Easy Negotiation Techniques

Lessons From Gordon Ramsey

I enjoy watching the Gordon Ramsey TV shows – both the US and British versions. If you haven’t seen him, in each episode he typically goes into a poorly-performing restaurant and does what it takes to turn it around.

Ramsey knows how to focus on what’s needed to emphasize the owner’s skills and to market the product to willing customers. He knows how to build publicity and the whole thing is very entertaining, as well as satisfying, because he generally ends up with a re-born business. And this preserves jobs and family relationships.

While you might question Ramsey’s personal approach, he usually gets reluctant owners past the denial stage to see new, productive ways to run their businesses. I don’t question that he gets the job done. It’s just that I hope that nobody shoots him in the process.

One thing really bugs me about the program – its treatment of out-of-control business debt. In one episode, a New Jersey restaurateur, awash in red ink, was driving a top of the line Mercedes. His costs were clearly out of line with declining revenues. A creditor turned up one evening to ask him about paying his bill. He had a right to do that, as his telephone calls were likely ignored. The owner went ballistic and had to be restrained, hurling fists and invectives at the man who should have been thanked for extending him credit.

It might make good TV, but it’s no way to run a business. The chance was missed to point out the right way to handle this common situation.

In at least one other episode we learned that the restaurant later went out of business, despite Ramsey’s ministrations. The debt load was said to be too high to carry, even with the increased revenues. And that’s tragic. The situation begged for professional help to respectfully reconcile the needs of creditors with those of the business. Everyone lost out. It’s about time that Ramsey started to bring in business debt relief specialists, when needed, to ensure that these good restaurants survive in a way in which everybody wins.

Ken Thomson
Biz 911, Inc.

Ken Thomson is the CEO and founder of Biz911, Inc., a business debt management and turnaround firm based in Wilmington, Delaware. He is the author of “The Battle Scarred Guide to Small Business Debt Relief and Recovery”, available at http://www.amazon.com. To find out more about how to protect and grow your business, check out the information at http://www.biz911.com.

Ken Thomson – EzineArticles Expert Author