Phil Rosenthal learned business lessons

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the Somebody Feed Phil book tour here in Boston. For those of you who don’t know Phil Rosenthal, he’s the creator and writer of everyone’s favorite Raymond and the star of the Netflix series Man Feed Phil.

Some excerpts from last night’s show.

Be the real deal. With Phil, what you see is what you get. He is just as unassuming when interacting with the audience as he is on film. We went to the same high school, and I can testify that fame hasn’t changed him at all.

Sometimes employees move into people as they grow in the workplace, we just don’t know. They become power hungry and forget those they helped. Don’t let this happen to you. According to Phil. Be the real deal. You’ll be a much better leader, and people will stick with you not because they want to, but because they have to.

Be generous. Phil’s event went beyond expectations, as he seemed unwilling to disappoint the sold-out audience, who had plenty of questions to ask. During the Q&A, he gave thoughtful, honest (and often funny) responses. He gave himself completely to his audience.

Speaking of giving, Phil won’t be doing this book tour because he needs the money. A portion of the cookout’s proceeds will go to the ALS Foundation in honor of his mother, Helen.

How much do you give of yourself to others? Are you giving your employees the full attention they deserve? Are you keeping the lion’s share of this year’s revenue for yourself and your executive team, or are you sharing your good fortune with the entire team?

Get out and see the world. Phil says his show is not about food. It’s about connecting with other human beings around the world. And what better way to do this than with food?

While companies are investing heavily in DEI programs, many have seen little ROI. What if companies instead took this money and encouraged their employees to get out of their homes and see the world? A handful of companies currently offer paid sabbaticals to employees, and a few are helping people plan their adventures. What prevents you from doing the same?

Don’t sweat the small stuff. My favorite moment from last night’s episode was when Phil shared the story of how he got started in the entertainment business and worked his way up to a large company. The company has stocked its office kitchens with coffee, milk and cereal.

One day a serious note was sent to the staff reminding them that milk was being given for coffee and the cereal was for snacks. The workers were told to serve breakfast using the milk under no circumstances. Phil says he swore if I had workers back then, he would feed them.

If you know anything about the entertainment business, you know that entry-level fees are low. You can earn extra money by working in a fast food restaurant, where you may be entitled to a meal or meal discount. The company he worked for was crying because of the poverty of the spilled milk.

In an effort to save money, I’ve seen some big companies take away small perks like free coffee. Some organizations invite employees to a holiday party and ask them to bring food.

Don’t be the company that nickel and dimes their people until they leave. You don’t have to serve lunch at a Michelin-starred restaurant to show your employees you care. A little prepared lunch from the local joint is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. You also don’t need to write off this year’s modest holiday bonus, as EY did, because of concerns about what next year will bring.

In the scheme of things, these costs are investments, not expenses. If you feed people’s hearts and souls (and in some cases, their stomachs), they will stay with you for years to come.