My lemon and ginger shrub is deemed acceptable by the family. It’s now on the menu at the restaurant as drink of the day and feedback so far has been very positive

I’m guessing this is where I start if I’m wanting to start a drinks brand.? Lots of experiments

A culmination of things we’ve been working on at the restaurant has lead to record profits. I’m delighted and this takes the edge off all the stresses and strains of a family run, independent restaurant.

I’ve been looking at how the American shrub companies are doing it and I’ve started listening to the stories of other drinks companies. This week it was the guy who founded Jimmy’s Iced Coffee.

I am guilty of not focusing on ‘The One Thing’, so reading this book was often quite depressing as I realise I need to cut lots out and say “no” to many of the pipe dreams I currently have. The book talks so much sense and I think I’ve read it at the perfect time in my life. I needed this wake up call.

Working closely with my 82 year old father in the family business has at times been difficult and there have been many disagreements. But there have also been things he has taught me and traits in him I hope to emulate.

Why do parents place a huge emphasis on their children doing homework in school but then not do the homework themselves? Do they think school years are the only years in which one can learn? Do they think that as adults there is no longer a prize for doing homework?

I’ve leveraged my position as a current restaurant manager to sus out the current UK shrub drinks market by getting some samples, (from my soon to be competitors), delivered to the restaurant.

What’s great about this book is the progression. We all currently know Amazon to be an all powerful, global beast of a business, but let’s go back to its first step, (conquering the world of online book sales). How can anyone not spare the time to read the incredible story of Jeff Bezos and Amazon? If you are interested in business, this book is a must. Read it in the same vein Jeff Bezos read Sam Walton’s book on the rise of Walmart.

This week I had to do another sacking at the restaurant. It’s never easy but I have a process I use now which works well. I also show a flash back to some more shrub experiments I did when I first started thinking about making drinks.