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Top employees could win big in Food's 'Giving You the Business' Walter Bond BY KATE O'HARE Some good franchise employees work hard for their bosses and never get noticed. Others get noticed, followed by praise and/or a raise. On Thursdays, good employees not only get noticed, but they get put on a TV show where they have a chance to show off their skills and perhaps be awarded the chance to become a franchise owner. But Food Network's "Giving You the Business" has one twist – the top workers involved don't know that they're on a TV show, let alone that it could give one of them the opportunity of a lifetime. The companies involved are Famous Famiglia, 16 Handles, Freshii, Jersey Mike's Subs, La Prep, Muscle Make Grill, Saladworks, Topper's Pizza and Wok Box. Former NBA star, franchise owner and motivational speaker Walter Bond is host of the series, in which the hand-picked employees are put through hidden-camera challenges that test their skills, honesty and ability to handle the daily challenges of management. The company CEOs will award a franchise opportunity to the workers who demonstrate their worth through actions and decision making. "I loved the fact that it's empowering people," says Bond. "I think about my kids. When they were in the third grade, they had a teacher who would give them a sticker that said, 'Caught being good.' "I remembered that slogan, 'Caught being good.' I think about the show, and the employees that are going to win, they basically got caught being good. They're doing the right things. They're model employees. They believe in the brand. They're drinking the Kool-Aid, so to speak. They're going to get rewarded with their own franchises. "I love people getting rewarded for doing the right thing." As to what impressed him about the employees competing, Bond says, "They all love the brand. Some people are just happy to have a job, thinking, 'I can't wait until it's time to get off work. I hate my job.' Every person on every episode absolutely loves their job. Not only that, but they absolutely love the brand that they work for. "Even the contestants that lost, they still had the opportunity to show their love for the company. Across the board, they are really important to the franchise they work for." In the current economy, even moderately priced food franchises are under pressure. "There's not as much disposable income available," says Bond, "so it makes the fastfood industry that much more competitive. My message for any fast-food system is that you can't afford to be average. You can't have an average burger. Your fries can't be average. "People are being very judicious with their dollars. When they go spend them on a Happy Meal deal or whatever you're selling, it's got to be really good. "If you can be really good, you know what, you're going to do fine." BY JAY BOBBIN Ryan O'Neal Paul Newman Rick Moranis (left) and Dave Thomas 8 "Love Story" (1970) Hockey obviously isn't this iconic drama's main thrust, but it does have its place as Oliver (Ryan O'Neal) invites new girlfriend Jenny (Ali MacGraw) to watch him play ... and unleash his anger on the rival team. "Slap Shot" (1977) Well, of course. This list would be incomplete without the iconic comedy starring Paul Newman as a player-coach of a minor-league team whose roster also comes to include the bespectacled, vicious Hanson brothers. "For Your Eyes Only" (1981) Another movie that's not about hockey yet has a significant hockey scene, this James Bond adventure finds Agent 007 (Roger Moore) showing some foes he doesn't need the full attire to conquer them on the rink. "Strange Brew" (1983) Looking like a combination of hockey players and "Star Wars" stormtroopers, victims of contaminated beer take to the ice during this escapade of SCTV characters Bob and Doug McKenzie (Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas). "Youngblood" (1986) Rob Lowe puts on the skates as a minor-league player trying to attract major-league scouts ... The Goshen News • Viewer's Choice • April 29-May 5, 2013 though he's more successful at attracting his coach's daughter (Cynthia Gibb). Patrick Swayze and minor co-star Keanu Reeves, who would be reteamed later in "Point Break," also take to the rink. "The Cutting Edge" (1992) Figure skating ultimately gets more attention than hockey in this comedy, but D.B. Sweeney gets his moments of the rougher stuff to set up his character's transition into Moira Kelly's partner for a potential Olympic slot. "The Mighty Ducks" (1992) Not only was this Emilio Estevez-starring Disney comedy a success as a family movie, it also inspired the creation of an actual same-named hockey team. "Miracle" (2004) Kurt Russell plays coach Herb Brooks in the "Miracle on Ice" story of the U.S. hockey team's legendary, unexpected victory over the Soviet squad at the 1980 Winter Olympics. "Goon" (2011) This fairly recent addition to the list stars Seann William Scott as a bouncer-turned-unskilled hockey player; co-star Jay Baruchel co-wrote the script.

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