I have watched The Clam House grow substantially in only four years, from the start I was always around helping with the clam business, and when Kyle Brinkley told me he was opening a restaurant, I knew right away becoming a part of that restaurant was a short term goal of mine, not just for the money, but for the skills to always have the experience that comes with working at a restaurant like the Clam House.
I have learned so many things from working here, one of the main things being: how to please the customer. If you can do that, then you have it made. The Clam House I believe has molded me into more of a well-rounded, likeable guy that is not just looking a day ahead, but looking years ahead at what this little gold mine is bringing to the locals in Palmetto, and many others that drive more than 30 minutes, passing many other restaurants, just to eat at The Clam House.
I want to always be a part of the Clam House because the motifs here are simple, keep people coming back and bringing more of their friends! What makes this place special is the way we get people in there to try it, it is not because of our location or special coupons we have, but from word of mouth. That is our key advertiser, we want people to come in because they are curious about what people are raving about, not to just have a meal under 20$ and not come back. Since I have been working at this establishment (4 years) I have watched the regular customer base grow and grow, now on certain nights our servers are able to take three to four tables of just all regulars, these regulars aren’t just paying customers, they are part of the family! They have watched us grow and I have learned so many things from just listening to their conversations and taking in whatever knowledge they may have for me.
Another reason why I enjoy working here is because of our menu, I know exactly where all the fish come from and on top of that, I know that what we advertise is what we sell! Also with Kyle doing a five star job on monitoring our fish inventory and going out fishing when need be, we have the quality of selling the freshest fish out there, and knowing that it came from our local waters and not out of state of even out of this country.
I have never realized how hard it is to create a striving restaurant and how many 80+ hour weeks it takes to make a place prosper, until I worked here, and now it makes me thankful for everything that Kyle and Deanna Brinkley do to supply us with a great job and to supply the customers with the best of seafood and an unforgettable visit. I would not want to work anywhere else around here, and I will always promote The Clam House and will always stand behind our service.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Sunday, August 16, 2015
The Roots of a Family Tree Begin with Planting a Seed....
Can
you be a family if you're not blood?
Can friends be the family you create?
What is the need for family?
Relationships create an atmosphere which enables one to explore
and expand rather than having to learn survival skills or respond to danger.
Belonging to a group or community gives a sense of identity with an
understanding that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. The
connection also creates a mutual respect for each other’s differences.
Friends are family, which you create. People chose their friends
based on mutual likes, interests and beliefs. Friends usually accept each other
as they are. Friends encourage each other to maximize their human potential and
respect each other's differences.
The Clam House is its own community. The staff is comprised of
blood relatives, diverse nationalities, and different age groups. There is a
core belief and value system that exists among all the members: a mutual
respect, closeness, and love for each other.
Feeling of family takes precedence in the business. The Brinkley’s
take pride in how they treat their staff, whether it be positive daily
encouragement, rallying the troops before opening, or lending an ear to
concerns regarding their personal life. The staff is the face of The Clam
House; it must be an extension of its owners for success. Thus, the staff
members are the roots, limbs, and leaves that make up the family tree. The
roots spread wide, making sure the day to day
operations run smoothly, while the leaves and branches are the
protective canopy under which the customers take refuge.
When it comes to hiring at The Clam House, the staff is
encouraged to seek perspective employees from their own network. Who better
than they to decide with whom they want to work, knowing the prospect's work
ethic, and who ultimately can become part of “The Family?” When a business has the fortune of using their own family members,
and the chance to use their inner resources as an avenue based on mutual likes,
interests and beliefs, how can you loose?
The staff takes their family bond very seriously. They make the
final decision as to whether or not the new, potential member will make the cut
into the “clan.” The staff are partners, not employees. Because they take such
pride at working for the Brinkley establishment, they even govern themselves
and look out for each other outside of work.
One advantage of being hired at The Clam House is being part of
a philosophy that new prospects are considered without any preconceived ideas
or beliefs. Hirees are welcomed as they are and encouraged to engage and grow
within the company. But they first have to pass the test of osmosis, or
blending in to the culture that has been created!
When
traveling on an airplane, the attendants instruct, ”In case of an emergency ...make sure to put the oxygen mask on first before attempting to help
someone else."
Our customers are also an extension of our family tree, but
first, we must have a strong inner core before we attempt to help someone else,
or give service. The strong belief in our product and our firm foundation are
what keep our customers returning. The veteran staff, which has been at The
Clam House from nearly the beginning, is the heart of the root structure. We
have Florian, the craft beer snob, who has been educated in the different kinds of draft beer we carry. And
there' s Alex, who knows all about fish and fishing the Gulf of Mexico.
Savannah’s warm greeting is always welcoming to our many customers. Last but
not least, Maegan’s vast knowledge about the history of The Clam House can
provide answers to inquisitive customers. All are the food that fertilizes and
the catalyst that holds together the structure of the core.
The Clam House is bigger than the Brinkley’s. It is a sense of
family within a community that extends far and wide, with patrons visiting from
England, China, Canada, and all across the U.S.
The Clam House is a connection of unity within diverse
circumstances. This was a dream that was never dreamt but one that is
cherished.......
What greater thing is
there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life – to be with
each other in
silent unspeakable memories.
Saturday, August 8, 2015
What is Innovation?
What is
Innovation?
Enriching
people's lives and helping others
achieve their dreams.
Innovation is fundamentally a contradiction. Although it offers notable improvement to your business, it also presents disruption and change. It can dramatically enhance your competitive advantage, while at the same time putting your existing business at risk. It can create prolonged growth, while threatening known, existing success elements.
Kyle Brinkley has always been an innovator, no matter what the industry. Taking a risk to start a clamming operation that is located between two other farming towns one being, 168 miles south of Cedar Key, the clam capital of Florida, and 94 miles north of Pine Island, Florida, was a risk that was right up his alley. This operation has grown into a lucrative, year-round business.
Offshore fishing enabled Kyle to be an innovator in the boat-building world. There was a need for speed in an industry that was known to pack your bags for a week of fishing before returning home with the catch. This routine could not work for Kyle, who must be able to bring back fresh, quality fish to his clients. He was not willing to settle or conform to the norm, because thinking outside the box is his way of life, at whatever the cost. So he designed, built, and equipped his own boat, which allowed daily trips to attain his goal.
Kyle's experience and connection to the fishing industry led to the establishment of a seafood restaurant, his latest venture. Another risk, but proof that a person with these traits succeed.
Steve Jobs of Apple believes in these 7 principles:
1) Do what you love
2) Put a dent in the Universe3) Creativity is connecting things
4) Say NO to 1,000 things
5) Create insanely great experiences
6) Master the Message
7) Sell Dreams, not Products
Kyle, like Steve Jobs, brings all these qualities into his businesses.
Do what you love - What makes your heart sing?
Whether is creating a new vessel for an industry, planting millions of clam seed, or delivering his fresh fish to the tables at his restaurant, the Clam House, he is living his passion.
Put a dent in the Universe - The role of a leader is to hire the best people and keep them directed at achieving the vision. Keep your team in the big picture. Both Kyle’s clam farm and his restaurant have employees who have been with him for 4 to 12 years. They are his partners in business, not employees, and they want to be a part of Kyle’s vision. They love the business and life tutoring that he offers them.
Creativity is connecting things - Bombard your mind with new experiences and ideas completely outside your chosen field.
Starting a restaurant from scratch was something that was completely out of Kyle’s comfort zone, and it did bring years of discomfort, but was worth it in the end to see how many lives he has touched.
Say no 1,000 times - Sometimes you have to remove the clutter and focus on the product you want to highlight. Being innovative means to have 100% focus and to stick with the course at hand, not to be swayed by people who don’t see the vision. This was a must for Kyle when people told him his restaurant business was not a good idea. He always believes in and has 100% focus in all his visions.
Create insanely great experiences - Create broader visions and exceptional experiences for every customer, every time. The Clam House is a unique restaurant that attracts locals who know Kyle either personally or through his many fishing stories. One of his specialty dishes is the Thai Fry, a fresh, whole fish that is fried. There are different varieties of fish that hit the Clam House dock daily. These are listed on the menu nightly along with his unique sushi that is also created with his fresh fish.
Master the Message – Be a great storyteller. Share great ideas and convince others to take action. Kyle is always sharing his entrepreneurial stories, from his youth when selling golf balls harvested from ponds, to the multitudes of boats he has built from the floor up. He is a master storyteller and makes any task or endeavor look simple. His stories enthrall many.
Sell Dreams, not Products – Enrich lives. Create messages and ideas that help people achieve their dreams and you will win them over. The biggest fishing tournament of the year was approaching and the employees of The Clam House asked Kyle if he would sponsor them. None of the boys had a boat that was sea worthy enough for the event. Kyle and his son were in the process of building a boat and offered to teach the boys the process if they all volunteered their time.
Kyle felt that this was a once in a lifetime learning experience and opportunity for the kids to achieve the knowledge of how to properly build a boat with the proper guidance, learn how to work as a team and...
To Know No Obstacle Is Too Big.
You can have any dream and make it reality!
Whether it’s being innovative or a pioneer, trying something new or finding a way to achieve better results, this is what changes the competitive advantage and keeps Kyle on top!
Kyle Brinkley has always been an innovator, no matter what the industry. Taking a risk to start a clamming operation that is located between two other farming towns one being, 168 miles south of Cedar Key, the clam capital of Florida, and 94 miles north of Pine Island, Florida, was a risk that was right up his alley. This operation has grown into a lucrative, year-round business.
Offshore fishing enabled Kyle to be an innovator in the boat-building world. There was a need for speed in an industry that was known to pack your bags for a week of fishing before returning home with the catch. This routine could not work for Kyle, who must be able to bring back fresh, quality fish to his clients. He was not willing to settle or conform to the norm, because thinking outside the box is his way of life, at whatever the cost. So he designed, built, and equipped his own boat, which allowed daily trips to attain his goal.
Kyle's experience and connection to the fishing industry led to the establishment of a seafood restaurant, his latest venture. Another risk, but proof that a person with these traits succeed.
Steve Jobs of Apple believes in these 7 principles:
1) Do what you love
2) Put a dent in the Universe3) Creativity is connecting things
4) Say NO to 1,000 things
5) Create insanely great experiences
6) Master the Message
7) Sell Dreams, not Products
Kyle, like Steve Jobs, brings all these qualities into his businesses.
Do what you love - What makes your heart sing?
Whether is creating a new vessel for an industry, planting millions of clam seed, or delivering his fresh fish to the tables at his restaurant, the Clam House, he is living his passion.
Put a dent in the Universe - The role of a leader is to hire the best people and keep them directed at achieving the vision. Keep your team in the big picture. Both Kyle’s clam farm and his restaurant have employees who have been with him for 4 to 12 years. They are his partners in business, not employees, and they want to be a part of Kyle’s vision. They love the business and life tutoring that he offers them.
Creativity is connecting things - Bombard your mind with new experiences and ideas completely outside your chosen field.
Starting a restaurant from scratch was something that was completely out of Kyle’s comfort zone, and it did bring years of discomfort, but was worth it in the end to see how many lives he has touched.
Say no 1,000 times - Sometimes you have to remove the clutter and focus on the product you want to highlight. Being innovative means to have 100% focus and to stick with the course at hand, not to be swayed by people who don’t see the vision. This was a must for Kyle when people told him his restaurant business was not a good idea. He always believes in and has 100% focus in all his visions.
Create insanely great experiences - Create broader visions and exceptional experiences for every customer, every time. The Clam House is a unique restaurant that attracts locals who know Kyle either personally or through his many fishing stories. One of his specialty dishes is the Thai Fry, a fresh, whole fish that is fried. There are different varieties of fish that hit the Clam House dock daily. These are listed on the menu nightly along with his unique sushi that is also created with his fresh fish.
Master the Message – Be a great storyteller. Share great ideas and convince others to take action. Kyle is always sharing his entrepreneurial stories, from his youth when selling golf balls harvested from ponds, to the multitudes of boats he has built from the floor up. He is a master storyteller and makes any task or endeavor look simple. His stories enthrall many.
Sell Dreams, not Products – Enrich lives. Create messages and ideas that help people achieve their dreams and you will win them over. The biggest fishing tournament of the year was approaching and the employees of The Clam House asked Kyle if he would sponsor them. None of the boys had a boat that was sea worthy enough for the event. Kyle and his son were in the process of building a boat and offered to teach the boys the process if they all volunteered their time.
Kyle felt that this was a once in a lifetime learning experience and opportunity for the kids to achieve the knowledge of how to properly build a boat with the proper guidance, learn how to work as a team and...
To Know No Obstacle Is Too Big.
You can have any dream and make it reality!
Whether it’s being innovative or a pioneer, trying something new or finding a way to achieve better results, this is what changes the competitive advantage and keeps Kyle on top!
Here are some of his innovations
to help others enrich their lives and achieve their dreams.
3 - personal offshore performance commercial fishing boats: 26’, 38’,, 43’
43’ Mother Fisher #1 – Joto’s Japanese Steak House
36’ Outback Steak House – Team Hover
41’ Paciano Painting – Slave Driver
42’ Nachmans Native Seafood – Fish Cutter
45’ Butler Technologies – Reality Check
32’ Catamaran – Cabinet Specialties
32’ Commercial Harvesting Vessel – Long Island
32’ Tuna Fishing Boat – Montauk Point, LI
2- 32’ Catamaran
Soon to be 24’ Offshore to add to the collection.
to help others enrich their lives and achieve their dreams.
3 - personal offshore performance commercial fishing boats: 26’, 38’,, 43’
43’ Mother Fisher #1 – Joto’s Japanese Steak House
36’ Outback Steak House – Team Hover
41’ Paciano Painting – Slave Driver
42’ Nachmans Native Seafood – Fish Cutter
45’ Butler Technologies – Reality Check
32’ Catamaran – Cabinet Specialties
32’ Commercial Harvesting Vessel – Long Island
32’ Tuna Fishing Boat – Montauk Point, LI
2- 32’ Catamaran
Soon to be 24’ Offshore to add to the collection.
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