Let’s Do Lunch...Or Something
To be seen and to talk about the practice future, that was the purpose of a recent Beverly Hills dinner meeting with clients. To be seen? Yes, a number of leader doctors in their community deliberately use breakfast (some use this exclusively to avoid impacting their schedule), lunches and dinners as an opportunity to "be seen" in the community, their target market. Walking in they often know well the hostess or owner and the wait staff and exchange greetings. It makes for a warm and friendly entrance. There will usually be someone in the restaurant that the doctor knows, a business, professional or community leader, or a patient. Stopping, going over and saying hello to those the doctor knows can be a great personal pleasure and a chance to meet their guests. This is in sharp contrast to those doctors that seek to slip through the day, eat lunch in the office and go home at night. On this occasion, we went to The Grill On the Alley ( http://TheGrill.com/location.cfm?subsections_id=47 ). It was a wonderful place for our purposes. I really did not know how wonderful until I read the recent Wall Street Journal 11/18-19/2006. This Beverly Hills restaurant was a featured Power Tables Where The Business Elite Are Eating. You would definitively enjoy the character of the place and the menu offerings when you are in the area. The article, of course, went on to list all the "A List" people seen at "The Grill on the Alley." I find that every village and town has its share of places that locals and executives go to enjoy themselves while having a meal. If you are not using this low key visibility approach on a consistent basis, try it, and if you are make the most of it! Consider all of the opportunities you have to set up move visible occasions — beyond referral doctors, think of your banker, attorney, accountant, consultant, insurance agent, investment advisor, community leaders, prominent patients. If they want to visit with you, say "Let’s Do Lunch....Or Something!"
