Business Lessons Learned From Phil Rosenthal

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

Here are some takeaways from last night’s show.

Be the real deal. With Phil, what you see is what you get. He is as unassuming when chatting with audience members as he is on film. We attended the same high school, and I can attest that fame has not changed him one bit.

Sometimes, when employees get promoted at work, they transition into people, we barely recognize. They get power-hungry and forget those who helped them get to where they are. Don’t let this happen to you. Be like Phil. Be the real deal. You’ll be a much better leader, and chances are that people will remain with you because they want to and not because they have to.

Be generous. Phil’s event went on longer than expected, as it appeared he didn’t want to disappoint the sold-out audience, who had many questions to ask him. During the Q&A, he gave thoughtful, honest (and usually humorous) responses. He was completely giving of himself to his audience.

Speaking of giving, Phil isn’t doing this book tour because he needs the money. His share of the cookbook proceeds will be going to the ALS foundation in honor of his mother, Helen.

How giving of yourself are you to others? Are you giving your employees the full attention they deserve? Are you keeping the lion’s share of this year’s earnings to 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 over a meal?

Companies are investing a great deal of money in DEI programs, with many seeing little ROI. What if instead, companies 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 workers, with a few even helping people plan their adventures. What’s stopping you from doing the same?

Don’t sweat the small stuff. My favorite moment from last night’s event was when Phil shared the story of when he first started in the entertainment business and worked for a big company. The company stocked the office kitchens with coffee, milk, and cereal.

One day, a harsh memo was sent to employees, reminding them that milk was being provided for coffee and that the cereal was for snacks. Employees were told that under no circumstances were they to use the milk to serve themselves breakfast. Phil said that at that point in time, he swore that if he ever had employees, he would feed them.

If you know anything about the entertainment business, then you know the entry-level pay is paltry. You could make more money working in a fast-food restaurant, where you would be entitled to a meal or a discount on food. The company he worked for was crying poverty over spilled milk.

In their quest to save money, I’ve seen some big companies take away small perks like free coffee. Some organizations invite employees to the holiday party and require them to bring a dish.

Don’t be the company that nickels and dimes their people to the point where they leave. You don’t have to serve lunch from a Michelin-starred restaurant to show employees you care. A small catered lunch from a local joint is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. Nor do you need to cancel this year’s modest holiday bonus, like EY just did, because you’re concerned about what next year will bring.

In the scheme of things, these expenditures are investments—not expenses. If you feed the heart and soul of your people (and in some cases their stomach), they’ll remain with you for years to come.