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A strong (even everlasting) recruitment strategy is essential to any business’ growth and success. [TRUISM]

We are in the age of shorter attention spans, and the idea of “retention” resides in how quickly the google search can be performed in most cases. [FACT]

It is well-known that we struggle in the Restaurant Industry to keep great people. So many see it as a “stepping stone” or a stopover on a career with[out] direct service of others.

Call it the “nature of the industry” or poor retention in training, call it what you like, the “industry” has always had a problem.

I am proud to say that the trend is [seemingly] shifting. BUT the need to motivate great people to stay  in hospitality, long-term, has never been greater.

I’d like to present a point to Restauranteurs; a point that says we got it all wrong; a point that Dan Pink has brought to light with compelling information about the SCIENCE OF WHAT REALLY MOTIVATES US. You might be surprised.

Take 10 minutes to see what the science says about it;

Let’s consider for a moment that we may be treating how we motivate people a little “old school”. Let’s consider that flexible hours, “great tips” and a social environment are still not enough to outweigh the challenges of the “industry”.

Let’s look at this from the outside, and decide what REALLY keeps a person within your organization. What kept you this long?

Money is a motivator *FACT

Pay people enough to take the issue of money off the table. So they are only thinking about the work. *BEST Practice Consider what is really important?

Autonomy – The ability to be self-directed. You probably want to do something interesting, let me get out of your way.

Do you offer the freedom to be creative?

Mastery – Our urge to get better at stuff and maybe MASTER it.

Do you FEED the want to MASTER great Hospitality?

Purpose – Having a “transcendent” purpose to attract and keep better talent. The Purpose Model.

What sets your purpose apart from the rest?

Perhaps, it is time to DO AWAY with the carrot and the stick and give people a REASON to stay.

To quote my favourite liberal restaurateur;

“It’s not hard to open a restaurant, it’s hard to open a restaurant that is BOTH; worth returning to & worth working for”




 Likely not “News” to most in the “Industry” but the stats, even to me, we staggering. Small Food Business The fact that many independent restaurants start and fail probably isn’t news to any of us, but the fact that they top the list of small business failures is a little eye-opening! Top Business Degrees has put together a great infographic on the most tried and failed mom & pop businesses including information on what you can do to make sure your small business doesn’t end up in this category.



 The “Entrepreneurial Spirit” is distinct. The daily collision of risk management, innovation and possible failure makes us obvious in a crowd. The brightest business people, athletes, professionals, models, actors, bloggers and buskers have one thing in common, the spirit it takes to open a business and maybe fail. That takes balls.

Regardless of what world you are living and doing business in, you have the same belief that I do. You can be the best, you can save the world you exist in, if you needed to. You live with the idea that nothing is too hard, nothing is out of reach.

What about everyone else? Living a life with a “J-O-B”? When did the majority give up on saving the world? A mentor once told me “If being a business owner was easy, everyone would do it”, all cliché’s aside, he was right. Being an entrepreneur with the spirit to succeed and the mindset to save the world is not common. It should be, but it isn’t.

Steven Jobs, famously said “We’re here to put a dent in the universe.”. I’m not sure, but I think he meant, anyone can put a dent in the universe.

Get to Doing.

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