All I know about business, I learned from my mother, who owned two small diners when I was growing up. Not all of it translates to web business, but a lot of it does. Here’s what I learned from Mom:
- Show up every day, on time. That is the first rule, and the most important one. People need to know you can be trusted, that you are reliable, and that you will be there when they need you. Our websites are there 24/7, but we still have to show up and blog every day, or at least every week, if we want people to keep coming back. Show up at your blog regularly. Make sure your readers know they can rely on you.
- Serve good food. The food at the Cedar Grill and Dotty’s Diner was simple and plain, but it was good, and our customers came back every day — sometimes two or three times a day — to enjoy it. If you want regulars coming to your ‘diner,’ make sure you are offering them good, nutritious content that they will look forward to coming back for, time after time.
- Keep their coffee cups filled. Give away addictive stuff so your readers will come back and PAY for the good stuff. Sounds a little evil when I put it that way, but it works!
- Ask if they want their pie alá mode. Don’t wait for your customers to ask for the ice cream — sell it!
- Cleanliness is next to godliness. Mom kept her diners spic-and-span, and she bristled if anyone tried to call them greasy spoons. The closest web analogy I can think of is clutter. Don’t let your website get cluttered up with unnecessary widgets and advertising. They take away from your message. If it is not contributing to the message you’re trying to get across, it does not belong on your website.
- Everybody has to do things they don’t want to do. Mopping the floor and cleaning the bathrooms were not chores anyone wanted, but they had to be done every day, no matter what. Blogging can definitely feel like a chore after a while. That’s when you have to dig in and do it anyway. The joy will come back, I promise.
- Smile. Food isn’t the only reason customers come into a restaurant. They also come for you and your personality. Make them feel welcome. If you have a smartass or snarky sense of humor, share it. Be who you are and have fun with your customers. Take part in the comments to create a real community.
What business lessons did you learn from your mom? Tell me in the comments below.
Photo credit: mbk
Recommended Posts
Showing 13 comments
pingbacks / trackbacks
-
[…] especially when it comes to food. I was a junk food addict starting with my mom’s first diner, when she brought home hamburgers, fries and milkshakes for dinner. So far I’ve managed to […]
[…] mother, who got up at 3:30 every morning all through my childhood and young adulthood, to open her diner and prepare for the breakfast […]
Leave a CommentThis site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
My mom taught me to always be professional, cool and polite. Even (and maybe especially) when someone was yelling or berating you for thing out of your control.
I have more than a few times disarmed someone by being overly nice. 😀
My mom taught me to always be professional, cool and polite. Even (and maybe especially) when someone was yelling or berating you for thing out of your control.
I have more than a few times disarmed someone by being overly nice. 😀
My mom taught me to always be professional, cool and polite. Even (and maybe especially) when someone was yelling or berating you for thing out of your control.
I have more than a few times disarmed someone by being overly nice. 😀
My mom taught me to always be professional, cool and polite. Even (and maybe especially) when someone was yelling or berating you for thing out of your control.
I have more than a few times disarmed someone by being overly nice. 😀
Oh man, is that ever true. Plus, when they're losing control and you're not: you win.
Wow, fantastic insights! I loved the one about offering pie a la mode: so many people (myself included) think that is pushy, but you are right that if we don't offer it many people will walk away disappointed and not completely satisfied. Also enjoyed the Smile lesson, as that is very similar to my strengths message – figure out who you are and then share the best of you with the world.
The real-life application of your experiences growing up with benefit many. Thanks, LaVonne!
Thank you! The pie ala mode idea is no different than, “Want fries
with that?”, which Mom also taught me – but without the emotional
baggage. :o]
Btw, I still plan to write a post discussing and linking to some of
the concepts you talk about. Just need to get my thinking cap on.
My Mum wasn't in business, but thinking about her now I'd say the lesson she has taught me is to get on with life, no matter what it throws at you. After all at 26 she had me, no inkling of a problem until I was on my way and a fairly rare disability to boot. Back in the 60's there was no support really; but she just got on with it and still does. My Mum's brilliant. :o)
I thought of the fries one when I read the pie one, so I believe most of your readers probably make that jump on their own. When you think of it yourself, it lessons the stigma.
I'm glad some of my posts inspire you. If we can feed each other, that's a win-win in my book.
My Mum wasn't in business, but thinking about her now I'd say the lesson she has taught me is to get on with life, no matter what it throws at you. After all at 26 she had me, no inkling of a problem until I was on my way and a fairly rare disability to boot. Back in the 60's there was no support really; but she just got on with it and still does. My Mum's brilliant. :o)
I thought of the fries one when I read the pie one, so I believe most of your readers probably make that jump on their own. When you think of it yourself, it lessons the stigma.
I'm glad some of my posts inspire you. If we can feed each other, that's a win-win in my book.