| Lunch has been a midday nightmare. The mussels | | | | business meal, with a business news program and |
| in cream sauce tasted like slime in cheap wine. | | | | play named after it. Today, many businesspeople |
| The chicken in the roasted chicken sandwich had | | | | avoid using the term "power lunch," but still, the |
| the flavor of burnt rubber. The vegetables in the | | | | spirit of the meal is making a comeback. |
| salad tasted like month-old compost. Sitting across | | | | Five-Course Plan |
| from your potential client at the bistro table, you | | | | Before sitting at a bistro table, across from a |
| watch as he slowly chews his food, trying not to | | | | businessman, you should know how to prepare |
| grimace. When you ask him how his meal is, he | | | | for a...business lunch. |
| flashes a fake smile and replies, "Delicious. I can't | | | | * Picking a location is important. Usually, the |
| think of a better meal." Obviously, he's lying. But | | | | company conference room is not comfy enough. |
| you don't want to talk about the food so you | | | | Also, it is best to allow the other businessperson |
| decide to change the subject. For the past year, | | | | to choose the location. |
| you have been working on this multi-million dollar | | | | * Business breakfasts can be as effective as, if |
| deal, and it has come down to this business lunch | | | | not more than, business lunches. People are less |
| with the company representative. You ask him if | | | | stressed at this time, and their schedules tend to |
| his corporation is interested in the proposal your | | | | be less hectic as well. |
| company has offered. He coughs ever so | | | | * Remember that the meal is only a means for |
| discreetly, clears his throat, and replies, "I'm sorry, | | | | doing business. Though they will be appreciative, a |
| but..." | | | | potential client will not do business with you simply |
| Food and Business for Thought | | | | because you bought the meal sitting on the bistro |
| Today, business and meals served on bistro | | | | table. You probably should avoid sharing your |
| tables seem to go hand-in-hand. There are | | | | ability to twist yourself into a human pretzel, but |
| business breakfast clubs, power lunches, and | | | | you could impress someone with the way you |
| fundraising dinners. This makes sense, since we | | | | carry yourself, or with the tidbits of useful |
| humans need energy from food to maintain our | | | | information you have. |
| energy levels throughout the day. Also, the | | | | * If the business lunch is the first rendezvous |
| Information Age has virtually made business a | | | | with a potential client, it does not have to be |
| 24-hour deal. Business can be done on an aircraft | | | | "strictly business." It is more important to simply |
| while flying through the skies, at home on the | | | | get the person to be interested in you, which is |
| Internet, and worldwide by using | | | | ironically done by showing interest in him. As a |
| videoconferencing. While "flex time" allows people | | | | rule, only mention your business if the other party |
| to work during the most convenient times for | | | | asks. |
| them, much of the workforce still maintains a | | | | * Lastly, it is important to leave the bistro table |
| 9-to-5 schedule. | | | | before either of you run out of things to say. |
| Power Lunch Minus the Power | | | | Keep the business meal friendly, yet to the point. |
| Perhaps due to today's electronic and less | | | | The power lunch is coming back, this time around |
| personable business communication, the power | | | | in the guise of a business lunch! When business |
| lunch is making a comeback. Because people often | | | | lunches are done properly, bistro tables help you |
| eat lunch or dinner outside of office hours, the | | | | earn dough while breaking bread. |
| "power lunch" has become the most popular | | | | |