>>> Continued from page 2
6. Honor our heritage.
8. Have a sense of humor.
When my dad came to America, there was a lot of discrimination, as people feared the immigrants taking their jobs. It’s sad how that conversation still exists today over immigration. While many immigrants coming over changed their names to blend in, my father refused. He taught us to never forget where we came from. A proud Sicilian, they always took us back to Sicily to spend months in our youth knowing where we came from, to speak the language and know our history. It was as simple as teaching us to root for both our national teams in soccer, Italy and USA. My dad would say, “Never forget where we come from. But the world is meant for all of us.” I wish the world would learn to honor the diversity and heritage of the many people this Earth was meant for. 7. Sacri ce for what you believe in. My dad didn’t think of things the way I do today in the sense of mission, message, and ghting for a better vision for this world. He sacri ced his time, energy, and focus to provide his family with a better life. That was his mission. And he fought for it every day, in the restaurant, working with his three brothers in a country where English wasn’t his rst language. But they built something that provided for three families, was remembered by every person who ate at La Strada, and gave people the simple pleasure of a good meal in a good place, with enough leftovers to take home for another meal tomorrow.
My dad had a running joke whenever I brought a girl to the house or the restaurant. His rst question to her was, “What, you can’t you do any better?” It always made them laugh. They felt at home, and then he would go off into the wine cellar for some grappa and wine. Poor girls didn’t know what to do. But that sense of humor helped everyone who met my dad feel a little better. I believe we could all use more humor in our lives and in our work to keep the perspective that life should be lived to its fullest. 9. Be patient and have tolerance. He never told me, “Be patient and be tolerant.” He lived it. How did I know? Because he should have killed me 100 times. I wasn’t always this well-behaved growing up, and he had many chances to write me off, but he never did. Through school suspensions, troubles in life, and issues with money, he just did what he felt was his responsibility, which was to take care of us, give us another shot, and set us up for better success. That was how he showed us patience to learn, patience to grow, and the tolerance to accept that we are all different. But life is our work, we are made up of our history, and we sacri ce for the things closest to us. Thanks for all the lessons, Dad. I hope up there you see the work we’re doing, the heritage we are honoring, and the family we are taking care of. I love you.
-Vito Lafata
>>> Continued from page 4
What did you do at night? Did you bemoan selling and avoid the study of marketing and business? Did you choose to do what everyone else was doing? Well, no wonder your results are what they are in life. I am neither ippant, insensitive, nor mean. I simply know how real decisions, or lack thereof, can entrap, depress, resign, and create situations that feel hopeless, and at times, even paralytic — although these situations don’t have to be. That’s the gift you can unwrap. You can chose for this to not be negative. I am not ignorant to the fact that everything I shared above is easier said than done. But if you can’t yet see, then fumble along. Scratch and claw if you must. Stay true to your commitments and beliefs, in a world where so many don’t. It makes you different — strong.
>>> Continued from page 3
would cause me to part with my money in this establishment over the thousands of options in a crowded marketplace like Vegas. How much of your personality is infused in your business? What about that of your staff? Are you checking in on the quality of how you and everyone who works for you shows up on a daily basis? Are you studying the quality control of everyone’s personality who is on the front lines of your business? It can be the difference between why they chose your trainers, coaches, front desk, help desk, and the list goes on. Hire for personality. The rest is coachable. I hope this mini- training on an impeccable customer experience is going to help push you to new levels in 2018.
I think more industry conferences should have sessions on choice and decision.
And since you are reading this, congratulations are in order. You get a gold star in that class. You get it. You are here deciding right now to take this seriously and to invest in your ability to choose more for yourself — to evolve, to study, to practice, to get uncomfortable, to
Continued on bottom of page 6 >>>
7
Fitnesspreneur Life • www.vitolafata.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker