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September 2023
600 Stewart Street #1300, Seattle, WA 98101 | westcoastfranchiselaw.com | (206) 724-0846
Unconventional Motivation
How Unexpected Encouragement Helped Me Grow
We don’t always know our own abilities; sometimes, it takes an outsider to point them out, and National Day of Encouragement on Sept. 12 urges us to harness our power to influence others positively. Like many people, there were several instances early in my
to get comfortable with the fact that you don’t. The law is far too vast for anyone to memorize it all. The real skill is understanding and learning to deal with what you don’t know. After that conversation, I developed the confidence to handle surprising and stressful situations.
career when someone inspired me to believe in myself or do better. Specifically, I remember a couple of moments when people encouraged me in unusual ways — and another time when I got a kick in the pants. Last month, I shared a story about my early days in law when I lost a hearing and brooded about it around the office. A more senior
Another instance as a “baby lawyer” was more of a rude awakening. I was on a conference call with one of my boss’s long- term clients as he worked out the details of a business arrangement. The discussion ended, and the other side dropped off the call. After they disconnected, the client piped up.
attorney (only semi-kindly) reminded me that I wasn’t unique — every lawyer has to take hard losses and experience self-doubt. Around that same time, I got a similar message from one of my boss’s friends. He was also an attorney I’d met at a previous event. One day, I was standing in the back of the courtroom before my turn, feeling extremely nervous. Apparently, worry was written all over my face. As I stood there fretting, he sidled up to me. “Are you feeling nervous?” he asked. I confirmed, and he responded, “Well, we’re all just making it up as we go. So, get up there and act like you know what you’re talking about.” It was frightening and liberating at the same time. On the one hand, you imagine a day when you’ll be a master attorney who knows everything and never makes a mistake. It’s challenging to discover that dream is a false promise. But on the other hand, it’s pretty freeing to realize that everyone is in the same boat.
“Hey, Nate, are you there?” he asked. When I said I was, he responded, “You didn’t say anything this entire call. Why did I even have you on here?” Then, he
angrily hung up the phone.
That didn’t feel good, but he was right. I don’t think the client intended his remarks as encouragement, but it taught me an important lesson all the same. I had viewed my role as preventing problems and hadn’t heard any. But people want their lawyers to advocate for them. Just showing up doesn’t make people feel represented — showing up with confidence and input does. I learned how to make people feel good about the work I was doing for them. In part, the unique delivery of these messages is why they have stuck with me all these years. But I’m glad they did. Learning to act confident and add value are essential lessons for any attorney, and I’m better because these people spoke up.
– Nate Riordan 1 (206) 724-0846
His strange encouragement helped me realize that being a good attorney isn’t a matter of knowing everything. Instead, the trick is
Keep Yourself Safe While Traveling Alone
CHECK IN THE SMART WAY. When you check in to your hotel, always ask for two room keys — this way, hotel staff and anyone else in earshot will automatically assume someone else is traveling with you. If they ask how many guests will be staying with you, don’t admit you are alone. If you have the option, request a room that isn’t on the ground floor, as research shows they are the easiest to break into! INSPECT YOUR ROOM. As soon as you enter the room, make a quick sweep to ensure no one is present in closets, in the shower, or under the bed and that nothing appears to be amiss. It’s always best to be safe rather than sorry! KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED. Any time you leave your room, even if it’s just to scope out the vending machines, be alert for anyone watching or following
you, and always keep your room number discreet. If you ever feel like someone is following you, get off on a different floor and avoid going to your room. USE THE DEADBOLT. If the door in your room comes equipped with a deadbolt, use it! This extra safety measure keeps even those with a key from entering your room without your knowing! SHARE THE HOTEL INFORMATION. Let your family and friends know where you are staying! Provide them with the hotel name, address, and phone number in case an emergency arises! Traveling solo is a thrilling experience, but it comes with some extra steps to stay safe! Trust your instincts and use these tips to ensure your trip goes down in the memory books as safe and exciting!
Traveling alone can be a memorable and adventurous experience — it’s a great way to step outside your comfort zone and continue learning about yourself. While solo travel is chock-full of exciting perks, staying alone in a hotel can be dangerous if you aren’t careful to take certain safety precautions. The next time you take a trip by yourself, keep these tips in mind!
Tap Into a Forgotten Labor Pool
HOW RETIREES CAN FILL STAFFING GAPS
RETENTION Younger generations are more prone to job-hopping than older ones, meaning that statistically, a baby boomer will stick around longer than a member of Gen Z. Younger workers are usually focused on building a career. Many will go on to buy homes, have children, and, in many cases, move away from the quick-serve restaurant industry. No one can continue working forever, so older workers will eventually retire, but they are still likely to give you more value for money in terms of hiring and training costs. If you’re struggling with staffing and not currently targeting retirees, it’s time to reconsider. The team you need could be ready and waiting — but first, you must go looking for them.
Where have all the workers gone? In most cases, they’ve moved on to different industries or retired. But recent statistics show that older adults who retired during the pandemic are reentering the workforce — often in the form of part-time work — and they could be the answer to many staffing woes at quick-serve restaurants. The industry has traditionally targeted young workers who want flexibility and lack higher- paying options. But older workers who want to make extra cash, stay busy, and interact with people might be an increasingly good fit. While people of any age have their own qualities, there are many benefits people often overlook in this hiring pool. AVAILABILITY Evenings and weekends are the best times for most teens, college students, and other
young adults, but day shifts still need to be filled. Without school or child care responsibilities, older adults are more likely to be available to fill morning and afternoon weekday time slots. If you can offer a semi- consistent schedule, many older workers will also consider it a great draw. EXPERIENCE Some older workers might not have experience working in the restaurant industry, but they do have decades of experience participating in the workforce. Younger workers often have to learn professional skills on the job, but older workers already have many of them down. They generally know how to accept feedback, manage conflict, arrive on time, and provide good customer service. Those skills are some of the most challenging to teach, and learning to operate the register is a breeze by comparison.
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Is Your Loyalty Program Working? The Metrics That Can Answer the Question
Virtually every quick-serve brand has a loyalty program these days. Customers generally expect them and perceive a restaurant without a loyalty program as offering reduced value. But loyalty programs should also make good business sense. So, how do you know if yours is working? Brands love to tout their new sign-up numbers and total membership base, but this data is ultimately not very useful. Enrollment is the first hurdle, but it won’t necessarily translate to sales unless you add value. If your loyalty members use your app only once to get a discount, you may have lost money rather than earned it. One metric that provides more insight is capture rate. Your capture rate reflects what percentage of customers used the loyalty program when ordering. While a high capture rate won’t automatically transform into increased sales, it will provide a treasure trove of insight into your customers’ spending habits and preferences. That data can then help drive your marketing and sales efforts. Loyalty programs are a form of marketing, meaning franchisers should understand the return on investment (ROI). From a business perspective, a loyalty program should generate sales beyond what
the member typically spends. Track spending by loyalty and non- loyalty customers separately and compare the average lifetime value of each. Those in the rewards program should generate a notably higher percentage of revenue. Another way to calculate ROI involves comparing the cost of the rewards you give to customers against the excess revenue they generate. Your program should create more sales than it costs to operate. Remember that swag and exclusive menu items can entice loyalty members while costing less. Finally, the reward redemption rate is a crucial metric every business with a loyalty program should consider. At first glance, you might think a low redemption rate is better for your business — you got the sale without having to give anything away for free. But a low redemption rate also means minimal engagement and enthusiasm from your customers. Customers who don’t redeem their rewards don’t see them as valuable. That’s terrible news for any business. While loyalty programs are necessary for quick-serve restaurants, they should bring more value to your business than customers. It’s good to show appreciation, but not at the expense of your bottom line.
HONEY-PECAN CHICKEN BREASTS
TAKE A BREAK
With summer over and fall here, pecan and honey reign supreme in this sweet chicken recipe. The honey provides a perfect caramelization while pecans pack on the crunch factor!
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients: •
2 6-oz boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• • • •
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp butter
• • •
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp honey
1/4 tsp garlic powder 1/8 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp finely chopped pecans
Directions: 1. Pound chicken with a meat mallet to 1/2-inch thickness. Sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. 2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat butter over medium heat; brown chicken on both sides. Cook covered until chicken is no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes, turning once. 3. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with pecans. Cook covered until chicken is glazed, about 2–3 minutes.
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600 Stewart Street #1300 Seattle, WA 98101
westcoastfranchiselaw.com | (206) 724-0846
IN THIS ISSUE 1 2 How Nate Turned Criticism Into Professional Growth Keep Yourself Safe While Traveling Alone Why Retired Workers Are
Revitalizing Quick-Serve Restaurants How Do You Know if Your Loyalty Program Is Working? Honey-Pecan Chicken Breasts Turn Your Dream Job Into a Reality!
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How to Start the Journey to Your Dream Job
We all have aspirations we want to reach during our careers. But sometimes, it’s challenging to determine how to start down the path to make them a reality. To help you on your journey, here are three tips to consider as you progress in your career. WORRY ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO RATHER THAN WHAT YOU WANT TO BE. While many of us have talked about what and who we want to be, that isn’t the perspective you should work from. You may be disappointed if your job title or position doesn’t reflect your expectations. Instead, focus on what you want to do no matter where you are in your career. That way, even if you aren’t currently in the position you dreamt of, you can still work on developing qualities to be the best you can be. Your boss will notice your impressive work ethic. LEARN HOW TO BE A PROBLEM-SOLVER. People are great at explaining problems and describing what went wrong and why. But assertive people who are the first to volunteer to solve issues are much rarer. One way to stand out and gain your boss’s attention is by being the person who is willing to problem- solve. This doesn’t mean you have to get everything right all the
time, but your boss will notice when you rise to a challenge and volunteer to correct an issue. And they may begin to pay more attention to your brave and confident demeanor.
BECOME A LIFETIME LEARNER. Although you may not be in school anymore, that doesn’t mean your education has stopped! You can continue learning no matter how old or what stage of life you’re in. By constantly feeding your mind, you can gain skills, network with others, become more adaptable and develop traits that will help you be better at your job and in all aspects of your life. No matter where you are in your work journey, keep pushing forward! Developing your ideal career will take time, patience, positivity, training, and faith. You have to start with small steps before you take larger ones to get to where you want to be.
Good luck with your future endeavors!
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