Lunch For Success

You Can Never Blame Traffic: You Must be Early to a Business Lunch

Posted on 06. Feb, 2009 by Mark Cornish in Uncategorized

I realize that the first piece of advice you hear about a business lunch is to show up early. You get there early, confirm your reservation, make sure you have a good table, and rehearse your strategy.

Since some of the simplest words of wisdom are often the most easily overlooked, I just feel compelled to remind my readers with my own simple example.

Yesterday I had an important business lunch and my planned early arrival saved me. The culprit that almost ruined the lunch was nothing fancy: traffic. We’re talking 3 city blocks barely moving (construction project). I was on my way to Paragon ( a great business lunch spot near the ballpark in San Francisco). What was supposed to be a 5-minute drive turned into 25. I felt like abandoning the car and walking!

When I got there, the lunch crowd was huge. Even with my reservation, we were going to have to wait at least a few minutes extra. Had I left even 5 minutes later, my guest would’ve beat me to the restaurant - a cardinal sin if I’m the one hosting the lunch (besides I needed that extra time to see if I could get our table moving along and entertain my guest should we have to wait).

Fortunately all went well, I had a great lunch, and my business relationship grew stronger. I know you know it, but it’s worth a reminder: give yourself tons of time.

(Btw, if you go to Paragon, say hello to Pete the bartender. If you’re drinking, he makes some of the best infused vodkas in San Francisco.)

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Tags: business lunch