Marketing Mogul

So I recently was looking for something new to cook for dinner and being the cooking “slacker” I am, I searched for a reasonably simple recipe. This means that it has very few ingredients and does not take much prep-time. I came across a recipe so easy, ANY MAN can cook! What I found was a Beer Butt Chicken! I lightly coated the 5lb chicken with an oil & kosher salt combo. Then, taking my finest 12oz of P.B.R. (1/2 drank)
, I sat the chicken square on top; heated up the oven and shoved the featherless friend in. 1 hour and 15 minutes later;
! The game was done! You couldn’t believe how good this chicken was. Whilst the 1/2 empty can of beer is sitting just inside the Beer Butt Chicken, the moisture of the beer continues to keep the bird delightfully moist. This meal was so good I cooked it twice in 2 weeks!

Take it from me, this bird’s got game

So there I was, heating up Sam the Cooking Guy’s Baked Chimichito when my co-worker throws down a bottle of Hot Sauce on my desk and asks me if I like “Spicy” food? He obviously doesn’t know the direct influence my Brother-in-Law has had on the initiation of my taste buds. After a quick story of my on-going search for hot sauce Justin cannot eat, I ask to try some of the gourmet hot sauce.

WOW!!!!!

In the first bite, I knew I wasn’t messing around. This sauce has not only the flavor often found only in the most remote taco shops, but packed a punch to make my eyes water and my nose run! While the heat packed an immediate punch, it was the non-overwhelmed flavor of ingredients which will bring me back time and time again. Scorpion Bay’s De Arbol hot sauce has found a permanent home on my counter top!

In an update to those out of California, the fires all over San Diego continue to rage. There are currently 11 fires at the time of this posting and more than 265,000 people have been evacuated. The fire continues to treck west towards the coast and there have been evacuations of portions of Escondido and Del Mar. They reach as far north as Fallbrook.

Fire officials from Cal Fire report the largest fire (Witch Fire) has burned 145,000 acres uncontained. 500 homes and 100 commercial buildings have been destroyed.

Many of the residents of San Diego’s eastern county have farms with horses and other live stock. 800 National Guard are being pulled from the border.

I live in walking distance from the Burn Unit at the UCSD Medical Center which is at capacity. I have personally heard the helicopters fly in at least two times today.

I will keep my readers up to date as this disaster progresses. Check here for a map of the fires.

As most of you know, San Diego is in the grips of 8+ fires burning around the county. Early reports are stating this as the worst fire in county history. I have uploaded some photos from both the North and South County. The north county fires are burning much closer to the coast. I will provide futher updates as time permits.

Sunrise in San Diego

Smoke over Carlsbad

Smoke over Escondido

Smoke over Highway 101

I-5 Traffic

“Customer service is always the customer’s experience of the manner in which a provider delivers a product” states Russell Giles, a Certified Trainer and member of ASTD. “So service is never a what; it is always a how”. Effective communication is the most critical function in this customer service equation. Clearly communicating expectations, next steps and informing the client of possible issues AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE can directly improve the value of your service.

Fresh Asparagus:
In any industry, but inversely related to the quantifiable value of your product or service, setting expectations will positively effect your customer rapport. Everyone ideally hopes to fall in favor with their customer and informing your customer of what to expect, when to expect it and anything you will need reassures the customer that this is not your first experience. I will reference the service industry, specifically waiting tables, in many of my explanations. Fresh Asparagus is no different at Ruth’s Chris Steak House than what you can prepare at home. The ambiance comes from the expectation that this is not your waiter’s first time serving food and that your food will come made to order. Start all conversations and meetings with a clear agenda, setting a powerful, positive expectation.

So what is next?
Any effective conversation ends with both parties having a clear understanding of what is next. If you leave a meeting or conversation with any questions, the meeting can be considered a waste-of-time. A waiter will often ask how you would like your steak cooked or will inform you when your appetizer will be ready. At the finest establishments, customer service is strengthened when the customer is left assured that their order was clearly taken and they know when to expect their product or service delivered.

Worst-case-scenario; we’re all out of steak!
Issues ALWAYS arise, but how do you handle serious problems? The first step is to inform your customer of the issue. “I’m sorry; we’re out of the Petite Filet this evening. Would you care for a full Filet in its place?” After the final transaction, it is important to review any issues that arose and find a way to identify and solve this problem in advance. Allowing your customer to know what the problem is, what steps you are taking to solve the problem, and what the customer can expect next alleviates 75% of the problem immediately.

Provide your clients and customers with the finest in customer service. Effective communication, including setting expectations, next steps, and properly handling any issues which may arise will increase customer satisfaction and provide your organization with return visitors!

- Eric “Marketing Mogul” Brandt