DASM: Restaurant Surcharges for No Damn Reason
A friend took me to dinner last night in San Diego to Herb and Wood, a very trendy restaurant (and, as is the norm today, so loud that you can't hear yourself think). I noticed on the bottom of the
Hear Now, the News
I understand when organizations seek to cut costs. That's intelligent business so long as it doesn't adversely affect your best customers. I used to get my favorite newspapers at one of my favorite hotels delivered to my room every morning. No more.
School Daze (Dumb Ass Stupid Management)
From the New York Times this morning: The high school class of 2023 received the lowest ACT test scores since 1991, a sixth year of consecutive decline. This isn't about losing the pandemic years, or merely the failure of remote learning. It's evidence
You’re There to Help, Not to Enforce Silly Rules
It's amazing how many service employees respond to a request with, "I'm sorry, that's not our policy or procedure," instead of, "We don't normally do that, let's discuss how to best meet your needs." I had the problem this morning,
DASM: Two Checks, Two Accounts: Uh, Oh
I have two accounts, due at the same times, with the local utility, tax authorities, auto financing, and mortgage company. They have ALL told me not to send a check for the total of the two accounts even with the
Ready Refresh Water: Dumb Ass, Stupid Management
The water supplier Poland Spring was in a scandal years ago with claims that it was using simple ground water for its product after its natural springs ran dry. Nestlé owned Poland Springs and suddenly changed our water deliveries at
DASM: Fly the Friendly (Private) Skies
The media reported this morning that Scott Kirby, CEO of the beleaguered United Airlines, hired a private plane to fly him to a meeting in Denver from Teterboro, a small airport in New Jersey just minutes from United's hub in
DASM: Just Get Me Bodies
I'm not seeing a shortage of help in restaurants, hotels, phone centers, etc. But I am experiencing a shortage of trained and educated help. It seems that companies are short-sightedly filling in openings with "bodies" but not bothering to train them
Education Isn’t Only for the Students
Some years ago I taught evening graduate courses for PhD and MBA candidates on consulting and on strategy. These were 600-level courses and, although preferred with a dozen people by the university, I usually had 17-19. I had been recommended
Moving It
Two men delivered a 450-pound piece of furniture to our second floor last night, also removing the old one. It was very difficult work with a lot of turns, tight fits, assembly, and disassembly. They did a great job and