Importance of Language: The Impact of Choices in Communication

Importance of Language: The Impact of Choices in Communication

Hey there! Let's get real and talk about some hot updates. First off, remember the Hospitality Hangout podcast? Yeah, the one with my partner Schatzy, aka "The Restaurant Guy"? Well, we've got some big news! Despite what people may think, we're not doing some sneaky move in the shadows. Nope, we're officially announcing that we've made a grand entrance onto some new platforms. You heard it right, you can now listen to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, and Google Podcasts!

But that's not all, folks. To keep things rolling smoothly, we're asking our lovely listeners to give us a little love by rekindling your podcast love affair. Simply re-subscribe on your favorite app using this link: TUNE IN HERE.

Let me thank our subscribers for sticking with us and shout out to all our awesome guests who've stopped by for a chat. It's been an amazing 150 episodes, and we're looking forward to another 150!

Speaking of guests, this week we had a fantastic dinner with a new pal, who happens to manage a family office. We had a great time talking about Branded, our investment strategy, and potential areas for cooperation. During the meal, he handed me a small piece of paper with the words "Words Matter" written on it. Inspirational, right? Well, that little message ended up being the inspiration for this week's Top of the Fold section.

I also came across a LinkedIn post by my buddy Atul Sood, CEO of Kitchen United, who talked about "the no agenda phone call." In this post, he highlighted the importance of a call (or meeting) with no set objectives, where you can just chat about life, friends, and maybe even get a bit of free coaching. I can't help but feel that, in many ways, our dinner with our new friend followed this same formula. We talked about various things, all while enjoying each other's company and exchanging ideas. It was a perfect example of the benefits of such a call or meeting.

Now, I want to address a little story from my past. Back in the day, when I was a younger man, I tried my hand at golf a few times, even taking lessons and going to golf camp. But let's be real, I'm not a natural-born golfer. I'll always remain a regular guy at heart, and that's perfectly fine with me.

There was once a time when I teed off in a scramble, and I was asked to take the first shot for my foursome. I landed my shot on the green, and my new teammates accused me of being a "sandbagger" for taking the maximum handicap. I asked them not to judge my golf game by a single swing, but by the end of the round, they realized I was, indeed, a D player!

My friend Mr. Wolf, a strong golfer in many areas of life, loved the game because it gave him hours of private time with the people he played with. Sometimes, it was family and friends, and other times it was business associates or potential clients. That's kind of how I and my partner Schatzy feel about restaurants. Sharing a meal together is like our golf course or basketball court—it's a great way to learn about people.

When we launched our investment platform, we made two visits to Chicago before investing. We spent time with our pals at PourMyBeer and Chowly, learning about their journeys and getting to know their teams. These face-to-face meetings were crucial for building strong relationships and making smart investment decisions.

Speaking of PourMyBeer, I gotta give them a shout-out! They're the leaders in self-pour beverage solutions, and I couldn't be happier about being their first institutional investor. And if you want to learn more about Chowly, check out this post from their Co-Founder, Sterling Douglass, who shared how a simple software change led to an extra $30k in sales! (Pigwich, I see you!).

Branded believes in the power of relationships and shows up whenever possible to invest in early-stage companies. We have an operator-first investment thesis that sets us apart, and our subject matter experts, who come from our Hospitality Network, are our secret sauce.

Now, I want to address the word choice in conversation. Before I started writing this newsletter, I made a deliberate effort to use the right words, knowing they could either make or break my intended message. The wrong words can easily destroy the message you're trying to send, and I've seen this happen far too often, especially in the current crisis going on in Israel.

I came across an incredible article by Amy Agarwal, a Principal Writer and Editor for EngenderHealth, that discusses the impact of our choice of words. Some of her key pieces of advice include:- Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say- Know Your Audience, Respect Your Audience- Learn to Live in the Grey Areas- Do a Little Research- When in Doubt, Ask (Politely)

Here's a little glossary of words you can use to talk like a seasoned restaurateur. If you learn and use these terms at a restaurant, you'll find your experience improves:

• Walk-in: You're trying to get a table without a reservation.
• Last call: If you're dining late or looking for a joint for "one more," you can ask when "last call" is.
• Upsell: A technique servers use to get customers to purchase more expensive items.
• Well: These are inexpensive house liquors.
• In the weeds: If a server is swamped, they're "in the weeds."
• 86ed: An item, drink, or menu is no longer available (86 stands for "off menu").
• Campers: Guests who linger at their table after they've finished their meals and paid the check.

Finally, I'd like to highlight our newest portfolio company, LiquidData. This e-commerce SaaS for beverage alcohol brands helps scale and drive successful direct-to-consumer experiences. I'm proud to be an investor in LiquidData, and I highly recommend checking out their newsletter, "Bottle & Barrel."

Until next time, stay classy and keep it real!

Jimmy Frisch & Julia SuchockiBranded Hospitality [email protected] & [email protected] Park Ave South, 4th Fl | New York, NY 10003

[1] foi.be/2Q50q0t[2] fuegoapod.simplecast.com/episodes/hospitality-hangout-156[3] podnews.net/podcast/i69pj/hospitality-hangout[4] iheartradio.com/podcasts/hospitality-hangout-by-branded-hospitality-49561759[5] hospitalityhangout.com/rss

1. Jimmy Frisch and Julia Suchocki, co-hosts of the Hospitality Hangout podcast, have made a grand entrance onto new platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, and Google Podcasts.
2. In a recent episode of the podcast, they discussed their investment strategy and potential areas for cooperation with emerging brands in the food service, hospitality industry, and co-working spaces.
3. As Jimmy shared during dinner with a new friend who manages a family office, the podcast's focus on education-and-self-development, entertainment, and general-news sets it apart, reflecting the hosts' passion for food-and-drink and lifestyle trends.
4. The duo is also actively investing in portfolio companies, such as LiquidData, an e-commerce SaaS for beverage alcohol brands looking to scale and improve their direct-to-consumer experiences.
5. Their investment strategy aims to support emerging brands, with a particular focus on the hospitality industry, food service, and co-working spaces that are revolutionizing the way we dine, work, and live.
6. Alongside entertainment in the form of the podcast and their investment activities, Branded Hospitality Ventures also offers education-and-self-development resources through their newsletter and other platforms, further establishing themselves as thought leaders in the industry.

Read also: