No Soup for You

We can’t be everything to everyone

We sometimes lose sight of the fact that we don’t need to be everything to everyone; and that’s perfectly healthy. Understanding who aligns with our mission and who doesn’t is more than just a component of personal growth; it’s a cornerstone of a healthy life.

This principle of abundance doesn’t only apply to personal relationships. It’s equally relevant in the business world, as demonstrated by a recent controversial story.

In Perth, Australia, there’s a restaurant owned by Chef John Mountain. After receiving a one-star review saying he needs to do better from a vegan customer, and would fail otherwise, he took an unusual step. He declared his restaurant off-limits to vegans for mental health reasons.

Bold as this move was, it didn’t harm his business initially. Quite the opposite, his reservations shot “through the roof.”

You may ask, why did this happen? The answer lies in an unvarnished truth. In our world abundant with choices, we’re under no obligation to cater to everyone. And much of what we’ve been instilled is not always ours.

Chef Mountain grasped this fact and also got a bit angry. Maybe he realized he wanted to get back to the roots of why he opened his restaurant. And chose to hone his focus on his core passions and customers. Their response? They’re flocking to his restaurant.

However, things didn’t stay rosy for long. Soon after banning vegans, Chef Mountain’s restaurant faced a backlash. Vegan trolls began flooding Fyre with fake reservations and angry messages.

In response, Fyre adopted a new strategy. Their website now states: ‘Due to the frequency of non-genuine vegan bookings, we have been forced to request a $30 per person booking fee. This fee is wholly deductible from your bill after dining at Fyre.”

No Soup for You

Ali Yeganeh ran a restaurant in New York called Soup Kitchen International. He was famous for one catchphrase: “No soup for you!” This simple phrase sparked conversation and added a unique flair to his restaurant. And being portrayed on the TV show Seinfeld also helped.

As a business owner, he knew who he was and what he stood for, and his catchphrase captured…