer's car-buying experience.

Hats off to this new breed of entrepreneur.
It was an enjoyable experience for me to be around
these captains of enterprise.

p.s. If you'd like to take a peek at their "oscars"
you can view that LIVE broadcast
(shown globally on the web) for a limited time at
www.niada.tv

Just click on the "free video" picture box.