1,821 employees make sure this floating city on the sea runs every week.

This is the Norwegian Joy, the cruise ship I’m on for a 7-day cruise to Bermuda out of NYC.

Recently it’s been in my head how scalable is my company, specifically our staff.  Meaning, how many people are out there that can do what we need to do at the level WE DEMAND!  How many are willing to hustle, grind, and learn at the level I need?

It starts to make you wonder, are they out there?  Are there enough people in my city, my state, the country, and the WORLD that will do what we need to be done?

And then you see a company like Norwegian Cruise Lines.

As I’m on this cruise I’m watching hundreds of employees dart every direction all freaking day.  The employees on this ship don’t get a break, it’s non-stop and there are probably not many other jobs like this.  They work multiple weeks in a row and many doubles.  There’s a reason the majority of the people who work on cruise ships are not from the United States, my guess is the US labor laws would be problematic. 

So it gets you wondering.  Why did they choose this grueling back-breaking job over staying home and working with their friends?  What was it, the pay, the travel, the opportunity for advancement?  

While I’m not your guy to answer that question, I can give you the answer to another question you may have.

“Matt, what does this have to do with my restaurant?”

NCL painted a picture these people wanted to be a part of.  They gave them a job opportunity that filled a gap in their life.  Is your restaurant doing the same in your community?  They have found a way to get thousands of people to jump at the opportunity for what they are offering, and these employees do an amazing job.

Almost all of you complain about needing employees, I hear it every day.  It’s not a matter of the employees not being out there, they are.  It’s a matter of you showing them WHY you’re different. 

When I look at what you’re offering, at least from the peak I get from your website and social media, it’s BLAH!  You look just like every burger, pizza, and wing joint in every town.

Now, maybe your restaurant isn’t anything special, well then you might be screwed.  

But, I’d imagine if you’re reading this blog or listening to my podcast then you’re NOT THAT GUY!  If that’s the case, then it’s time you figure out how to become NCL.  How can you excite people to want to be in the same 4-walls as you? To be excited to come to work every day?  To ask for more shirts so they can wear clean ones around town when they are off?

My friends, just like the streets are lined with gold for growing your sales, the same streets have rockstar employees wandering on them every day hoping to find the job they really want.