Restaurants and MDRT - what could they both possibly have in common in contributing to my success? For me, they have been and remain instrumental in first surviving and then thriving in this business.
My first important work experience was as a restaurant manager for a large hotel chain. That experience taught me a great deal - many valuable lessons that helped me get started in this business. I learned about the value of service and, from a management perspective, I practiced the principal of "take care of the details and the big things will take care of themselves."
When I worked in the restaurant business, I most enjoyed walking through the dining room - pouring coffee for our customers and making sure they were happy - customers who were, what we now refer to as "seasoned citizens;” a group that has become (coincidentally enough) my major market in this career.
I have learned many valuable sales skills through my membership in the Million Dollar Round Table but, it has been my MDRT involvement that has given me countless leadership skills that I use daily in my community and other industry work. Knowledge ranging from how a meeting should be handled to how a non-profit association should be run has been invaluable to me in working with Chambers, NAIFA and charitable groups.
So, to paraphrase the once famous book: "All I ever needed to succeed in business - I learned at MDRT and - in the restaurant business.”
I wonder what previous employment experience other members may have used to help them get started in our business? Additionally, how do other members apply what they have learned from MDRT leadership experiences in their community and industry involvement?
