We are on our Summer break in Ibiza, doing some serious chilling and using the increased creativity for the filming of a new DVD. Of course, with all this hard work we’ve got to eat and with 2,200 bars and restaurants on the island the choice is huge. And here’s where our problem starts – attempting to find a place to eat which has ‘the whole package’.

We started by finding a restaurant with a brilliant location; the sun was setting, a cool breeze blew, but the food…. let’s just leave that for another day, (in fact I think what we ordered had been left from another day). Next up was a mega meal with some of the tastiest food ever, but the service! It was slow, slow, slooowww. In fact we decided against ordering coffees or dessert as I had this news letter to write - a week later. I thought we’d nailed it when we found a place with a fantastic location, speedy service and rather nice food but we won’t be going back as the staff seemed to be practicing for when ‘being exceptionally rude’ becomes an Olympic event!

I guess we’ll just have to ‘make do’. But wait - WHY? I don’t know about you but I’m fed up with ‘making do’ and so are millions of people all over the world. They (like you and I) are looking for organisations and individuals who’ve got, ‘the whole package’.

The whole package doesn’t happen by accident and it’s much more than putting in a little extra effort or getting a smile on your clock.

Here are five of the key pieces which I think make up the whole package.

Great Product – without a great product it’s going to be almost impossible to get the rest on track.

Happy People – when we do our Five Star Service – One Star Budget workshops everyone says the easiest thing you can do to engage customers is to smile. Correct. So why don’t people do it? Because it’s not easy, it’s skill and it’s learned and executed brilliantly by the best.

Brilliant Systems – when the system breaks down it’s amazing how quickly your customers will run. Brilliant systems give customers certainty. Certainty makes life easy. When life’s easy, customers are happy.

Pace – what do we want? Everything! When do we want it? NOW! A great question to ask is, ‘What can I do to speed this up a little?’

Value for Money – at the end of the day (especially these days) everyone wants brilliant value for the hard earned money they are spending. It’s not about being cheaper, it’s actually very simple to measure. Value for money is simply about ensuring that when your customers interact with you they’ll want to come back and do it again.

So that’s it, five simple ideas which are easy to read but much more challenging to do. There’s never been a better (or more important) time to raise your service game, so go for it and get the whole package.

By the way, we have found the perfect place to eat in Ibiza and now we’ve found it we’ll be back, again, and again, and again…

Be Brilliant!

FIVE STAR SERVICE - ONE STAR BUDGET LIVE IN LONDON

We are delighted to announce that on Tuesday November 4^th the London Business Forum will be hosting Michael’s only public presentation of Five Star Service – One Star Budget this year.

During a high paced session, Michael will share insights in to how some of the best service organisations in the world wow their customers and he’ll give ‘takeaway tools’ to help you create your own amazing customer service techniques.

For more information and to book your place visit the London Business Forum website click here

BRILLIANT LIFE LIVE IN OCTOBER **LAST FEW PLACES!**

Michael's brand new course 'Brilliant Life' - taking place on Saturday 4^th October 2008 in Newcastle and Saturday 11^th October in London - is nearing capacity with just a handful of places available!

If you haven't already guaranteed your place, never fear, by taking massive action right now you can book your place and ensure you don't miss out on this landmark occasion.

Want to know a little more about 'Brilliant Life' before you commit? No problem - click here!

'Brilliant Life' really does promise to be a spectacular event. Michael will guide you to know what you want, know how to get it and gain the motivation to do it. You will be provided with the tools and techniques to ensure that you can start creating a brilliant life for yourself right away. Not only that but you will have the opportunity to network with other like minded-people in a comfortable and inspiring environment.

So click here to book your place on Michael's most widely anticipated event!