I spent the summer of 1970 working in the Pittsburgh-DesMoines steel fabrication plant in Santa Clara, which was ironically right in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Having just read Wendy Piersall’s very sharp post Can Waiting on Tables Teach yo…

To say that I am here to be a slave to my customers, as though I “serve” them is nothing short of insulting. They are here to buy my product and I am here to sell it.

The happiness in my customers eyes is enough to prove that I am a successful business and you are not.

From the Author:

Alfonso, I believe you and I have different definitions of the word “serve” - I mean it as you’re in business to “give” value and a great customer experience, not just to “get” their money. In regards to how successful I am, well, I don’t think you know me or my business quite well enough to say that.

Great article. Great points. I especially liked the 4th one. Resilience is one of the best qualities anywhere.

But are you satisfied being the one of the top “5000″ -US- websites? I think the minimum you need to achieve before “wondering how you got ‘there’ ” is to have your entry made in Wikipedia by a total stranger. From where I look you haven’t reached anywhere. You are just doing okay.

nothin’ like feeding time in the human zoo.

This is like an old staff of mine who always wanted to be nice to everyone, she would do anything people asked. You could call her on the phone and ask her anything and she would help. I fired her for wasting time. I am not here to “serve” people, I am here to “sell” to CUSTOMERS.

I do nothing for people who are not customers and this is why I am a successful business. I am sorry for accusing you of not being a success but I do not understand how you can be with such a subservient business thinking.

From the Author:

Then perhaps you missed my point about a profit motive? Indeed, giving value AND making money can co-exist, at least in my business! But perhaps in your business things are different - hard for me to say without knowing more about it.

Sometimes a customer can ask for a single component but I do not listen. If they are a customer they already have this component, and if they are not a customer I am not interested in what they say.

By ignoring the pests and selling to the best, this is how I am a success.

I teach this rhyme to all my staff.

The writer of this article makes some really good points.

I waited tables and bartended for a long time before settling into a 9-5 office gig. As important as it is to make sure that you are responding to your customer’s needs, what’s more important is your dignity. Something that I don’t feel you touched upon enough is, if you feel that a customer or client is abusive or disrespectful, it may be well worth your time to just let them go.

The aggravation isn’t always worth $2.38/hour plus a tip, or whatever the payment.

As for you, Jtheletter, do you not realise that Victoria Secret would be more profitable if they sold one product only instead of all this frivolity that they choose?

Victoria secret is an indulgence and not a business thinking to be followed, unless you think your business is a playground. I have no time for such stupid.

Great post. I think so many people overlook the meak beginnings that entrepreneurs can have that really foster their growth and give them the skills to succeed. For you fellow female entrepreneurs currently in the difficult struggle to make it on your own, take a look at this great contest I found. It’s called “Make Your Dreams Come True with Mirassou.” They will be awarding one aspiring business woman $50,000 plus a team of highly professional consultants to help kick start your business. Visit http://www.mirassou.com/women_in_business/dreams.asp for more info and to enter. I work with them so just wanted to give you the inside scoop. Keep plugging along ladies, and don’t forget the everyday skills you learn, especially those people skills.

I referred to myself as an Experience Manager. It was not infrequent that I would ask my customers a few questions about themselves and their mood. Have an inquiry conversation with them. Then order their dinner for them, drinks and all. I would introduce tables to each other. I created a dining experience. And here’s the kicker, I only worked chain restaurants: Garfield’s, Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse, etc. My largest tip at such a restaurant was $800 for a single table of 8. (I have always been proud of that!)

I viewed my job as a business. For my busienss, I was competing against all the other “servers” that customer had ever had. I created an unexpected experience. I now say that the fastest way for a server to lose their tip from me is to say, “My name is … I will be yourserver this evening.” That line tells me that this experience will be average and dull, which is not why I usually dine out. I want to be taken care of. I want to be viewed as a customer, not a patient.

We have become such a service economy that those serving now take the customer for granted. And the customers are becoming tired of it. They are begining to crave “different”. This opens a world of opportunity for entrepreneurs. In the emerging economy and culture, those that go above and beyond will be rewarded. I dine out often and seek out servers that create an experience for me. They are entrepreneurs. I reward them by coming back to their table repreatedly and tipping them well.

I often view GREAT wait staff as the best potential project managers.

Sandeep

Sorry for the confusion!