San Francisco Food Fights

May 17, 2013
Business of Food, Current Climate for Small Business
PTA
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At a recent Potrero Dogpatch Merchants Association meeting, San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener came to talk with us about his proposed mobile food truck legislation, which he introduced at a Board of Supervisors meeting last November. His goal with the new legislation is to make it easier for mobile food businesses to operate in the city, while also protecting the interests of brick-and-mortar restaurants who are negatively affected when food trucks (that don’t pay rent) park nearby.

People enjoying the Liba Falafel food truck in San Francisco

The current food truck regulations haven’t been working well for either side. If Supervisor Weiner’s new legislation is passed, it would prohibit food trucks from doing business within 50 feet of a restaurant but would also allow food trucks to operate in parts of the city where they’ve been previously banned.

At the PDMA meeting, Supervisor Weiner explained to us that that current rules have made whole areas of the city, including a large portion of the Mission, off-limits to food trucks. He wants to encourage more trucks to congregate in areas like SOMA and the Financial District. The bill would legalize food trucks on all hospital and college campuses and allow trucks to park closer to schools, decreasing the buffer from 1,500 feet down to 500 feet for middle schools and between 750 and 1,000 feet for high schools.

PTA has worked with and taught restaurant owners and food truck owners and we understand the challenges on both sides—the costs, the competition, finding the right location, scalability and market demand. Running a small food business—whether it is attached to one spot or mobile—is very hard work and it is important that our local legislators are listening to business owners’ concerns and supporting small business issues. I appreciate Supervisor Weiner’s efforts to move the conversation forward.

In Conversation with Al Gore

Well …he wasn’t talking only with me. Along with hundreds of people, I got the chance to hear Barbara Kingsolver speak with Al Gore at Herbst Theater in San Francisco on Tuesday night. I really went to hear Barbara Kingsolver, as I had just finished reading her latest book, Flight Behavior. (As I listened to her speak the butterflies from her book kept fluttering through my mind.) Perhaps Al and Barbara had “butterflies” but I think not—they were both so poised, balanced and professional from the start of their exchanges.

Outside the theater there were protestors upset that Gore is not being “green enough” but we went on through to claim our seats. There were murals on the walls and perhaps butterflies in the air, as there was a buzz for sure. Al Gore was contemplating “The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change”.

They started poised and respectful of each other’s contributions to the topic and their work to date. Barbara’s questions were insightful and calm. Al Gore started quietly but in the end he nearly jumped from his seat as he wound up and delivered on the six drivers of global change.

From his perspective, those are:

the increasing economic globalization that has created Earth Inc.,
global communications that can reach billions of people at a time,
the shift of global economic and political power without perhaps the USA at the center,
a deeply flawed economic compass leading us to unsustainable use of all resources,
biotechnology, neuroscience and life science revolutions with power in only a few people’s hands, and
a radical disruption of ecosystems and human consumption that impact energy systems worldwide

What he shared was depressing and definitely overwhelming, and yet here was another inconvenient truth from Al Gore. The silver lining of his message was to take a small piece of an issue — community based or national — do something different and bring others with you. One small step by each one of us could be one giant step for all of us. He views it as “a contest between the Global Mind and Earth Inc.” How this battle plays out depends on us, and, particularly, on the revitalization of democratic institutions in the United States. Let’s discuss and act!

The Season for Action

When is it the season for action? Do we wait for perfect conditions before taking a step? When do we move ahead on an idea to expand or refresh our business?

For me, the New Year is often a great time for taking stock of last year’s “seasons” and preparing new ground. It is a time to review, re-assess and take action in my business. I assume that this makes sense for almost all business owners. If not now, then when?

To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
A time to be born, a time to die,
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted,
A time to kill, and a time to heal,
A time to break down, and a time to build up,
A time to weep, and a time to laugh,
A time to mourn, and a time to dance,
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together,
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing,
A time to seek, and a time to lose,
A time to keep, and a time to cast away,
A time to tear, and a time to sew,
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak,
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war and a time for peace.
Ecc 3: 1-8

Resolve Conflict

Being in business is challenging. You can’t be in business without running into conflict at some point… your landlord raises the rent, your largest client reduces your hours, your reliable vendor is three weeks late with inventory, your wait staff calls in sick at 5:00pm and/or your key employee gives notice. Wow! What to do?

Winged Wisdom, part of Presidio Habitats, a site-based exhibition created for the Presidio of San Francisco

Perhaps the answer is to quit…start a new business or…as we all say to ourselves at one time or another, “I need to get a job!” Most of us don’t go and get a job. Sometimes we try and go through the motions of an interview and think this will resolve all the conflicts…but then realize that’s really not what we want. Working for someone else does not resolve or eliminate conflict. It is still there and now we don’t have the “power” to implement a change!

The idea is not to instigate conflict or prolong it, or try to win the argument. The process of running a business is to minimize conflicts and if a conflict arises, to face it and try to resolve it. The owner has to build the business, take care of the employees, satisfy the clients or customers, and create a balanced life for themselves.

There are solutions to the conflicts. Sometimes it is a genuine transparent management style; at other times, it is direct conversations with key employees; or it could be recognizing the error before the client or vendor sees it and suggesting a solution before there even is a conflict. (When I ran a gourmet food business, I noted right after the holidays that we did not sell all the extra inventory that we had bought. I called the vendors immediately and negotiated a 6 month payout plan…before they noticed we were late with payment and got upset with us.)

To find the right solutions we can look to supportive mentors or professionals who can listen and advise, talk things through with key employees, meditate on the right action, and then forge ahead and explore new approaches. If you run your business with integrity, honesty and transparency and confront your stumbling blocks head on, you can make it through. But if you don’t resolve a conflict…guess what comes back for you another day? So, resolve conflict!

In the Company of Others

A common assumption is that word-of-mouth promotion for small business means encouraging customers or clients to tell other people about your business, either directly or through online review tools like Yelp. This is important but another key part of word-of-mouth promotion involves your own word-of-mouth efforts—attending events, meeting new contacts, talking with others and sharing who you are and what you do.

It’s great to attend events that directly relate to your business or industry and it’s also incredibly valuable to just get out there and make contact with people. We need to be out in the public—be it a street fair, holiday event or home-based party—and connect with others.

Even at gatherings that aren’t “officially” networking events, try to put yourself into the mix and in your own way, “work the room”. It’s okay to have an agenda in mind. You can be ready with a critical question to ask or some simple information to share about you and your own business. Travel with a business success story or a lesson learned, and always be on the lookout for good resources and leads for other business owners you know.

In conversation with PTA Associate Andrea Baker, Owner of Baker Consulting

The key to building a good reputation may simply mean being a person ready with a story to tell, good resources to share, and the ability to listen and ask questions in all conversations. Every encounter is a potential business opportunity—even if you don’t know what the benefit will be to you and your business in the moment! It is in the company of others that magic can happen.

Leading you in the Right Direction

As business owners, we cannot do it all by ourselves. Small business specialists can help tackle problems in accounting, law, insurance, graphic design, marketing, management and other critical areas.

I’ve found there are three primary reasons for a business owner to hire an outside expert:

For the short-term when over-extended, such as market expansion or preparing a business for sale
For specific or sensitive issues, such as personnel problems
For issues demanding special expertise, such as computer systems, taxes or engineering help.

Here’s how you can choose the right professional for you and your business:

Before your search begins
Determine what you really need, when you need it and how much you can afford to spend. This will help you decide the type of professional to look for and the criteria you’ll want to use in evaluating your options. Know the results or outcomes you would like to obtain. This will help clarify the level of expertise you’re looking for.

The Search
Ask for recommendations from colleagues in businesses of similar type, size and philosophy (instead of blindly searching the internet). If colleagues have been satisfied clients they will be happy and eager to refer the professional or consultant to you. You can also find quality help through business associations and industry-specific professional groups.

The Screening
Find an advisor who can really listen, evaluate the situation, make recommendations and then, if appropriate, help you implement solutions. When you first talk with the professional, notice if he or she can connect your problem to his or her previous experience. Pay attention to the questions the professional asks you.

The Meeting
Spend the first few minutes of your first face-to-face meeting setting an agenda, identifying possible outcomes and getting agreement on the length of the first session. This will help focus your time, set criteria for measurable results and keep you in charge. The professional should be able to define the basic issues and then estimate time, terms and fees.

The Agreement
It’s wise to get things in writing, including a work plan and timeline. Many professionals will provide a letter of agreement but don’t expect consultants, like a computer or management consultant, to provide a full analysis for free. A thorough analysis of your business situation and expert recommendations are worth paying for in advance of a solution being implemented. This important step, if done properly, can actually save the overall expenditure of certain projects and should be included in the total budget for the project.

Using professionals in your business is not a sign of weakness! It is an indication of sound management practices. As a business grows, staff can be added to replace outside experts or you can continue to use contract professionals.

Do you have what it takes?

A display of pies from new business Desperation Bakehouse

Do you have what it takes to start your own small business? There are so many things to address when thinking about starting a business for the first time. You will be your own most important and first employee, so an objective analysis of your strengths and weaknesses is essential.

Are you someone who:
…can launch something on your own?
…is a self-starter and takes initiative?
…can make good decisions when there are many options?
…has the necessary physical and emotional stamina to be self-employed?
…can plan and organize new and existing information well?
…has a positive attitude and a passion for being in business?
…has good support from family and friends?

Do you have a business or business idea that you want to develop?
Do you know what business you want to start? Do you know how to assess whether or not an idea is viable for you and the marketplace?

The best business for you is going to be the business where you have:
…a strong passion and a sustaining interest in the product or service.
…some of the skills needed to provide the service or build the product.
…some previous and related work experience.
…researched the potential for this type of enterprise.
…worked for someone who is doing something similar to what you would like to provide.
…some understanding of what the customer or client expects from this type of business.
…confidence that this product or service is wanted or needed in the marketplace and can attract clients/customers.

Not all of the above conditions need to be in place before you start exploring self-employment. But these are issues that will be key for long-term success!

Radical Aging – One Step at a Time

July 25, 2011
Profiles
PTA
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We are all aging…some with grace and patience and others without notice, care or attention. It seems like everyone I know, I see at the “gym” or out and exercising in some way. The streets in SF are full of bicyclists (another story later); there are runners all over Potrero Hill (our hood); the exercise equipment is in full use and diets and focus on healthy band local foods is prolific (See last blog re eating locally).

My dear friend, John of 30+ years really believes in radical aging and exercise. He is 70 and has been doing this since I met him years ago in Vancouver. He is someone who is on a mission to prove a point. To age and age well, we must be a radical in what we do; in how we live and most specifically, how we plan and exercise. I plan to go to a movie in about 2-3 hours or perhaps look ahead for one month and buy theater tickets. John and his hiking buddy Brian spend weeks together and plan for months to look for glaciers to cross, mountains to conquer and/or trails to hike, backpack and conquer – for days and weeks at a time.

John is now on an amazing journey. He is biking from Whitehorse in the Yukon to Victoria in British Columbia – solo. The journey is 2350 kilometers or about 1800 miles. He is alone without a support truck or cell phone. He is on this journey for the personal challenge and to raise money for Parkinson’s research. (If you want to know more about his journey check out his Facebook page updated by his daughter every 2-3 days when he finds a pay phone and calls in with an update – after 100 miles riding per day.)

So how are we doing? Do we age with grace and attention to detail or only notice our bodies when we are sick? Do we quit bad habits when the “hacking” gets to us or because it is essential we exercise to live well…now while we can? An old Buddhist saying comes to mind: when sitting, just sit; when walking, just walk. Above all, do not wobble”.

Can we take action for ourselves and our businesses? Are we better managers and owners if we plan and take action? Can we set up systems, support groups or get consulting help when we need to take action. I hope your next steps are solid and well placed. If there is a radical step to take in your near future, plan well, create systems to support yourself and then go for it. Don’t forget to call in and if you need help, ask for it. Habits are formed one step at a time…Here we go…take that first step. The next one is so much easier. Radical – one step at a time! Not THAT hard…right? So, when you are walking or running, just do that and see what happens.

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San Francisco Food Fights

In Conversation with Al Gore

The Season for Action

Resolve Conflict

In the Company of Others

Leading you in the Right Direction

Do you have what it takes?

Radical Aging – One Step at a Time

185 Arkansas Street, San Francisco, CA 94107

415-255-0131

pta@staging.paulterry.com

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