Wave the magic wand, that's what I like to do. I like things to be perfect, and it's a blessing and a curse. When you have exacting standards as I do, it's important to have systems in place to manage these standards and achieve them easily. It means getting to know your local resources. It means knowing where to get the best price and the best service, and it's important to have staff on hand who appreciate your standards and abide by them.
I once had an employee in my restaurant business down in Cannes. It was a modest lunches delivery service, but my clients loved my food and my goods were tops. This employee was making sandwiches for me, and when I was wrapping them, I noticed spotty, wilted lettuce on one and pulled it and replaced the offending leaf with a blunt commentary. The employee shrieked 'it doesn't matter!' and my reply was 'it matters to ME!' The devil is in the details, I always say, and therefore organization and high standards are the key to operating efficiently and prudently.
My clients travel often and in world class luxury. When they come home to Paris, they deserve to have the same standards in their homes as they do when traveling. Towels are soft, fluffy and folded just so. Drawers are organized and clean, bed linens are fresh and welcoming, the fridge is stocked, wine is ready. The apartment is either warm in winter or windows are open for fresh air in spring. Often these clients appear at the drop of a hat, with no notice at all, but that's never a problem since the property is cleaned and made ready for their next visit within hours after they've left.
It's just how it should be, don't you think?
