DISQUS

John Windsor · 2 years ago

Awesome post, Frank! It's a pleasure to read your writing.

Frank Roche · 2 years ago

John, thanks so much...it was an enjoyable experience this morning and top of mind as I wrote this post. funny how it works, isn't it? Sometimes better writing comes out quickly rather than with a lot of thought

rick · 2 years ago

You have a lot of intriguing and thought provoking ideas. Clearly in 25 years working in various professional service firms, it is the motivated and caring employees that are the best. I agree that we rarely hire on that basis and virtually never as a primary criteria with the idea of training on the technical competencies.

While you cannot teach people to care about their work, the work environment can destroy an employee's motivation.

Frank Roche · 2 years ago

Rick, I'm going to do a follow up article about this tomorrow...I still have some to say about the topic. I agree that we rarely hire for that trait. You can't teach coachability and desire...maybe there's a business scouting model out there...wanna start a new business?

albert · 2 years ago

oh man do i love being a regular and having the people at places i frequent often know me. down in DC, where i went to school and drank many a drink, i was a regular at a bar on M Street and when i walked in, the bartender would start pulling a Guinness without a word. it was the best.

Frank Roche · 2 years ago

Albert, it's part of being in the club...it's a great feeling, whether at a pub or at Cosi. It makes me loyal to the place, which is what all the "engagement" mumbo-jumbo is supposed to result in -- business success. I can imagine that it would be easy to blow me off, instead that one guy does it right...and it matters to me.

Chuck · 2 years ago

i just want to thank you for the nice comments you said about the cosi rittenhouse squad. i have been commuting five days a week from new jersey for over a year now just to be a part of our great team, and it's nice to know it doesn't go unnoticed. i also agree with your logic pertaining to the "i gotcha" attitude compared to the resume. Someday, when i own my own restaurant, there is no doubt that i will be hiring a bunch of "i gotchas"

Frank Roche · 2 years ago

Chuck, that's great leadership too, that you've got going. It's hiring right and showing the way. There's definitely something going right with your shop, and I can notice it even when new people come on (the reality in retail). Good leadership combined with good hiring and some expectations sprinkled in and you get it. I'm a happy customer of Cosi Rittenhouse, and it's more than the very good food. It's about the people. Congrats on that.