Employees are loyal if you redistribute wealth, be a right wing socialist. Neighbor locations may have ego rivalries but must cooperate to make money. Keeping wealth over generations is only possible without inheritance tax. French politicians promise tax reductions but forget to reduce the state lifestyle. You won't last long if you spend more than you make. No parking, no business. When you associate with someone, you get both his upsides and downsides. You can't have your cake and eat it. The consumer is always the one who pays. The number of places where you can safely display your wealth is decreasing and demand is increasing, hence the constant rise in prices. Do you reduce your rates on weekdays or weekends? Reduce rates when traffic is the highest because you satisfy more customers. Business leaders are the ones who actually run a country because they employ people and pay taxes. France is not the best-run country and does not reward hard work, but France is the most beautiful country in the world. Tax collectors won't kill you because they need you. Unless you have so much money you don't need to work, money doesn't make you as happy as having a loving community. The worst aspect of the French mentality is to hate successful people like Bernard Arnault who contribute greatly to the local economy. Group decision making only works if owners are present, not representatives. Profiting from trends means outsourcing your revenues to temporary elements outside of your control. Work long term, bring people back 100 times. Competitors may make more money than you, but will they be in business in 100 years like you? Chose your customers and chose your suppliers. Anonymous business owners don't get the love from the customers. You can buy globalized products everywhere, keep you local identity to stand out like Asterix and Obelix in order to provide a unique experience. Family ties bring joy and withstand time. Billionaires are lonely too, seek relational wealth. Make people dream, they should leave you smiling. The cleanliness of the restrooms determines the quality of the restaurant. When you've reached the top by climbing the ladder, you know the struggles of your employees. The customer isn't the king, the owner is the king: the former comes and goes while the latter owns the kingdom and sets the tone. The boss is the bandmaster and his employees must be better than him at their craft. Give people the authority associated with their responsibilities. The boss should make the most money but he should pay his employees well for retention, so they can live a good life, and out of kindness. Your perception of an experience depends on your state prior: did you have a fight with your partner or is the whole family happy? Beautiful places are abundant, unique experiences aren't. Generosity is spending time with your people. Would you consume your own product/service? The bill is quantifiable, recommendations to loved ones are not. Preparation is 80% of the work, execution is 20%. If your employees doesn't argue in private, they will argue in public. Don't shout, communicate calmly. Give your best to live without regret, you can always do better. Because most people don't want to work, being a hard worker guarantees success. A happy home is a happy life. Saint-Tropez remains unique and strong.
Christophe Coutal