Follow the advice

I have often talked to waiters and waitresses in idle conversation at coffee shops. I also have friends who are wait-people.  The question I ask that often gets a great response is “What do you do when a customer asks your advice on the best menu choice and after you give a careful and honest answer, they choose something else?”

The answer that I often get: “Before I bring them the dish, I spit on their plate.” 

I know that this is...

I know that this is a common, taunting, answer to an intrusive questioner.  I also know that the best question to ask of a waitperson is: “Is there anything on the menu that you would steer me away from, today?”  That is more often likely to get a reliable answer since wait-people see what goes back on plates uneaten.

As a business consultant I am often asked for advice in circumstances where I am not expected to charge for the advice (parties, coffee shops).  My response, for several decades, has been: “I wouldn’t take my ad lib advice if I were you…it is based on spur of the moment social graces, being polite, like shooing away a fly.  When I give paid advice I care about the client, I bring the concerted resources of thousands of hours of work and observation, I care about the consequences of following my advice and I keep in touch with my clients.” 

That also comes from watching how “free business advice” seldom gets followed.

Comments

[Witek Wnuk]

But You are giving away pretty wise ad lib advices here, on Your blog :)
greets from Poland.