I Hate The Business Lunch
Saturday, June 21, 2008 Filed in: Places
The whole idea behind lunch is to eat, take in
nourishment, relax. A business lunch is an oxymoron.
They're at opposite ends of the purpose meter.
Bascially, a business lunch is a meeting between one or more business associates. The idea here is to relax, enjoy one another's company, and, importantly, conduct or set the stage for business.
There's an ulterior motive to the lunch component of a business lunch that doesn't exist with lunch by itself.
Lunch is lunch. Business is business. Never the twain shall meet. I hate the business lunch.
We live a busy life where lunch is often relegated to fast food or snacks, and certainly isn't representative of dining for the sake of dining. We try to squeeze in lunch. We don't squeeze in an evening of dining.
I realize that some elements of business can be conducted on the golf course. I accept that. After all, it's a game of golf between two business people who are not very good golfers, and lie to each other about their business capabilities.
Lunch is not golf. Golf is a game, which can be a social environment, and can be a place to start or cement business relationships.
On the other hand, lunch is what we do to separate the grind of the morning from the grind of the afternoon. Why add more grind to lunch than the chewing of food?
The siesta is popular in Spain as an afternoon rest or nap, especially during the hottest hours of the day in a hot climate. The siesta comes right after lunch.
It's a tradition we should adopt elsewhere in the world, and forget about that hot climate nonsense. Don't tell me the folks in Minnesota would be against a warm and cuddly nap right after lunch on a cold and dark January.
The business lunch interferes with the break between morning and afternoon, and displaces the solitude that can be so beneficial during a leisurely mid-day meal.
If you need to conduct business with me make sure it's in the morning or later in the afternoon. You'll be worn down from a long day at work and I'll be refreshed from lunch and a nap.
Bascially, a business lunch is a meeting between one or more business associates. The idea here is to relax, enjoy one another's company, and, importantly, conduct or set the stage for business.
There's an ulterior motive to the lunch component of a business lunch that doesn't exist with lunch by itself.
Lunch is lunch. Business is business. Never the twain shall meet. I hate the business lunch.
We live a busy life where lunch is often relegated to fast food or snacks, and certainly isn't representative of dining for the sake of dining. We try to squeeze in lunch. We don't squeeze in an evening of dining.
I realize that some elements of business can be conducted on the golf course. I accept that. After all, it's a game of golf between two business people who are not very good golfers, and lie to each other about their business capabilities.
Lunch is not golf. Golf is a game, which can be a social environment, and can be a place to start or cement business relationships.
On the other hand, lunch is what we do to separate the grind of the morning from the grind of the afternoon. Why add more grind to lunch than the chewing of food?
The siesta is popular in Spain as an afternoon rest or nap, especially during the hottest hours of the day in a hot climate. The siesta comes right after lunch.
It's a tradition we should adopt elsewhere in the world, and forget about that hot climate nonsense. Don't tell me the folks in Minnesota would be against a warm and cuddly nap right after lunch on a cold and dark January.
The business lunch interferes with the break between morning and afternoon, and displaces the solitude that can be so beneficial during a leisurely mid-day meal.
If you need to conduct business with me make sure it's in the morning or later in the afternoon. You'll be worn down from a long day at work and I'll be refreshed from lunch and a nap.
