We were in a meeting last Tuesday with our architect so he could show us some preliminary drawings of the space. When I say "we", I mean Melissa (VP of whatever is artful and creative), Alain (VP just cause he wants to be), myself (President, this is just a title, trust me the other 3 still run the company) and my mom, VP of very slow decisions!!!
Which brings me to my little blog or as Al Pacino would say in Scarface: " Say hello to my little friend". My mom is the most experienced in the restaurant business, I mean you could add all my experience, Alain's and Melissa's experience in the resto business and we would still come short compare to her. Therefore her input is very important, she is very insightful and very helpful. I found however that in order for me to get her to make a decision, its like pulling teeth , but less painful. She wants to have information, information, information.
Do you know anyone like that? They are information data "HOG" (you guys know the Greek word for hog). Give me a lot of information give me, give me, give me, is their motto. So I started wondering where I stood in all this, I figured out that I was in the same category as the information nerd, man did I feel like a donkey (due to the sensitive nature of the donkey in Greek, we decided to use the English version!).
This brought me to ask myself, do we need ALL the information order to make the decisions? Do we ALWAYS required 100% of the fact in order to make a decision? In other words, if the guy falls unconscious do we need all the information of why, how and when he fell unconscious before calling 911?
Did you know that most CEO make 80% of their decision based on only 20% of the information? Which might explain why we are in the mess we are today....hahahahaha.... PSYCH. Seriously, CEOs are not well paid because of 80% of their decision, they are well paid because they have to make the tough calls, the rest of the 20%, that most of us wouldn't know what to do with, but they still make decisions without ALL the facts.
Here is what I am starting to understand of decision making, by the way pay attention to all of you who lead in any kind of position, decision making is not the be all and end all.
Make a decision follow it and be humble enough to back track if you find out it is the wrong decision. If you made the wrong call say you are sorry and move on, chances are that the rest of your team figured you screwed up before you did, so they won't be surprise when you say "I am sorry", actually they probably will say:"Thank you, now can we move on".
Where does it bring us? Crap if I know, all I know is that if you lead, you are not there to gather information but to make decision.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Taken
Well, everyone knows by now that we are looking at finding a great catchy name for our website and email address, for the business of course.
Anyway great brainstorming session yesterday, but I have to admit I had a soft spot for my own idea which was www.GOZEN.com, it is catchy, cool, hip it is a mix of our name Groupe Ozen, I mean it had it all. It makes you smile, it makes you laugh it makes you go go go.
Well if you ever type www.GOZEN.com, someone already has that website, but more importanly I discovered that there are people online that do "real estate" with domain name. Crap, did you know that you can make money "purchasing" a web domain? Do you know how much they want for www.GOZEN.com, my website by the way, over freaking $5,000 and that is probably US. They even have a "For Sale" banner.
But chances of us going with www.gozen.com or .ca are slim, because the other partners are not too warm at the idea.
Figures it is always the minority who gets it.....well my brother is vietnamese, but still I cry out racism anyway.
Anyway great brainstorming session yesterday, but I have to admit I had a soft spot for my own idea which was www.GOZEN.com, it is catchy, cool, hip it is a mix of our name Groupe Ozen, I mean it had it all. It makes you smile, it makes you laugh it makes you go go go.
Well if you ever type www.GOZEN.com, someone already has that website, but more importanly I discovered that there are people online that do "real estate" with domain name. Crap, did you know that you can make money "purchasing" a web domain? Do you know how much they want for www.GOZEN.com, my website by the way, over freaking $5,000 and that is probably US. They even have a "For Sale" banner.
But chances of us going with www.gozen.com or .ca are slim, because the other partners are not too warm at the idea.
Figures it is always the minority who gets it.....well my brother is vietnamese, but still I cry out racism anyway.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Dream
Tonight we were brainstorming for names for the website. We came up with good names and I will share them with you. But this isn't really about naming things. It is more about a small innocuous comment that made me doubt my dream. Made me doubt in the many possibilities of my new venture, I made a conscious check in my head not to share my hope with that person again.
I shared with you in one of my blog that one of the first responsibilities of a leader is to define reality. I still believe that it is a very important aspect of leadership . But here is the thing, defining reality is there to have a secure foundation to build your dream (vision) upon. Defining reality and just accepting reality rarely brings hope, it is just a futile exercise.
I remember, in my past careers, going into meeting when major problems were happening in the plant, the people of influence, the real leaders around us made sure that we all understood that the problem was real, but they also brought us hope, with their ideas, with their optimism, they were able to convey the message that a solution in time could be found, they had a "dream". Dreaming and forgetting to define reality is bad, but stating a reality and losing your dream may be even worst.
I dream of bringing my vision to all the provinces in Canada, I dream of one day having a corporation with hundreds if not thousands of restaurants all over north america. It is true, it is a big dream. I dream of having a legacy for my family, for my wife, for my kids, for my brothers, for my nices and nephews. I dream big, I always have, always will. Every decisions that one makes, one must keep their vision and dream in front of them, because if you dream small, might as well not dream at all.
Today matters, the decisions you make today affect tomorrow. Think of a small fish in a small pond and chances are your fish is going to stay small in a small pond. Think of your big fish in a small pond and chances will be that your fish will stay in its small pond. Think of your small fish in the big pond and your fish will stay small. Believe in your big fish in the big pond and there is a possibility that your big fish will be in a big pond. You have to think big to become big.
Fishy fishy fishy fishy!!!
Anyway keep dreaming, whether it is sandy beach or global corporation.
PS: Ok here are some of the name we came up with for the website. Remember the name of the company is Groupe OZEN
So:
I shared with you in one of my blog that one of the first responsibilities of a leader is to define reality. I still believe that it is a very important aspect of leadership . But here is the thing, defining reality is there to have a secure foundation to build your dream (vision) upon. Defining reality and just accepting reality rarely brings hope, it is just a futile exercise.
I remember, in my past careers, going into meeting when major problems were happening in the plant, the people of influence, the real leaders around us made sure that we all understood that the problem was real, but they also brought us hope, with their ideas, with their optimism, they were able to convey the message that a solution in time could be found, they had a "dream". Dreaming and forgetting to define reality is bad, but stating a reality and losing your dream may be even worst.
I dream of bringing my vision to all the provinces in Canada, I dream of one day having a corporation with hundreds if not thousands of restaurants all over north america. It is true, it is a big dream. I dream of having a legacy for my family, for my wife, for my kids, for my brothers, for my nices and nephews. I dream big, I always have, always will. Every decisions that one makes, one must keep their vision and dream in front of them, because if you dream small, might as well not dream at all.
Today matters, the decisions you make today affect tomorrow. Think of a small fish in a small pond and chances are your fish is going to stay small in a small pond. Think of your big fish in a small pond and chances will be that your fish will stay in its small pond. Think of your small fish in the big pond and your fish will stay small. Believe in your big fish in the big pond and there is a possibility that your big fish will be in a big pond. You have to think big to become big.
Fishy fishy fishy fishy!!!
Anyway keep dreaming, whether it is sandy beach or global corporation.
PS: Ok here are some of the name we came up with for the website. Remember the name of the company is Groupe OZEN
So:
- www.gozen.ca
- www.webozen.com
- www.resto-ozen.com
- www.ozen.qc.ca
- www.restaurant-ozen.com
- www.ozen-resto.com
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Name
Ok, a lot of people (outside of my 3 followers) asked me where does OZEN come from? It is actually a very short story.
6 years ago my parents started a restaurant on the south shore of Montreal, after 35 years in the restaurant business they were to finally have the chance to experience an "overnight" success, a 35 year overnight success. The restaurant took off. Usually any business takes its time to mature but not this one, within 5 months it drew a crowd of enthusiasts and mavens that would spread the word like wild fire that a new restaurant opened its door in St-Lambert. Thus the birth of Zen Asia Restaurant. The spring rolls were a hit and if you have never tried them, next time you come to Montreal come to one of our 2 restaurants I know you won't be disappointed.
Anywho, a year ago under a tree, Melissa and I were reading at a park near our house with a new puppy, it must have been in July. Suddenly an apple fell off the tree and hit me on the head and I discovered the law of gravity!!!! No, not really, no apple just a tree, seriously, as I was reading E-Myh from Gerber (a fantastic book for anyone who would like to start a business) it dawn on me that I could merge my parent's product with a existing business model. So Melissa and I started to imagine the many possibilities now in front of us and the future seem much brighter than it looked at the time. The idea was met with great enthusiasm by both Alain and my parents.
So the idea was born, but what were we going to call it? I thought of calling it "DUY the BEST Restaurant EVER" but it was too much of a mouthful and I would have to explain how to pronounce my name and yadyayadyada or simply surrender that people would say DOOEY (a very selected few good friends call me that). Anyway, we were still on the hunt for a new name, since Zen Asia already had a based clientele and we wanted to draw on their market power we struggled in finding a suitable name and incorporating the word Zen Asia. So Zen Asia Express was thrown in the mix, Zen Asia II was flung in the conversation. Couldn't settle for one name, we just new Zen Asia was to be included, damn name.
One night Melissa and I were eating at our friends, interestingly enough we were eating take out from my parent's restaurant and shared our vision with our friends about our new venturet. Melissa started to talk about how we wanted to provide a healthy option to the fast food industry and that is when our friend blurted out: "why not call it option zen or zen option". From there the seed was planted. Many weeks later Melissa thought of OZEN and wanted to do a play on word because french people would then say: "On va au OZEN" which would be crudely translated as " We are going TO TOZEN". We thought it was fantastic and we settled on the name, until my parents said we needed toput in Asia because of the existing clientele. If we called OZEN ASIA the existing customers would be able to make the link between the two companies.
So we went ahead and incorporated OZEN ASIA, even though our heart was set on OZEN. Anyway here is where bill 101 in Quebec came into play. If you are not aware of that bill it is there to insure the protection of the french language. Well, the Office de la Langue Francaise, decline our request for OZEN ASIA, saying that it was not compatible with the bill. We said FINE, we will call ourselves, Le Groupe OZEN ASIA. They still decline stating this for a reason: OZEN is a made up word so it is not french and Asia is an english word. To make a story short, thanks to Bill 101, we got back to OZEN and thus was born, Le Groupe OZEN and OZEN Group.
I knew there was some good in all evil! Thank you Bill 101.
6 years ago my parents started a restaurant on the south shore of Montreal, after 35 years in the restaurant business they were to finally have the chance to experience an "overnight" success, a 35 year overnight success. The restaurant took off. Usually any business takes its time to mature but not this one, within 5 months it drew a crowd of enthusiasts and mavens that would spread the word like wild fire that a new restaurant opened its door in St-Lambert. Thus the birth of Zen Asia Restaurant. The spring rolls were a hit and if you have never tried them, next time you come to Montreal come to one of our 2 restaurants I know you won't be disappointed.
Anywho, a year ago under a tree, Melissa and I were reading at a park near our house with a new puppy, it must have been in July. Suddenly an apple fell off the tree and hit me on the head and I discovered the law of gravity!!!! No, not really, no apple just a tree, seriously, as I was reading E-Myh from Gerber (a fantastic book for anyone who would like to start a business) it dawn on me that I could merge my parent's product with a existing business model. So Melissa and I started to imagine the many possibilities now in front of us and the future seem much brighter than it looked at the time. The idea was met with great enthusiasm by both Alain and my parents.
So the idea was born, but what were we going to call it? I thought of calling it "DUY the BEST Restaurant EVER" but it was too much of a mouthful and I would have to explain how to pronounce my name and yadyayadyada or simply surrender that people would say DOOEY (a very selected few good friends call me that). Anyway, we were still on the hunt for a new name, since Zen Asia already had a based clientele and we wanted to draw on their market power we struggled in finding a suitable name and incorporating the word Zen Asia. So Zen Asia Express was thrown in the mix, Zen Asia II was flung in the conversation. Couldn't settle for one name, we just new Zen Asia was to be included, damn name.
One night Melissa and I were eating at our friends, interestingly enough we were eating take out from my parent's restaurant and shared our vision with our friends about our new venturet. Melissa started to talk about how we wanted to provide a healthy option to the fast food industry and that is when our friend blurted out: "why not call it option zen or zen option". From there the seed was planted. Many weeks later Melissa thought of OZEN and wanted to do a play on word because french people would then say: "On va au OZEN" which would be crudely translated as " We are going TO TOZEN". We thought it was fantastic and we settled on the name, until my parents said we needed toput in Asia because of the existing clientele. If we called OZEN ASIA the existing customers would be able to make the link between the two companies.
So we went ahead and incorporated OZEN ASIA, even though our heart was set on OZEN. Anyway here is where bill 101 in Quebec came into play. If you are not aware of that bill it is there to insure the protection of the french language. Well, the Office de la Langue Francaise, decline our request for OZEN ASIA, saying that it was not compatible with the bill. We said FINE, we will call ourselves, Le Groupe OZEN ASIA. They still decline stating this for a reason: OZEN is a made up word so it is not french and Asia is an english word. To make a story short, thanks to Bill 101, we got back to OZEN and thus was born, Le Groupe OZEN and OZEN Group.
I knew there was some good in all evil! Thank you Bill 101.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Stealing or adhering
I have noticed that I tend to take others' ideas and make it my own. Most people think it's stealing. I am not sure if it is. If was to be kept a secret why would any authors or anyone share with the rest of the world?
I do buy into others explanation. I also think I made a choice to accept the rationalization of their theory. Funny part is most of the people around you will still believe you stole that idea.
I thought the same thing of a friend the other day.
I do buy into others explanation. I also think I made a choice to accept the rationalization of their theory. Funny part is most of the people around you will still believe you stole that idea.
I thought the same thing of a friend the other day.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Stress
The restaurant's opening is coming faster than I anticipated. I am a little stress as far as the project is coming along, we still haven't submitted our business plan to the bank and we are awaiting our architect to start on the design. Time is getting shorter and shorter, we still have to go for quotations and select equipments.
However through the ordeal, I am starting to enjoy the very nature of project managing. I am learning quite a lot of necessary skills that will be required to run projects.
Starting a business starts with an idea, but in order to take your business where you want it, doing a schedule plan would be very necessary to accomplish your goal. Otherwise you may feel overwhelmed.
However through the ordeal, I am starting to enjoy the very nature of project managing. I am learning quite a lot of necessary skills that will be required to run projects.
Starting a business starts with an idea, but in order to take your business where you want it, doing a schedule plan would be very necessary to accomplish your goal. Otherwise you may feel overwhelmed.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
YES Montreal
Yesterday I went to a conference with a few friends. It was great experience. It was put on by YES Montreal a not-for-profit organization dedicated to young entrepreneurs in the region. They had guest speakers and discussion tables, all in all I was very impressed by the session.
But I sat at a table where the topic was great, but these ladies kept on interrupting the session with questions that really didn't have any relevance. Who said there were no dumb questions obviously had never met those 2.
Questions are not stupid per say, but people really need to pay attention to the context of when they ask questions. For example, why would you ask about marketing ideas, when we are discussing solution for franchising businesses? Listen, listen, listen.
Here is the thing, when you run a meeting or go to meetings, especially informational meetings, you have to open your mind and listen. From their make comment or question according to the topic. Too many time people go in with their own agenda, it takes away time from the teacher, the other people and their own time where they can put it toward a subject that is more suitable to their questions.
So please don't go in meetings with your own agenda, just go in with an open mind and see where it takes you.
But I sat at a table where the topic was great, but these ladies kept on interrupting the session with questions that really didn't have any relevance. Who said there were no dumb questions obviously had never met those 2.
Questions are not stupid per say, but people really need to pay attention to the context of when they ask questions. For example, why would you ask about marketing ideas, when we are discussing solution for franchising businesses? Listen, listen, listen.
Here is the thing, when you run a meeting or go to meetings, especially informational meetings, you have to open your mind and listen. From their make comment or question according to the topic. Too many time people go in with their own agenda, it takes away time from the teacher, the other people and their own time where they can put it toward a subject that is more suitable to their questions.
So please don't go in meetings with your own agenda, just go in with an open mind and see where it takes you.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Reality Check
I always thought of myself as a realist, however life has a way of reminding us of our shortfall.
Yesterday morning I was sitting on my couch before going to work like I do most mornings and talking to my wife. The subject of the restaurant project came up, which is not unusual in itself. We started to randomly talk about how we felt the project was coming along and how things were developing. She then mentioned how she did not believe that my financial projections were close to what would be needed. In other words we would fall short of cash flow in order to bring the project to term. For anyone of you who has ever been in charge of a project, hearing a member of your team (and especially someone close to you) doubting the feasibility of your endeavour is disheartening, especially as you are forging ahead.
I instantly recoiled, shutdown. I told myself that everything was going along well. That our financial forecast was close to reality. How dare she be negative? Especially so near the start up of construction.
However she taught me a lesson. For all of you out there who lead in any sort of capacity, whether it is your own business or your are a manager or a pastor, your first responsibility as a leader is not to cast vision or to empower people, your first order of the day is to DEFINE REALITY. In order for my project to run as smoothly as possible, I must define, with the help of my team and staff the shortfalls of the project. Not to point fingers at anyone, but in order to never be blindsided and enable my team to find solution and to go forward. Otherwise anything I do will be based on a very weak foundation.
John C. Maxwell talks about this principle in his book the 17 laws as of teamwork, he calls it the Law of the Scoreboard. In order for any individual or organization to lead efficiently, we must be able to know where we are in the game. What is the score?
Leaders will always be too positive, will never see all the angles, will rarely be realistic and will always need to to define reality.
Yesterday morning I was sitting on my couch before going to work like I do most mornings and talking to my wife. The subject of the restaurant project came up, which is not unusual in itself. We started to randomly talk about how we felt the project was coming along and how things were developing. She then mentioned how she did not believe that my financial projections were close to what would be needed. In other words we would fall short of cash flow in order to bring the project to term. For anyone of you who has ever been in charge of a project, hearing a member of your team (and especially someone close to you) doubting the feasibility of your endeavour is disheartening, especially as you are forging ahead.
I instantly recoiled, shutdown. I told myself that everything was going along well. That our financial forecast was close to reality. How dare she be negative? Especially so near the start up of construction.
However she taught me a lesson. For all of you out there who lead in any sort of capacity, whether it is your own business or your are a manager or a pastor, your first responsibility as a leader is not to cast vision or to empower people, your first order of the day is to DEFINE REALITY. In order for my project to run as smoothly as possible, I must define, with the help of my team and staff the shortfalls of the project. Not to point fingers at anyone, but in order to never be blindsided and enable my team to find solution and to go forward. Otherwise anything I do will be based on a very weak foundation.
John C. Maxwell talks about this principle in his book the 17 laws as of teamwork, he calls it the Law of the Scoreboard. In order for any individual or organization to lead efficiently, we must be able to know where we are in the game. What is the score?
Leaders will always be too positive, will never see all the angles, will rarely be realistic and will always need to to define reality.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Vision
When we started this project Alain and I really wanted to make sure we had a good vision. A moral compass of sort. Something that we can read when it time of trouble and something that would always be a mark to follow during decision making, hiring or any business related issues.
We came up with a set of values that we truly want to spread within our corporation.
I have worked with some major companies in my past career and I have often noticed that employees do not often understand or see the vision of the company and more often than not, because they do not have good grasp of the vision, will not adhere to it.
So I wanted to start, with my first significant blog, with a transcript of what we wrote in our business plan and share with you what our values are and our vision is of what Group OZEN represents and stand for.
I believe that any good business plan or even life plan should have one of those written down somewhere a set of values that the company or the individual will uphold. I think that if all of us were to do so, a world of higher integrity and authenticity would exist and impact our world.
So without further a due:
Our Vision
To create and cultivate a relevant generation - one man, one woman one person and one community at a time.
Our Values
Our Product
It is and will always be, about quality. We are passionate about our products and it is through ethical sourcing and environmental friendly choices that we strive to improve and impact the lives of the people we touch (our partners, our suppliers and our customers). We deeply care about the legacy we leave behind.
Our Partners
Because it is not just another job, it is our desire to create and cultivate an environment of passion. We embrace diversity, a place where each of us can become ourselves. With trust, honesty, generosity and respect we will hold ourselves to the highest level of accountability and standards.
Our Customers
Through a smile or a laugh we believe we can uplift the quality of life of each and every one of our customers - even if it is just for a moment. It is more than just serving and delivering a product, it is about human connection.
Our Stores
We strive to become a haven from the worries of the outside world. An environment where one can come, and for a moment release the tension in one's life. We endeavour to give an environment in which one can savour life as it was meant to be. It is about humanity.
Our Community
Every store is part of a community and we take that responsibility very seriously. We want to bring together all the ingredients of a community through our partners, our customers and our business. We want to contribute our part to create a thriving and active community. We want to lead in the transformation of each and every community that Groupe OZEN will set foot in.
Our Conscience
It is not simply about success but about impacting and leaving a legacy. We believe that through a high level of integrity and honesty and aligning with our own internal moral compass, we will serve our conscience and become leaders in the business wold and community. Through this standard we will become a value for our shareholders, our partners, our customers and our world.
This is Our Mission, this is Our Commitment, and this is Our World.
A vision is primordial. It is the responsibility of the leaders of the organization whether a church or a business to insure that all adhere to the vision and commitment of the organization. But before we can ask for all to follow, we need to define what to follow.
When was the last time you looked at your company's or even your own life vision?
We came up with a set of values that we truly want to spread within our corporation.
I have worked with some major companies in my past career and I have often noticed that employees do not often understand or see the vision of the company and more often than not, because they do not have good grasp of the vision, will not adhere to it.
So I wanted to start, with my first significant blog, with a transcript of what we wrote in our business plan and share with you what our values are and our vision is of what Group OZEN represents and stand for.
I believe that any good business plan or even life plan should have one of those written down somewhere a set of values that the company or the individual will uphold. I think that if all of us were to do so, a world of higher integrity and authenticity would exist and impact our world.
So without further a due:
Our Vision
To create and cultivate a relevant generation - one man, one woman one person and one community at a time.
Our Values
- Trust and Honesty
- Generosity and Reciprocity
- Family and Community
- Creation and Innovation
Our Product
It is and will always be, about quality. We are passionate about our products and it is through ethical sourcing and environmental friendly choices that we strive to improve and impact the lives of the people we touch (our partners, our suppliers and our customers). We deeply care about the legacy we leave behind.
Our Partners
Because it is not just another job, it is our desire to create and cultivate an environment of passion. We embrace diversity, a place where each of us can become ourselves. With trust, honesty, generosity and respect we will hold ourselves to the highest level of accountability and standards.
Our Customers
Through a smile or a laugh we believe we can uplift the quality of life of each and every one of our customers - even if it is just for a moment. It is more than just serving and delivering a product, it is about human connection.
Our Stores
We strive to become a haven from the worries of the outside world. An environment where one can come, and for a moment release the tension in one's life. We endeavour to give an environment in which one can savour life as it was meant to be. It is about humanity.
Our Community
Every store is part of a community and we take that responsibility very seriously. We want to bring together all the ingredients of a community through our partners, our customers and our business. We want to contribute our part to create a thriving and active community. We want to lead in the transformation of each and every community that Groupe OZEN will set foot in.
Our Conscience
It is not simply about success but about impacting and leaving a legacy. We believe that through a high level of integrity and honesty and aligning with our own internal moral compass, we will serve our conscience and become leaders in the business wold and community. Through this standard we will become a value for our shareholders, our partners, our customers and our world.
This is Our Mission, this is Our Commitment, and this is Our World.
A vision is primordial. It is the responsibility of the leaders of the organization whether a church or a business to insure that all adhere to the vision and commitment of the organization. But before we can ask for all to follow, we need to define what to follow.
When was the last time you looked at your company's or even your own life vision?
Genesis
My brother and I (and our family by extension) have decided to jump head first into the restaurant business.
This blog really will be about our triumphs and our struggles as we go along in the next few months opening a business in the region of Montreal.
Sharing with all of you the relationship strain that we may go through with a partner or even our spouse. Maybe the technical difficulties, with vendors, bankers and other potential partners that we will encounter during the day or weeks to come. The good moment and the no so good moment.
I hope that through this blog I will share with you some insights both on a professional level and a personal level.
So thank you for coming along and I look forward to reading some of your comments.
This blog really will be about our triumphs and our struggles as we go along in the next few months opening a business in the region of Montreal.
Sharing with all of you the relationship strain that we may go through with a partner or even our spouse. Maybe the technical difficulties, with vendors, bankers and other potential partners that we will encounter during the day or weeks to come. The good moment and the no so good moment.
I hope that through this blog I will share with you some insights both on a professional level and a personal level.
So thank you for coming along and I look forward to reading some of your comments.
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