LATEST POST: THE BEST HOT DOGS: GOOD ENOUGH ISN'T ENOUGH.
- By: Anthony del Monte
- April 23, 2023
Not a food review: a call to action.
My first real manager in business was a guy named Mitch. He ran the studio at Acadia Scenic in Jersey City, a non-scenic house where I worked during college and stayed on after graduation before eventually moving into advertising.
Mitch had a presence. He was a former actor, a former athlete, an all-American—smart, confident, and grounded. Coming of age in the 1960s shaped his worldview. Navigating life in NYC during a turbulent time in our history gave him a quiet strength that was easily respected.
Although only 10 years older than me, he carried the wisdom of someone who had lived twice as long. He wasn't just a manager. He was a mentor who showed me how to carry myself.
The Hot Dog Lesson
One afternoon when the whole staff took a break at the roach coach ( 1980s slang for food truck), Mitch bought me a snack and settled into an easy conversation. He was genuinely interested in what I was doing and my perspective as a recent college graduate trying to figure out his next move.
He surmised that building scenery wasn't my end goal and simply asked me, "What do you want to do with your life?"
The question was not insignificant, especially for a young person who just didn't know. Defensively, I blurted out, "I want to make money."
He looked at me and simply said, "Then sell hot dogs."
I laughed, assuming he was joking, and fired back, "What do you mean? How am I going to make money selling hot dogs?"
He stood up, pointed his finger at my chest, declaring, "Make sure you sell the best hot dogs in the world and people will line up."
Adding, "Whatever you decide to do, do it well and overdeliver. People pay handsomely for quality."
His words resonated with me then, and they still do today. He taught me not to solely focus on compensation but to focus on becoming better at my craft.
Defining Your Hot Dog
There is only one version of you.
Your unique perspective is your greatest competitive advantage. Whether your expertise lies in marketing, science, or social impact, the value you provide is rooted in your journey.
When you strive for excellence by leaning into your personal experience, you are able to craft a vision only you can execute.
In a world full of commoditization, competition, and globalization, your chances of making the best hot dogs have more to do with committing to excellence and leaning into the authenticity of you.
Don't chase money, chase excellence.
Do it well enough and people will chase you.