Thoughts: Construction Crew

People have told us: "Stay on top of the construction workers. Make sure they don't rest, they don't break. Don't let them eat. Let them eat on their time, not yours. Don't even buy them donuts."

I have to say that I'm impressed with the team we have. Only two days into demolition, these guys have done a LOT! They're showing up on time and they're working very quickly. We're pleased with the contractor we have and feel we're in good hands.

Demolitions Begins!

All last week I kept asking George, "Whats up with the work permits? When can demolition start?" When you're given 3 months of build-out time to install your business before rent is due, every minute, every hour, every day you're given to put in your restaurant without having to pay rent counts.

After a couple of delays and false starts, we were told by the contractor Tuesday night, "My guys are ready to begin tomorrow. I've got the work permits."

Wednesday morning we showed up at the space at 9:00 a.m. and there they were. It was thrillingly surreal to be greeted by a crew of workers ready to help create Bogota. Ready to begin tearing up floors, pulling up carpets and knocking down walls.

And so, with permits in hand, we taped them to the window and demolition began.

Gorilla Coffee Business Meetings

Thank God for Gorilla Coffee on 5th Avenue in Park Slope. Gorilla Coffee is the site of many a Bogota Bistro business meeting between George and myself or where we go to decompress after having visited the 'site' that is to be our restaurant. They're managed to make quite a bit of money off of us. All those capuccinos add up, you know. In addition to great coffee, Gorilla Coffee also offers WiFi service which wasn't working for me when I was there Wednesday. My Palm Pilot was able to find the gorilla network but it would not connect for some reason.

Recipe: Rum Punch

I was throwing a birthday party for a friend of mine a few years ago and put the word out that I was looking for a killer rum punch recipe. I received the following email:

Here's the winner:

Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum (1.75 liter bottle)
Light Rum (Bacardi would do nicely - 1 liter bottle)
Hawaiian Punch (4 cans or 6 frozen cans, with water)
Fruit cocktail and crushed pineapple (3 cans each - pour syrup in too)

Pour over punch bowl filled 3/4 with ice.

Happy landings!

Happy landings was right. It proved to be a party I'll certainly never forget. There was a line at the punch bowl the entire night. People would fill their glass and then immediately go to the back of the line for a refill, raising their glass in the air and shouting out, "Gotta have that recipe! Gotta have that recipe!"

Training: Leadership

Leaders must be determined to focus on their goal and to coach their employees to do the same. Here are some tips on coaching employees to persevere in the attainment of their goals:

• Build rapport with your employees so that you have a good relationship from the start
• Begin with praise and honest appreciation
• Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly
• Reassure employees and give the other person a fine reputation to live up to