A couple of week ago, I was on a Gordon Ramsay kick. Perhaps you’ve heard of him.

That f-bomb dropping, Michelin-star-winning Scottish chef and TV personality who is the star of several reality TV shows, Kitchen Nightmares, Hell’s Kitchen and Ramsay’s Best Restaurants?

Well, I’d never heard of him until about a month ago. But now, he’s sort of become my newest obsession.

Not just because he’s quick-witted, sharp-tongued and wickedly good at what he does, but because he has a lot to teach entrepreneurs like you and me. While many of his shows don’t ring my bells (I hate Hell’s Kitchen and the American version of Kitchen Nightmares), I believe that every entrepreneur who wants to succeed in building a business should watch the original British version of Kitchen Nightmares starring Gordon Ramsay. Why? Because this show, and Gordon in particular, looks at all the different aspects of running a successful business. When Gordon goes into these restaurants, he evaluates, critiques and upgrades not just the food or the service, but everything! From the decor to the books to the cleanliness of the establishment.

Here are a few things every entrepreneur can learn by watching the original British version of Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares:

Get Over Yourself; It’s Not About You

When Gordon goes into a restaurant to evaluate what’s going on and why it isn’t working, he can be pretty tough on the people in charge. He tells them they don’t know what they’re doing, that they must be nuts if they think they can run a kitchen. People’s feelings get hurt. Their egos are crushed. But he’s not doing it to be cruel; he’s doing it to save the business!

Sometimes, as an entrepreneur, you have to take a dispassionate look at what’s best for your business.  You need to get brutally honest with yourself, or find a trusted expert who will get honest with you. You may have to swallow your pride and admit, YOU may be the problem in your business, and if so, you need to step up or step aside.

Your Greatest Offering Is Worthless

A restaurant can consistently create the most up-scale, inventive, labor-intensive food, but it’s worthless if their customers doesn’t want to buy it. One of the things I appreciate about Gordon’s approach is he is always thinking about how to please the customer! If a restaurant is producing food that is too hoity-toity for the average person within that community, he’ll help them create a menu that appeals to the people of that community.

As an entrepreneur, you have to always be thinking about your client or customer. You have to know and honor their tastes, needs and wants. It is your job to give them what they need and want. Creating and offering what you think they need or should have just won’t work. You have to meet your client where they are and satisfy their hunger by giving them the answer, solution or entertainment they are looking for.

Only the Best Will Do 

In other words, you can’t serve people crap. Whatever you offer, whether it’s hot dogs with sauerkraut or rack of lamb with new potatoes, it needs to be of the highest quality. Never try to cheat your customer with sub-par food; you won’t get away with it.

Now, I know you would never offer anything less than your best to your clients. But it never hurts to take a fresh look at what you offer and see if there is a way to increase the overall quality or value. For instance, while coaching clients on how to write their website copy or sales page, I realized they would get more value (and possibly better copy) if I created some templates and worksheets to guide them through the process.

Always be looking for ways to upgrade and improve your client’s experience. Ask them how you could make things even better. Then, listen and act on those suggestions.

Don’t Throw Money At It

When Gordon comes into a restaurant to try to save it from ruin, he doesn’t suggest improvements or upgrades the owners can’t afford. He instead helps them maximize what they already have to boost their business. Rather than suggest they hire a new chef, he tries to train the one they have or suggests a sous chef or other staff member take over that position.

As entrepreneurs, we can do the same. Sometimes, the solution is not dependent upon making an investment in another program, mentor, gadget or assistant. Sometimes, it’s simply about evaluating what you already have and making the most of it. Have you already taken advantage of the training and mentorship you’ve already received? Is there a tool, book or system you already own that could increase your productivity? Are you using your present assistant effectively and efficiently?

No Excuses

Oh, don’t try to whine, complain or beg for mercy from Gordon Ramsay. It won’t work. Talk about a “no excuses approach!” Any time a restaurateur tries to shovel up some excuse for why they aren’t doing their best work or giving it their all, Gordon usually tells him or her to “Shut the F*** Up!” There are no acceptable excuses. Only 110% dedication, commitment and investment of time, guts, passion, desire and energy will do.

What would happen if you took a no-excuses approach to your business? What if  you didn’t allow yourself any excuses for not following through or making positive changes or taking action?

I recently asked my accountability partner, Kathleen Watson, to ask me whenever I fail to follow through on one of my commitments for the day, “So, what’s YOUR excuse?” She is to say it in a way that implies there really is no excuse and that trying to come up with one is pointless.

So, what’s YOUR excuse? What excuses did you make this week for not following through or honoring your intentions or commitments? What projects, tasks or issues do you tend to keep avoiding because you have a really good excuse? Maybe it’s time for Gordon to stop by and tell you to “Shut the *bleep* up!”

Be Good at Everything

It’s not enough to be brilliant at what you do. You also have to also be great at what you don’t do. Here’s what I mean.

One of the greatest lessons I got from watching Kitchen Nightmares is that every aspect of running your business must be top-notch if that business is to succeed. If you have fabulous food and lousy service, it’s not going to work. Neither can you expect to make it if you have fabulous food and a dirty, unwelcoming atmosphere. A great location, well-designed menu and a charming wine steward are worthless if the food is consistently bad.

AND… even if you have great food, fabulous service, a charming atmosphere and a great location, you can end up broke and bankrupt if you’re not on top of your financials and cash flow!

So many entrepreneurs, myself included, started our businesses because we love what we do and we’re good at it. But that’s not enough to build a successful business. We have to find a way to be good at things we hate, things we stink at. For me, that’s anything to do with numbers. That is a huge weakness of mine. For you, it could be marketing or copy or public relations.

Whatever it is, you have to find a way to excel at it… even if you’re no good at it. Not that you need to be brilliant at those things you hate and loathe, but you need to take responsibility for hiring the expertise, support and/or staff you need to excel at every aspect of running a business. Hire a bookkeeper, a VA, a marketing mentor. Outsource those things you don’t do well. BUT remember, you are still responsible for making sure that whomever you hire is doing an excellent job for you.

Sometimes, We All Need An Objective Pair of Expert Eyes

If you’re having trouble, if there’s something that just isn’t going as it should and you’re struggling… get help.

Gordon Ramsay shows up at these restaurants on Kitchen Nightmares because they’re in trouble. They are in very, very dire straits, and they need to pull themselves out fast. When Gordon sweeps in to save the day, he has the best of intentions, despite his harsh, somewhat brutal approach. He sees what he sees, he knows what he knows, and when a restaurant asks him in, they often get blasted with his expletive-laden honesty.

Because he is walking in as an expert with no other agenda but to do whatever necessary to save this restaurant, he can see with objective eyes what’s not working and what has to change. And more often than not, the owners and/or chefs of these restaurants don’t agree with him. They don’t see what he’s seeing or taste what he’s tasting. And this is part of the problem. They’re blinded by being so enmeshed in (and often, attached to) the status quo of what they’ve been doing.

As entrepreneurs, especially solo entrepreneurs, we can suffer from this same myopic, near-sighted affliction. For us, our businesses are personal. Deeply personal. They are an expression of who we are in the world, and often, our identity and worth get all wrapped up in them as well. While this can drive our desire to succeed, to be of service and to expand our reach, this way-too-close-and-personal approach to our business can keep us stuck in mediocrity or stunt our growth.

This is why we need mentors and experts who’ve “been there, done that,” who can come in, observe what we are doing (or not doing) with objective, experienced eyes, and give us some much needed (and somewhat fierce) feedback. We need to be open to the expert advice of those we respect so we can build our businesses and accelerate our success.

We also need peers, mastermind partners who can also give us objective, well-intentioned suggestions and the support when we need it.

We’re not meant to do this alone! In fact, it really is impossible. We all need people who can guide us, support us and give us an objective, expert opinion when we’re not sure or struggling. We need to invest in the services of those who know how to do those things we hate but need… like bookkeeping or systems or organization or marketing.

What can you do today to implement some Gordon Ramsay-style principles? Can you reach out and get the help you need? Can you take a good look at what aspect of your business needs improvement? Can you ask your clients what they need and want?

Tell me one thing you’ll do this week to invest in the success of your own business. Just one. Leave a comment below and let me know.