Denice McClure
dmcclurehawk@aol.com
813-431-8033
Who’s up for a Netflix documentary about a man, lots of sushi, and how you can learn more about the leadership lesson EVERY DETAIL MATTERS when you sell a product or service if you want to be considered unique, memorable, and in demand? Each month, we look at a leadership skill that is important you can master at any age by introducing you to a local business owner who embodies the skill we are focused on for the month.
When I watched Jiro Dreams of Sushi, I knew who my local Jiro was: Phil Small, the owner of Phil’s Pressure Cleaning Service. He built a business on the most effective method of marketing: word of mouth. To build a business this way takes a great deal of heart, trust in God that all things are possible, lifelong relationship-building with clients and vendors, endless hours dedicated to cultivating your craft, and not being afraid to spend money on continuous improvement that may not give you a financial measurable payback yet the projects will enhance a client’s experience.
When I first met Phillip, I heard that he was able to make sidewalks and curbs look like new, so I hired him. When he arrived in his pressure washing truck, I knew he was my guy. His truck was white, spotless, had lots of diamond plating and stainless steel. In my manufacturing life, white was the color we choose to demonstrate the cleanliness of the equipment to our automotive customers.
Stainless steel was chosen for its ease of cleaning, and diamond plating just looked really cool. Phil opened the cabinets on his truck to explain his pressure washing operation. I couldn’t believe it. The diamond plating lined the inside of all his cabinets as well and not a speck of dirt could be seen even in the corners. His tools were clean and each tool had its own place. He had tanks with his own water source and used environmentally-friendly cleaning agents. Every detail seemed to matter to him. He told me that he holds a contract with 86 Steak & Shake’s from Naples to Gainesville to keep them looking pristine. That’s a lot of cleaning!
Something told me his previous career background led to his uniqueness as a pressure washer. We sat down over coffee and talked about his path. When he was young, he dreamed of going to the Culinary Institute of America in New York.
For him there was only one way to get to the CIA: He would have to work harder than anyone else. He did just that by working for Marriott Resort & Hotels in New Jersey then Tampa by paying careful Jiro attention to every detail in the kitchen.
The boy from Barbados became the chef he always saw himself to be, but more importantly he became a leader that taught hundreds of other chefs to make EVERY DETAIL MATTER. When he was ready to retire, he wanted to apply his skills to a new career.
Here’s the thing: leadership skills are the same whether you are the Executive Chef for a high end resort or taking care of the cleanliness of a large food chain.
Here is your call to action: EVERY DETAIL MATTERS can be mastered in your kitchen. You can grab a copy of Cooks Illustrated, pick a recipe, read the steps before beginning, learn how to prep, then begin mastering it by repeating it over and over, then teach someone else to make it. Cultivating this leadership skill requires practice, so why not start becoming a Jiro today?
Contact Denice at dmcclurehawk@aol.com with comments.