I hope that 2009’s treated you well.

As I enter in to a new year I have got to look back on 2009 and ask myself was I successful?  As I ponder this question it leads me in several different directions trying to find the answer.

I first have to decide how is it that I define success?  Does being successful mean making lots of money, having lots of toys, dominating what ever it is that you do everyday?  Everyone measures success differently!  As I enter my third year as a business owner, I realize that what I consider success is most of the time different from what my competition does.  We do things a certain way and have a certain bar that we are continually trying to raise to ensure that our customers are always satisfied.  Serving customers a great product that makes them smile and continue to come back day after day is certainly a sign of success.  Or is it?

So many people will settle for mediocrity or not step outside the box to try a new place.  I am still convinced that taco Johns has the best tacos in town, but you don’t see me try to many other places either.  Now, I’m not trying to take anything away from Taco Johns here but lets be honest, I’m sure there’s an amazing mom and pop place that can whip up some mean tacos, I just haven’t tried them!

My point is that people might just be in a routine and not be trying your competition to see how much, if at all, better you really are.  So satisfying your daily customer might not be the best definition of success. As I also enter in to the ripe age of thirty, I have to look back on my life experiences.  I spend too much of my time thinking about things that I don’t have, or that may have passed me by.  I spend less time focusing on what’s important, like all of the blessings in my life!

Knowing that my Fiancee loves me more than I probably deserve!  I have two great dogs and a roof over my head with food, water and heat!  Satisfying my customers everyday and seeing them day after day is more of a blessing to me!  My customers are the life-line to my business and without them I would be nowhere.

So, could we count our blessings as a measure of success?  Sure we could, but I’m still not quite satisfied with that definition either.  While practicing pouring latte art the other day my good friend asked me what’s that for?  I said “I’m just making myself better today than I was yesterday and hope to be better tomorrow than today”!  He looked at me as if he couldn’t believe those words came out of my mouth, quite frankly, I couldn’t believe it either.

I soon realized that I had answered my question, success is measured and defined in so many ways!  Breaking it down into small chunks makes it easier to see success for what it is.  I am successful today because I am better than Yesterday, and looking forward to be being better tomorrow!  Looking at your life day by day will help make it less overwhelming!  Don’t be so concerned about yesterday, focus on today and then tackle tomorrow.

Chose the High-Road
~Ryan Dennhardt

High Road sent me to the Antigua to finish up a training job that I did about a month ago.  The grand opening of the Olive Branch.

What makes a job like this so rewarding is that High Road and the Olive Branch share the same vision.  My idea of quality may be different than someone else’s, but when everyone agrees on one common goal it makes my job that much easier.  I have trained a lot of Baristas who act like they want your help but really just want to know how to get by.  High Road is about the long term goals and making training an investment in your businesses future.

I own my own coffee shop and have learned through out the years that there is no room to cut corners and still succeed.   I want to be unique and do things differently than the guy down the street.  Setting yourself apart is very important, whether it be in your product choice, equipment choice, or training.  I will do my business the same and I will continue to believe in the fact that people will eventually chose quality over convenience.

~Ryan Dennhardt

Hello All,

Ryan Dennhardt here with High Road Consulting. I wanted to be the first to tell you about our new look and feel on our website. Our old website didn’t match the look and feel of our progressive, and fresh Training styles.

We will be providing tips and tricks so you can be the best gourmet coffee shop in your area. Please feel free to read along and if you have any questions go to our contact form and send me a message.

We look forward to hearing any question that you might have!
~Ryan Dennhardt