Celebrate the New Year With Hope and Determination
T
he turn of the calendar to a new year is often a time of reflection and evaluation. We consider where we stand after another year of challenges, triumphs,
mistakes and accomplishments, and we often make adjustments that we hope will carry us forward toward personal improvement.
2021 Issue 4 |
THE
SCORE
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As we take stock of where we stand at the end of 2021, we understand that our businesses have faced another year of unprecedented hurdles. The coronavirus pandemic continues to affect all that we do in ways that were hard to imagine two years ago. While COVID-19 infections continue to ebb and flow, we are also contending with a long-term labor shortage. Finding and keeping our teams at full strength remains an ongoing challenge not only at our Buffalo Wild Wings® sports bars, but also across the restaurant industry and the economy at large. The labor situation is also one contributing factor in the supply chain shortages that our businesses have encountered in the last 12 months. Who would have thought that we would have to worry about our BWW®s facing regular shortages of chicken wings and ranch dressing? The good news is that no matter what the challenge, our teams are stepping up every day to meet them. Sometimes the solutions are not ideal, but they are the best we can do given these unusual circumstances. In fact, in this issue of The
SCORE, you’ll read about how many individual Buffalo Wild Wings teams often work together to overcome commodity and supply shortfalls and make sure that our guests get the best experience we can give them. There’s a great lesson there. Our people are stepping up when needed, adapting to the difficulties and working harder than ever to overcome them. Be sure to take time and thank them for what they are doing in trying times. Imagine what success they can achieve when they apply the lessons learned from the last two years to a better business environment! Taking stock of the past naturally means considering what may be ahead. Obviously, we are not through the pandemic, and in addition to what we’re currently experiencing, there are obstacles yet to come. The first on the horizon is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s vaccine mandate for employers with 100 or more employees, which adds yet another layer of regulation that our businesses must manage. Enforcement by OSHA could begin in January and February if the
mandate is upheld by the courts. Even given today’s difficult conditions, as business owners and entrepreneurs, we should be prepared to move forward with enthusiasm and optimism. The road may continue to be difficult in the short term, but I have faith that the combination of a great brand and our steadfast dedication to our businesses will be rewarded with long-term success. As you consider where you stand moving into the new year, celebrate your achievements and plan the adjustments you need to move forward on better footing. Yesterday is over, and today is a new day to make the best of the circumstances we face. Tomorrow is full of possibilities. I wish you all a very prosperous and healthy 2022!
Wray Hutchinson
