Definition
The operating principle underneath every fundamental, every ingredient, every catalogue entry in the book: nothing is left to chance, happenstance, or luck. Everything is engineered. Diagnostic test on every move: is this engineered, or is this hopeful? If it’s hopeful, it doesn’t belong.
Explanation
This is the filter that sits above the whole body of work, not just one fundamental. An operator can build a beautiful framework and still run half of it on hope — hoping the new hire figures it out, hoping the Guest doesn’t notice the inconsistency, hoping the numbers turn around next month. [The Engineering Principle] names that hope as the failure mode itself, independent of which fundamental it shows up in. The test is short on purpose: is this engineered, or is this hopeful. An operator can run that question against any decision on the stage or in the back office and get an honest answer fast, because engineering and hoping don’t look alike once you ask directly. Nothing in the operation gets to wait and see how it goes — every move either has a designed reason behind it or it doesn’t belong in the operation at all.
44 years. 200+ independent operators coached. 34 restaurants opened from scratch.
I work with restaurant operators who know something is wrong and are ready to find out what it actually is — and with leaders who are ready to build something that lasts.
The complete framework is in my new book: The Operator’s Playbook
Call or text: +1-817-797-2929 Email: Jeffrey@JeffreySummers.com
