There Are No Shortcuts

On The Road To The Customer

In most successful businesses, there is a formula that works without fail. They follow their roadmap to the letter. If they stray from the formula, traffic, customer satisfaction, sales, average order, close ratios and profit begin to fall. It is imperative that everyone in the organization follows the formula that works.

I worked at McDonald's throughout high school and everything there had a system. The system works all over the world. What if a franchisee decided to save a little money and put his or her own recipe on the Big Mac? It may be good, but it will not be what cunsumers expect from McDonalds. As annoying as it somrtimes is when you get asked to add an apple pie to your order or if you want to try the new product when you know that you want a number 2 with a diet coke (I know, what's the point). These cashiers are graded on asking for the upsell. If they don't do it, they don't get a raise or worse yet, lose their job. Sound harsh? Not really, that is what they are paid to do. Follow the system. Anything less is not acceptable. How about those McDonalds fries? MMMMMM! What if, in order to save money a franchisee cooked them in advance and zapped them in the microwave when you order them? I don't think so. No shortcuts at McDonalds.

I touched in an earlier chapter about the deficiency of knowledge vs. the deficiency of execution. Are you executing on the road or are you trying to find that little shortcut on the road to nowhere? My challenge to you is to get on the road and go. Follow it. If you don't have a road or don't know where to start? Shoot me an email at rcovert@gpmnow.com