Michael Murdoch’s Post

The Standout Business Meals "Introduce yourself with a picture, which represents a difficult event that happened and changed your life for the better"? This is the opening question in a business dinner I hosted. No titles, no companies or industries info in the beginning, but straight to the personal experience with a key visual. It turned out to be one of the most fun and authentic business dinners we had with many great professional discussions afterward. "Have a deep question to kick things off, that really set the tone, loved it!" One participant said. This dinner stands out. If you are like me, hosting business dinners/lunches for prospects, clients, industry events, or professional networking, do you ever wonder if these business meals "feel" similar except for different restaurants and hosted by different vendors? How do you know if you truly "build relationships" with the participants? As I'm exploring the art and science of hosting standout business meals, I will share my learnings with 1-2 ideas that you can implement. Stay tuned 💡 #Sales #CustomerSuccess #Businesslunch #Businessdinner #Networking

This week is the perfect time to support small businesses! 👉 Dine at a local restaurant 👉 Visit your neighborhood hardware store 👉 Sign up for that boutique’s newsletter 👉 Share a positive review with a local professional on social media These can be simple yet impactful ways to show your appreciation for small businesses in your community. #smallbusinessweek

Question: Does a Big Lunch have to be big? 💡 The answer is NO, Big Lunches come in all shapes and sizes. Depending on your business, it might be as simple as a tea and cake break for your colleagues, or it might look like a series of public-facing events across multiple locations. Whatever works best for your organisation, you’ll see the benefits of bringing people together and building stronger relationships. Stephanie Yule, People and Customer Experience Director at Hypnos Beds, joined us at our Big Lunch is Good for Business online event last month to talk about how their staff across their business have enjoyed Big Lunches over the years. “Our Big Lunches have never been big nor a lunch, we’ve done lots and lots of different things. We had a big afternoon tea for the Jubilee. For the Coronation we did something a little bit different and had cakes and coffee. This year, we are doing bitesize big lunches. Our Big Lunches are going to be several small lunches during June for the Month of Community…we’re trying not to make it just about our community internally here but to involve our whole community in it.” The idea is that The Big Lunch can be a simple starter that makes all the difference to your business just by bringing people together to share friendship, food and fun. “No matter how big or small your business is, no matter where you are, what you do, there is something you can do. Because it doesn’t have to be a weekend and it doesn’t have to be a lunch, this really is an initiative that everyone can get involved in.”

Starting a new week means new opportunities to build and grow your personal chef business! It's time to harness your passion and drive to take your business to the next level. Remember, every successful chef started with a single step. Believe in yourself and your skills, and keep pushing forward. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. 🌟 Building a thriving business requires consistent effort and a positive mindset. Focus on setting clear, achievable goals for the week. Whether it's reaching out to potential clients, perfecting a new recipe, or enhancing your marketing strategies, every small step counts. Celebrate your wins, learn from your setbacks, and keep your eye on the big picture. Your dedication today sets the foundation for tomorrow's success. 📈🔥 Stay inspired and motivated by surrounding yourself with a supportive community. Network with fellow chefs, attend local events, and stay active on social media to share your journey and connect with others. Ready to elevate your personal chef business? Let’s make this week your best one yet! Message me to see how I can help. 💪✨ #MondayMotivation #ChefLife #BusinessGrowth #ChefJourney #CulinaryPassion #ChefGoals #SmallBusinessSuccess #InspirationMonday #PersonalChef #ChefCommunity #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessMindset #FoodEntrepreneur #DreamBig #WorkHard #StayInspired #SuccessJourney #BuildYourBusiness #ChefNetworking #WeeklyGoals #HustleHard #PositiveMindset #CookingPassion #ChefInspiration #StartTheWeekRight #Masterclass #GlowUpChef #MondayVibes #BusinessBoost

I was stood up in the weirdest way!!! I was asked many times to go to a business lunch with 2 guys from a company. I finally scheduled, I’m super busy and can’t really waste my time with small things. The day comes and I go to meet at the restaurant. The “other” guy is running late. The guy at the restaurant goes into a sales conversation. 30 mins go by with light pitch chat, no food or drink. We would need to get up and order to get food. It was an order at the counter restaurant. I assumed he wanted to wait for the other guy. I didn’t want to be rude. Other guy comes. I’m hungry now. He introduces himself and rolls straight into a pitch. Their product integrates with the restaurant we were at! I thought they would show me how it worked and my craving for food would be fulfilled since it did integrate AND we met there for lunch. More pitch, and now it’s getting closer to my next meeting so I decide to not bring up food and leave to go eat without being sold. 1.5 hours later my next meeting shows up at this restaurant because it went 30 min over (and we didn’t eat!) Then to top it all off, “other guy” says “I have to go” and the “guy” I met with runs after him and LEFT! He didn’t say goodbye. He didn’t eat. He didn’t do much except sell his product to me. Think about the time of the people you meet with. It has a cost. Exchange value and don’t waste each others time. And FYI,  if you invite a person to lunch  OR  the person at lunch is helping you  in your life or business for free,  you should pay for lunch. ❤ My next meeting witnessed what happened and took me to lunch with him because he felt bad!!! (He didn’t have to do that but it was cool) This is the difference between a desperate seller and a successful person with big picture vision. And fyi the second guy and I are doing projects together… How do you help your clients in meetings?

🦃🌟 This Thanksgiving, We're Grateful for Small Businesses! 🌟🦃 As we gather with family and friends to celebrate the season of gratitude (and get ready to eat ALL the potatoes), it's the perfect time to express our heartfelt appreciation for the backbone of our communities — small businesses. 🛍️ Small businesses are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods. They create jobs, provide unique products and services and bring personality and character to our streets. They are the dreamers, the doers and the risk-takers who make our local economies thrive. 💪 During this season of thanks, let's show our support and gratitude for small businesses in these ways: 1. Shop Local: When you're out and about, consider shopping at local stores. Your purchases make a big difference in their success. 2. Leave Positive Reviews: Share your positive experiences with your favorite small businesses online. Your reviews can go a long way in helping them grow. 3. Spread the Word: Tell your friends and family about the small businesses you love. Word-of-mouth recommendations are powerful. 4. Collaborate and Share: If you're a small business owner, consider collaborating with fellow local businesses. Share their products or services with your audience to help them gain exposure. 5. Give Thanks: Reach out to your favorite small businesses with a message of thanks. A little appreciation can go a long way. At Small Potatoes Communications, we're proud to be a small business and support others and the communities they enrich. Let's make this Thanksgiving not just a day of indulgence, but a season of support for the small business owners who work tirelessly to make our lives better. #Thanksgiving #SmallBusinessAppreciation #SupportLocal #ShopSmall #Gratitude #CommunitySupport #ShopLocal #SmallBusinessLove

Do you know why we say to not pair fish with red wine? Because it’s risky. Not all red wines can be paired with fish. It usually overpower the taste. Now, is it impossible to pair red wine with fish? 

Of course NO! I actually love red wine with fish. A nice Chinon or Bourgeuil chilled, yum! 👌 But I have learned about wine for years and I remember that during my certification classes, we would tell us: -Red wine can go with fish, it is just a misconception because it can be riskier and harder to find. But you see it is the same advice as telling someone You won’t make money if you follow your dream lifestyle and create your dream business. It’s BS. Of course it takes risks and it might take time to adjust. But it is not impossible. Let’s stop the misconception get the better of us. So drink that red with that fish. And follow your dreams to make that money. 👀 And some of these big misconceptions are the ones keeping you trapped in your job and personal life. Learn the 3 big missteps that you make. Get my FREE MINI course 👇

He was frustrated and looking to shut down his business. Here's a story about my friend's restaurant business. We were enjoying a delicious pizza at his restaurant. I observed clients and asked him. "Why is the clientage number low? I run ads on Facebook. But the response is too low." He replied. "Can you show me what you post on your Facebook and your ad?" I asked him. I checked and I was shocked by what he was posting. Every post was only about food graphics and the cost of the food. "Where would you like to go on vacation?" "I want to go to that place because a family member recently visited and spoke highly of it. I also want to experience it." He replied. "What if I show the price and a place name without sharing about the experience? Will you go there?" I asked him. His answer was. "No, not a chance." It's the same with the restaurant. Who will enjoy and spend money if you only show pizza or food with the price? If you want clients. Show them the experience they will get. Show them and tell them how it feels. How family, friends, cousins, colleagues, students, and a person who wants to eat alone can enjoy their experience. Everybody cares about the taste of food. But not more than the experience they get from the environment. So if you are a restaurant owner. Post your menu but focus more on the experience people get. Show them beautiful pictures of customers. Show them happy faces. Tell them stories about clients and how you take care of them. Everything is emotional. If you can't touch emotions. Nobody cares about your business.

This is a perfect (and timely) analogy on why it's important to plan for the exit from your business.

This is so true, as I am already thinking about hosting our family Christmas dinner - the time, the energy and love that is pour into a feast for it to all be gone by 6pm Dec-25 is crazy. What about the time, energy and love you have poured into your business - are you really thinking about how to not let it be an abrupt end? Encore Advisory Group #Transferablevalue #businesstransition