The Culture

Recently, I took it upon myself to stick around my day job an extra fifteen minutes and show a new guy a couple things. Nothing serious...just where the store-use tools are, how to mark down damaged stuff, whom to pay attention to.

It was enough to remind me of the days when I did orientations for Wendy's. Orientations were probably the best part of my job, with training a close second. When you bring a new person into an organization, the first couple days are the key. It sets the tone for their entire experience. Its when you set the standard a person will measure other input against.

It's re-creating part of the organization. Making what you have better (or ensuring its continued success) simply by taking the time to set someone up properly. I think about a startup, a cafe or restaurant from scratch where one doesn't have to inocculate against staff with the wrong idea or attitude...and it makes me happy.

My sister has worked in a coffee shop off and on for the past few years. She's also worked in a small restaurant, closely with the owner/operators. Her opinion is that I romanticize the start up process, creating that culture. Her opinion is that the initial training wave is great, it goes just as you expect...but, after successive waves of new employees, things get less and less shiny. There's more drama, more disappointment.

I think there's a lot of truth to that. I never said it'd be easy to create a culture of excellence, to maintain it, to get buy in from the employees. If it was easy, we'd never complain about the crap service at McDonalds. We'd never wonder why Starbucks can't get our drink right. We'd never hate our boss. I've come close a few times, but I've always been sabotaged by the company. The GM won't buy in, or the company wouldn't allow enough labor hours for training, or the pay is too low for anyone to give a rat's ass.

Starting from scratch, with a blank slate to draw on? I could do a heck of a lot more than try to make a guy feel valued by showing him where to find a wrench, while warning him that Jimbob is full of shit. The possibility is what excites me, the idea of no outside limits on what I want to accomplish.

Review System

I've been trying to figure out how to better review coffee shops, in a more fair and objective way. While I like writing my impressions on these things and letting you come to your own conclusions, I realize some people may not want to interpret my thoughts. They want them on a platter, ready to digest. And I understand that with no judgement.

There's also the element of trying to keep my thoughts more or less consistent. This isn't talk radio, where I'm going to condemn the first caller for taking a particular action, then praise the last caller for the same thing. The key with most things of this sort? Keeping track of what your stance is, what the rubric is.

So what's the rubric? There's the hard part, friends. That's what I'm going to try and come up with today (in no particular order).

1. Wifi. Is it there? Is it free? How much does it cost? Is there space to use my computer? How long will I be able to sit there without the stink eye? Do they provide equipment to enable internet addiction?
2. Space/Layout. How big is the place (uncomfortably huge, uncomfortably small, or just right)? How is it laid out? Is the furniture "coffee shop appropriate?" Do you have to hunt for the condiment bar? Where are the bathrooms?
3. Menu. Are we looking at something too simple? Too filled with custom (expensive) drinks? Are there helpful explanations on the board? Easy to read in any event? Does it have anything I want to drink/eat?
4. Price. Self explanatory, but...are they delivering a good value for the cost? Especially compared to other shops.
5. Ambience. Does this place feel like a coffee shop? Like an independent shop, or a supermarket Starbucks? Is it a community center...live music, message boards, charity work, whatever? (Those places feel different from the others).

I think five categories is more than I can really keep track of. Thank goodness for the PDA.

Now...how to rate? Using stars is traditional, which is why I shun them without consideration. Coffee mugs...hrm...there's an idea. Partial mugs of coffee makes even more sense than partial stars, as well, and I definitely believe in giving partial credit where due.

By George, I think we have it.

Reset!

Ayuh. That's what we got here, a situation for a reset. In recent weeks, I've quit my second job and had a decided interest in refocusing on writing, specifically blogging. With a little luck, we'll start seeing some more posting action happening around here.

I need to figure out a better review system, something that can keep things more on an even keel. A rating system, perhaps, something that can rate specific things. Or categories. I dunno, and I'm rambling now. If you have any suggestions...please, offer them. I'm open to suggestions, 'cause I know I ain't the smartest clown in the blogosphere.

Right now I'm grappling with the best amount of sugar to put into my coffee. I like darker blends, which are pretty bitter if you take them straight. I also drink Folger's during the week, which is not exactly smooth. 1/2 & 1/2 helps, but it's not foolproof. When I go too light on the sugar, it's hard to keeping drinking it. The taste is lost in the bitterness.

Too much sugar? Not only do I start hearing "Diabetes runs in the family!" but only the first half is really drinkable. Sugar settles on the bottom as sugar is wont to do, and no amount of stirring will get it to dissolve evenly. By the time I'm in the bottom half of the mug, I'm grimacing just as bad as if I didn't put enough in.

Part of my problem is I don't really measure it in. I eyeball it, using a plain scoop. If I started using a measuring system, I'd at least be able to knowing how much is too much, etc and adjust.

But I'm resisting that. It seems too...artificial. Too mechanical. No feel. Am I just being an idiot? I think maybe.