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Techniques for balance
- A truly cold drink (required for martinis, for example) should have a rime of ice across the surface. Send it back if it doesn’t.
- If you don’t know how to eat a certain food (artichokes, ribs, an amuse bouche, high tea service, etc.), simply watch your host, whether at a home or AT a restaurant. Even if they don’t do it correctly, you can’t go wrong by copying them.
- Outside of the U.S. it’s a good idea to ask in restaurants when the bill is presented, “Is the gratuity included?” If you ask, “Is the service included?” you may get a confusing answer, since service is often a separate charge that may not go to the server.
- Many good hotels around the world will provide you with a card which says in the local language, “Please take me back to the (Name) Hotel.” You can simply hand one to any cab driver.
- I’ve never seen executives raise their hands in business meetings in order to be acknowledged. They merely speak out.
- No senior executive has ever given me a business card with his or her photo on it, with clever slogans, or with an opposite side advertising their business. Why would I hand them one that that has all this silliness?
- Whenever you check into a hotel room, make sure the alarm is not activated on the clock or radio, or you’re likely to be awakened at 4 in the morning when the prior occupant of the room had to be up to catch a plane. If you’re not sure how to deactivate the alarm (since they often look like the dashboard of the space shuttle), simply unplug them.
- Manage energy levels better: Do the unpleasant tasks early in the day when energy is highest and you won’t have to think about them later, and save your favorite stuff till the end of the day to invigorate and reward you. (This is why I work out with my trainer first thing in the morning!)
- If you “dumb down” your attire, language, or demeanor to try to relate better to others, you’re not improving your chances, you’re simply acting dumb.
- You’re only as good as the quality of the feedback you actively seek. Unpleasant truths trump disingenuous flattery.
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I’m at the Peninsula Hotel in Manhattan, and can’t get one of the TVs to work. There are two remotes with approximately 1400 little buttons, and the onscreen instructions have 45 options, none of which, apparently, has anything to do with watching television.
I call the desk and in less than five minutes a gentleman rings our bell. He actually gives a small bow when I open the door, and he is wearing a white lab coat that would be the envy of the chief of surgery at the Einstein Medical Center. He asks permission to enter the room, and then permission to proceed to the bedroom. Calmly—EVER so calmly—he shows me the only three buttons on the remote which really matter, and has me practice. On the way out, he notices the picture on the living room TV is not optimal, and offers to adjust that.
We bid each other a good night, and I’m actually sorry to see him go.
It’s not a lack of problems that make us happy, since we seldom comment on our unremarkable good fate, and problems are eerily omnipresent in our lives anyway. It’s the RESPONSE to problems that floats our boats. That’s why I’ve probably stayed at Peninsula Hotels around the world upwards of 60 times to date. Things are usually terrific, but when they’re not, they set about restoring the terrificness. (And in Hong Kong they’ll pick you up at the airport in a Rolls.)
What’s required here? There is a service standard, e.g., respond within X minutes of a guest’s concern. There is the individual’s skills and competence to quickly diagnose and remedy the problem. Then there’s the person’s behaviors, which are supportive, service-oriented, and polite. But there’s also outstanding management, which finds the right people, creates the right standards, and monitors the operation for compliance to those standards (viz.: the Ritz-Carton creed—we are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen).
When you’re treated well, you give the other party the benefit of the doubt when things go south (so long as that’s not a daily occurrence). When you treat people well, they give you that same benefit. That’s what relationships are about. But if you treat me with disdain or discourtesy, even if I have no current problems with you, I’m not going to give you the benefit of the doubt when something does go wrong, and I’m going to be amenable to being romanced by someone else.
You don’t have to wear a white smock and bow. But it certainly does make a great first impression.
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The human condition: Upgrading
I’m sitting here on the Acela heading for New York at an occasional 150 MPH. The first class car is stuffed like an unopened jar of olives, and I had to dash upon boarding to cut my way to a small table the two of us can share.
Seated across the aisle are two men sharing a similar table but strangers until this ride. They are engaged in the deeply inducing ennui of comparing their hotel points programs, and how one is maximizing Hilton and the other Marriott. They are complaining about the lack of upgrades using points in advance, despite their loyalty.
My wife and I are headed to a large suite in the Peninsula in Manhattan, one of the outstanding hotel chains in the world. We were able to get this because, well, I paid for it.
Now before you send me emails and notes tied to rocks about my egomania (please get in line and be orderly), hear me out. I would suggest that people spend more time trying to “work” systems and “game” programs than they do trying to excel. In other words, the only guarantee of a great hotel room, first class airplane seat, supporting your kid who was accepted at a world-class private university, and taking a vacation on impulse, is to have the money (financial resources) and wealth (discretionary time) to do so.
I’ve watched people sweet-talk gate agents in airports, pander for a luxury car upgrade at Hertz, sneak into unoccupied better seats in the theater, and try to finagle a free pass to a high-ticket charity event. Many are successful. Nonetheless, I continually wonder what they’d be able to legitimately afford if they addressed that same passion, energy, and perseverance at their job outputs and results.
People are aghast at how stupid most criminals are. They stand in full sight in front of security cameras, are beaten off by outraged grandmothers (a recent huge news and YouTube video), and often leave their wallets and identification at the scene of the crime. But if criminals were really smart, why would they have to be criminals?
The guys across the aisle have run out of stories about trying to get upgrades in mid-level hotels, which they stay in exclusively no matter where they are to maximize their hoard of points. Imagine traveling the world and solely staying at Hiltons? It’s like visiting great restaurants and solely ordering chicken and merlot. What a waste.
A balanced life is one which enables you to afford what you deem to be comfortable for your lifestyle. Occasionally, you’ll use upgrades because you can’t afford not to. (I sometimes have a million points on American Express.)
But that’s the icing, not the cake.
APPROACHING GREAT STUFF:
Weekly, 15-minute podcasts with segments on current business events, new intellectual property, and some humor. Monthly, ten-minute videos on business and self-development. And a full-day, free conference in mid-year. Three full work days—24 hours—of programming for a few dollars an hour in investment. Get this weekly booster shot right away. Whenever you join you’ll have access to all the archives. Ridiculously low investment for year-long development!
One of the most popular of all my offerings, there’s still time to enroll for the entire year at significant discount, but only until December 31, 2010. Topics include Story Telling, Power Language, Managing Your Day—highly requested issues and very pragmatic techniques. Free downloads for all registered.
May, 23-27 Castle Hill Inn, Newport, RI
October 31-November 4, Castle Hill Inn, Newport, RI
Participate in the finest development anywhere for consultants and related professionals. This will be our 17th. The other 2011 College is scheduled for London (see below).
June 15-16, 2011
Newport RI area (to be announced)
The goal is to provide the tools, expertise, access, references, resources, and support to identify, create, and launch profitable new products, with the option of a partnership with existing, successful providers.
AND IN EUROPE:
April 4-8, 2011
Million Dollar Consulting� College
The first ever run in Europe, and our 16th overall.
Participate in the finest development anywhere for consultants and related professionals. Take advantage of exchange rates now!
BACK IN US:
May 10, The Platinum, Las Vegas, NV
In response to persistent request, my first workshop on how to organize your day, your month, your year. Regain control of your life and get done five times what you do now. Create accomplishment lists, not “to do” lists!
June 25-26, The Platinum, Las Vegas, NV
Fripp and Alan are back for they don’t know what number workshop, since so many people keep returning, since it’s always different. Join two of the most successful keynoters in the world in a riotous, intensive learning experience. (Members of The Odd Couple® Community are admitted free, but you still must register on our site, above.) Alan’s been known to teach people how to play craps, and Fripp has been known to deliver a keynote while he’s doing that.
October 19-21, 2011
The Breakers, West Palm Beach, Florida
An incredible three full days, focused on building your profile as a thought leader and "go to" person in your niche. We will have an outside, undisputed thought leader for one discussion segment, TED.com videos to deconstruct, three books to discuss, a personalized commercial book outline created, elegant meals, and a great deal more under my very aggressive leadership. Emerge with a clear blueprint, which will include my Stairstep Methodology, to become THE thought leader in your field.
All meals and luxury lodging included. DAVID MAISTER is my special guest speaker this year. He is the pre-eminent thought leader on small business development and growth. SOLD OUT! WE’RE TAKING REGISTRATIONS FOR OUR WAITING LIST!
NOTE: GET MY NEW, FREE, MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ON CONSULTING: THE MILLION DOLLAR CONSULTING™ MINDSET: http://summitconsulting.com/million-dollar-consulting-mindset/
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I had had a series of small annoyances at the hotel, the kind that don’t rate an angry march to the front desk, but tend to fester and grow like mushrooms in a dark cellar. On Sunday morning, I took in my New York Times from the hallway, extracted it from the case the hotel provides to hold it, and found that the entire front section was missing.
Enough was enough. I called the front desk, and asked to speak to the manager. As he picked up the phone and said, “Yes, Mr. Weiss, how may I help you?” I picked up the case as if he were there, to better make my point. Shaking it, I said, “MY NEW YORK TIMES…,” and with that the front section fell out of the case onto the floor.
“Yes, sir, what about it?”
“It’s….”
“Yes?”
“It’s quite, ah, nice to have it.”
“I see. Thank you, sir. Will there be anything else?”
“Ah, no.”
Copyright 2011 Alan Weiss. All rights reserved.
Balancing Act® is our registered trademark. You are encouraged
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2011 Teleconference Series
I've designed the next teleconference series around most frequently requested topics. Some topics, such as "Power Language," I'll take to the next level. New ones, such as "Story Telling," I'll deal with from the ground up. This is approximately ten hours of high-end development available live, on recording, and by download, all for a single investment.
The Odd Couple®
Las Vegas, NV,
June 25-26, 2011
We're baaaaaack!! Alan Weiss and Patricia Fripp in Vegas, for their 13th presentation of this now legendary workshop. Two days solely on marketing for professional and aspiring speakers, including technology, social platforms, building communities, and the accelerant curve! Don't miss the learning or the fun!
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One-to-four people participate in a rigorous two days of promotional "mayhem," in which we create assertive and powerful approaches to mold thought leaders, "go to" people, interviewing targets, and objects of interest. The second course is now completed, and we ensure compatibility by vetting applicants. Nothing else like this if you seek to "rise above the noise." One to four people, scheduled at mutual convenience. The third one has recently been formed.
Procrastination is about fear. Egocentric people fear losing. Insecure people fear winning. Depressed people fear both. —AW
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