Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
One thing I frequently tell my students is that I learned more from waiting tables than just about any work experience I've ever had.
While i won't elaborate at this time about all of the key things i learned about people, organization, step-saving and acquiring a respect for cuisine and how it is prepared and presented...I will, however, mention one of the most curious things I learned about people: the power of suggestion through presentation.
When I first graduated from Boston College I landed a waitering job at a 5 Star restaurant in Westchester County, New York.
The owner, a Mr. Jack Shaw, was always lamenting that the waiters weren't selling enough wines from the restaurant's impressive wine cellar. "Push the wine," he commanded us night in and night out.
So, like all the other waiters and waitresses, after taking a table's orders I would ask, "Would you like a bottle of wine to go with your dinner?"
Alas---that didn't work at all. In fact, the question didn't seem to even garner a second's-worth of consideration.
So one night I was discussing this with my two busboys, Manuel and Ernesto, and we devised a plan.
First, we went down to the wine cellar and took a gander at all the selections---and we made a short list of wines we considered to be the most popular.
Then, based on what the guests had ordered at a given table, we would determine whether we ought to offer the table of red or a white wine---or sometimes both, if two guests were having seafood and the other two were having filet mignon.
Once we had determined the wine we thought was best, Manuel or Ernesto would hustle down the stairs and return with the bottle in hand.
Seconds later i would take the bottle to the person who appeared to be the host or hostess and say, "I took the liberty of bringing you a 1973 Pouilly Fuisse---it would go splendidly with your dinner, if you would like me to pour it."
Honest-to-goodness I have never seen anything like it.
I would venture to say the 3 out of every 4 tables asked me to pour it on the spot.
And, of course, there is something very appealing and impressive about offering the host a tasting for his or her approval.
What I learned was that the pouring of the wine made the occasion feel extra special for the guests.
It made them feel like their dining experience that night was fulfilling.
The wines I was selling were fairly expensive---yet I discovered that (a) no one ever asked me before-hand what the price was on the wine; and even more astonishingly (b) that no one ever complained about the bill.
Not once.
In fact, an IBM Executive and his wife from Paris was so pleased with the service that he gave me his business card and insisted that if I ever were to come to France that I could stay at his villa as long as I wished.
That was just one of the hundreds of times a guest pulled me, Manuel and Ernesto aside to thank us for our hospitality.
Mr. Shaw was flabbergasted. He kept asking me, "How are you doing it?"
Well, I didn't want to give Manuel's, Ernesto's and my secret away---so what i always said to Mr. Shaw is: "We think it's all about the presentation."
I write this story because when I listen to Bruce Arians and the more I learn about him as a coach, I think this kind of matching of suggestion with presentation is central to his modus operandi.
Today, for example, Arians went as far as to call tackle Levi Brown "elite"---
Well, that's the suggestion part---and when Arians is permitted to, he and/or Harold Goodwin will show Brown the things that they saw on tape that allowed them to arrive at that conclusion.
He will also show Brown the areas he has to clean up.
But, make no mistake about this, if Levi Brown ever has a chance to be a consistently elite NFL tackle, that time is now.
It's one thing to believe in yourself, but when one has the confidence and assurance of one's superiors, the sky becomes the limit.
Cynics will say that fear is a greater motivator.
I think it used to be, to a greater degree---
But not anymore---
Not with today's athletes.
Today's athletes need assurances---they need support---but most of all, they need road maps. In other words, they need to be shown why they can be special and exactly what they need to do to take their games to the highest levels.
It appears very clear that Bruce Arians understands this.
Take Drew Stanton---
How do you think he will feel when he hears that Arians said he's fine with him as his QB?
Imagine too what it would suggest to Drew Stanton if Arians was saying what his predecessor said to the media at this time of the year not too long ago: "I am not comfortable with any of the QBs on the roster."
Again---if Drew Stanton ever had a chance to be a successful NFL QB---that time is now.
And here is how it is going to work:
The suggestion has already been made...but here's the presentation:
When Arians starts taping practices, when Stanton excels, Arians will show Stanton the tape and state this is why you can be special---and he will also show Stanton the areas he needs to clean up and give him the road map of what it will take to clean those things up.
Players are always lauding coaches who put them in "a position to make plays."
That's what Arians does---he puts his personnel in positions to make plays.
Notice too that Arians said his starting QB is "already on the roster."
That gives Brian Hoyer a very good chance as well.
Arians will do the same for Hoyer.
He will do the same for every player on the roster.
Here is a coach who invests all his positive energy and expertise in the players and in creating an environment for them which will give them the best possible chances to succeed.
The power of suggestion through presentation.
It's on in Arizona.
I will post this now and then give you one more example---one that might amaze you. It sure amazed me at the time and still amazes me. Give me a few minutes and I will post it here.
While i won't elaborate at this time about all of the key things i learned about people, organization, step-saving and acquiring a respect for cuisine and how it is prepared and presented...I will, however, mention one of the most curious things I learned about people: the power of suggestion through presentation.
When I first graduated from Boston College I landed a waitering job at a 5 Star restaurant in Westchester County, New York.
The owner, a Mr. Jack Shaw, was always lamenting that the waiters weren't selling enough wines from the restaurant's impressive wine cellar. "Push the wine," he commanded us night in and night out.
So, like all the other waiters and waitresses, after taking a table's orders I would ask, "Would you like a bottle of wine to go with your dinner?"
Alas---that didn't work at all. In fact, the question didn't seem to even garner a second's-worth of consideration.
So one night I was discussing this with my two busboys, Manuel and Ernesto, and we devised a plan.
First, we went down to the wine cellar and took a gander at all the selections---and we made a short list of wines we considered to be the most popular.
Then, based on what the guests had ordered at a given table, we would determine whether we ought to offer the table of red or a white wine---or sometimes both, if two guests were having seafood and the other two were having filet mignon.
Once we had determined the wine we thought was best, Manuel or Ernesto would hustle down the stairs and return with the bottle in hand.
Seconds later i would take the bottle to the person who appeared to be the host or hostess and say, "I took the liberty of bringing you a 1973 Pouilly Fuisse---it would go splendidly with your dinner, if you would like me to pour it."
Honest-to-goodness I have never seen anything like it.
I would venture to say the 3 out of every 4 tables asked me to pour it on the spot.
And, of course, there is something very appealing and impressive about offering the host a tasting for his or her approval.
What I learned was that the pouring of the wine made the occasion feel extra special for the guests.
It made them feel like their dining experience that night was fulfilling.
The wines I was selling were fairly expensive---yet I discovered that (a) no one ever asked me before-hand what the price was on the wine; and even more astonishingly (b) that no one ever complained about the bill.
Not once.
In fact, an IBM Executive and his wife from Paris was so pleased with the service that he gave me his business card and insisted that if I ever were to come to France that I could stay at his villa as long as I wished.
That was just one of the hundreds of times a guest pulled me, Manuel and Ernesto aside to thank us for our hospitality.
Mr. Shaw was flabbergasted. He kept asking me, "How are you doing it?"
Well, I didn't want to give Manuel's, Ernesto's and my secret away---so what i always said to Mr. Shaw is: "We think it's all about the presentation."
I write this story because when I listen to Bruce Arians and the more I learn about him as a coach, I think this kind of matching of suggestion with presentation is central to his modus operandi.
Today, for example, Arians went as far as to call tackle Levi Brown "elite"---
Well, that's the suggestion part---and when Arians is permitted to, he and/or Harold Goodwin will show Brown the things that they saw on tape that allowed them to arrive at that conclusion.
He will also show Brown the areas he has to clean up.
But, make no mistake about this, if Levi Brown ever has a chance to be a consistently elite NFL tackle, that time is now.
It's one thing to believe in yourself, but when one has the confidence and assurance of one's superiors, the sky becomes the limit.
Cynics will say that fear is a greater motivator.
I think it used to be, to a greater degree---
But not anymore---
Not with today's athletes.
Today's athletes need assurances---they need support---but most of all, they need road maps. In other words, they need to be shown why they can be special and exactly what they need to do to take their games to the highest levels.
It appears very clear that Bruce Arians understands this.
Take Drew Stanton---
How do you think he will feel when he hears that Arians said he's fine with him as his QB?
Imagine too what it would suggest to Drew Stanton if Arians was saying what his predecessor said to the media at this time of the year not too long ago: "I am not comfortable with any of the QBs on the roster."
Again---if Drew Stanton ever had a chance to be a successful NFL QB---that time is now.
And here is how it is going to work:
The suggestion has already been made...but here's the presentation:
When Arians starts taping practices, when Stanton excels, Arians will show Stanton the tape and state this is why you can be special---and he will also show Stanton the areas he needs to clean up and give him the road map of what it will take to clean those things up.
Players are always lauding coaches who put them in "a position to make plays."
That's what Arians does---he puts his personnel in positions to make plays.
Notice too that Arians said his starting QB is "already on the roster."
That gives Brian Hoyer a very good chance as well.
Arians will do the same for Hoyer.
He will do the same for every player on the roster.
Here is a coach who invests all his positive energy and expertise in the players and in creating an environment for them which will give them the best possible chances to succeed.
The power of suggestion through presentation.
It's on in Arizona.
I will post this now and then give you one more example---one that might amaze you. It sure amazed me at the time and still amazes me. Give me a few minutes and I will post it here.
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Jimmy V. what a classic!
