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Simon_Leung 3T WIS 
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Since this is my first week at my new job and considering that I don't have any experience in Hotel Management, it was quite a learning curve. A positive one at best to describe. If it weren't for my friend who brought me in, I would of made a hash of everything. When your closest friend is the General Manager / Vice President of Operations, a definite fine line must be drawn, between friendship and business. I didn't want our friendship to get in the way of our professionalism. From my perspective, however he confided in me that he'll guide me along the way. Yet, on the same token I felt embarrassed that it was like a child being guided by the hand of a parent. We talked in my office and assured me that everything will be alright, for the most part I'll be in charge of the Food and Beverage business end,while he'll look after the budget. I've wrote an email to my uncle in Hong Kong three days ago,who holds the same position as me and asked him for advice. What a coincidence to be uncle and nephew, in the same field of work! but anyways, he regarded that my position is an unique one because in this industry is all based on performance. I told my uncle that I didn't have any experience in Hotel Management, yet the impression that I got from the email was mixed. Not being too confident in my current position, I have signed up for a Hotel Diploma Course which starts in June, out of my own willingness and expense. I told my friend, about going back to school to take up a Hotel Management Course. He paused briefly and said "Don't spend a dime. I'll go out of my way to train you the best I can and in the mean time,the hotel offers a course through in the house training program." I've just saved myself $45,000 :D. |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS 
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Yea school is good but you just can't really beat on the job training. Make the adventure as fun as possible Simon. ;) |
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Simon_Leung 3T WIS
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Skipdawg wrote: Yea school is good but you just can't really beat on the job training. In the current employment climate, is not what you know, but rather its who you know. I am fortunate that my closest circle of friends are all working in the Restaurant or Hotel Industry. For the past 20 years it has been an adventure both good and bad...it's about gaining experience. |
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Paxman 3T WIS 
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Dude, chin up. bolster your confidence. Your friend didn't put you in a position in which he thinks you will fail. he will mentor you and you will learn. When I first moved into Radiology I was completely overwhelmed as my background had been in the business office. My director took me under his wing and within a year I was his right hand man. I am now 12 years into my niche and feel confident I could step outside my specialty and run a Radiology department easily. Soon it will all be second nature. Until then... stop doubting yourself! Remember:  |
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Simon_Leung 3T WIS
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Thanks Pax. Attachment: A4Action.gif (Downloaded 28 times) |
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scottran 3T WIS 
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not to be a downer but, I hired my best friend to work in my shop. He was my best man in my wedding. Things went well for a while. When I first hired him I told him that during business hours he is my employee and its nothing personal. Well, for some reason he started to think he was a partner in the business and thought he should be getting more pay. Things just went down hill from there. After 2 years of constant battling I had to let him go. I hated to do it. That was in 99. We havent spoke since. I learned the cardinal rule the hard way with the loss of a good friend. Never mix business with family or friends. Maybe since your friend does not own the business things will be better for you. I hope it all works out for the best. |
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KenC Admin 
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scottran wrote: not to be a downer but, I hired my best friend to work in my shop. He was my best man in my wedding. Things went well for a while. When I first hired him I told him that during business hours he is my employee and its nothing personal. Well, for some reason he started to think he was a partner in the business and thought he should be getting more pay. Things just went down hill from there. After 2 years of constant battling I had to let him go. I hated to do it. That was in 99. We havent spoke since. I learned the cardinal rule the hard way with the loss of a good friend. Never mix business with family or friends. Maybe since your friend does not own the business things will be better for you. I hope it all works out for the best. Have always said that friendship is friendship and business is business, the problem being that both parties need to understand that...it looks like Simon does. That said, Simon, it appears as if you have the ability and talent (as your friend acknowledged by hiring you), now all you need is a little specific knowledge. Management is a skill set, inherent to some, learned by others...but a professional manager can manage ANYTHING, from a group of mechanical engineers to food & beverage. If you have subordinates, LEARN TO DELEGATE. Always hire people that are smarter than you are, and hire specific industrial talent to fit specific needs. It seems, from what you have said, that yours is a supervisory position, so remember this (it is the most important fact of supervisory management)...it is not your job to do the work...it is only your job to see that the work gets done! Oh...and what watches are you buying with that saved $45k?:) |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS
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Very well stated Ken. hand6.gif |
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murphy j 3T WIS 
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I know from experience that mixing friendship and business can burn you if your not careful. I helped a kid get jobs at 2 different companies I've worked for. Both times it ended up reflecting badly on me in some way. I learned from that. I knew from my own past experience in the military that friends is friends and work is work. I believe your friend hired you for 2 reasons, 1) you can seperate the two, and 2) you have the potential with experience to do the job well. A real friend won't set you up for failure, he'll set you up for success. Having said that, I'm glad things are working out for you and that the new position is not only a step up, but a challenge for you. It also reflects well upon you that your trying to educate yourself about the position and not relying soley on your friend.  |
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hucky 3T WIS 
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Simon_Leung wrote: Skipdawg wrote:Yea school is good but you just can't really beat on the job training. |
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KenC Admin
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hucky wrote: Simon_Leung wrote:Skipdawg wrote:Yea school is good but you just can't really beat on the job training. Agreed, we used to have plenty of trade schools, and we still do...many of them run by the companies that hire you and put you thru their own "industrial" training so that your "trade" is specific to their needs. As to unions, I believe they had their time and place, but for the most part (and, hoping I won't piss too many people off), it's not here and it's not now. In my experience with unions, they do not adhere to the "what you know" philosophy, but, instead, to the archaic philosophy of "seniority and privilege". As I once told a former supervisor, "You do not have 15 years of experience. You have one year of experience 15 times!" Unions did some very good things, but ultimately, they, along with greed on both sides, destroyed the very industries and companies they created...I give you Eastern Airlines, the US Auto Industry, the US Steel Industry...and others. jmho |
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murphy j 3T WIS
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They're kiling American Airlines too. |
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scottran 3T WIS
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murphy j wrote: A real friend won't set you up for failure, he'll set you up for success.I dont know what to make of this statement since I lead this conversation down the problem of mixing friendship with business path. My friend needed a job when I hired him. I had plans for him thinking I could trust him since were were friends all the way back to the 8th grade. I wanted to open up a second shop and have him run it. I wanted him to succeed. It only took about 9 months for things to go south and I spent almost another 2 years trying to get things resolved. It was because of this experience with him I phased out my other employee and have been going it alone for the past 9 years. I wish we could patch things up cause we were almost like brothers till this all happened. |
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KenC Admin
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scottran wrote: murphy j wrote:A real friend won't set you up for failure, he'll set you up for success.I dont know what to make of this statement since I lead this conversation down the problem of mixing friendship with business path. My friend needed a job when I hired him. I had plans for him thinking I could trust him since were were friends all the way back to the 8th grade. I wanted to open up a second shop and have him run it. I wanted him to succeed. It only took about 9 months for things to go south and I spent almost another 2 years trying to get things resolved. It was because of this experience with him I phased out my other employee and have been going it alone for the past 9 years. I wish we could patch things up cause we were almost like brothers till this all happened. Scott...whoa! I think you are reading way to much into that. The statement is true...a real friend will not set a friend up for failure, but a friend may fail on his own, primarily by failing to remain true to the friend who gave him the opportunity and taking advantage of the situation/friendship. That is when they stop being a friend. What you did in support of your friendship was the right thing to do. What he did was not...he failed you...you did not fail him! Hey, this coming from the guy that Court Martialed his best friend! |
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hucky 3T WIS
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Bottom Line, there is no Friends or Family when it comes to Business Business is Business |
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Simon_Leung 3T WIS
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I am fully aware and appreciate the fact,that friends are friends and work is work, that has been my philosophy for success. No argument there. In my opinion, when a friend has good intention to hire you--I, as an employee mustn't let him down. Being honest in admitting my personal inqualities in a confidential manner, has shown that I care about my job and my loyalty to the company. He had phoned me earlier to reassure me that I am the right candidate for the job. Looking forward to Monday as my core team of department heads,tackle another Tourist Season for the Spring and Summer of 2008. I am working with a great team of people, that is the motivation that I need to keep on going forward. |
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murphy j 3T WIS
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KenC wrote: scottran wrote:murphy j wrote:A real friend won't set you up for failure, he'll set you up for success.I dont know what to make of this statement since I lead this conversation down the problem of mixing friendship with business path. My friend needed a job when I hired him. I had plans for him thinking I could trust him since were were friends all the way back to the 8th grade. I wanted to open up a second shop and have him run it. I wanted him to succeed. It only took about 9 months for things to go south and I spent almost another 2 years trying to get things resolved. It was because of this experience with him I phased out my other employee and have been going it alone for the past 9 years. I wish we could patch things up cause we were almost like brothers till this all happened. Scott, you read into that the wrong way. It's like Ken said, a friend can fail on his own, no matter how well you set him up. Sometimes the mix just isn't right no matter what you put into it. It sounds like, to me, that this is what happened with you and your friend. Some of my Best friends back home are guys I work with. I don't confuse our friendship with what needs to happen at work. Simon, Congratulations again. It sounds like your friend made the right choice from where I'm standing. |
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