Restaurant Stories

(It's a sausage link, not a human finger)

I've been at Bakers Square the previous three and a half years and all I can say is whoa... they pay me to do this? I'm so stinkin' lucky!

I get to serve food to people. That's like... being around food and people at the same time, it's seriously awesome :D (no I don't always dance like the man above, but sometimes.)

Those years as a server haven't only been filled with positive shifts however, oh no... the majority of my nightmares take place at Bakers Square lol.

One shift in particular was New Years day, 2016 (this actually happened). I had just been moved from cash host to server and the menu was still quite difficult to grasp. This specific morning, a number of people called in "sick" at another Bakers Square in town. Being the eager man I am, I volunteered as tribute to help our struggling sister restaurant. When I arrived I was immediately given four tables.

Now, under normal circumstances this wouldn't be a huge deal... but I didn't know where anything was. Where do I get straws, ice tea, to-go boxes? By the time my tables numbered a dozen I began to lose hope in my decision to help, however, I pushed through the next ten hours before going home to cry.

So what did I accomplish from this experience?

(Besides the $80 I made all day. Yep, $80.)

For one... I learned to never, NEVER volunteer on a holiday at a place you've never worked before. And two, be gentle.

Gentleness turns away wrath.

I had a number of angry customers that day, people waiting for food, people with cold food, even people who's food was too hot! I couldn't win, but what I could do was choose to have a good attitude, even to those who left a nickle on the table. It's a surprise how much power we can have in being quiet. Noise does not equal strength.

I hope tonight before going to bed you think about this concept. Maybe try it out? Next time you're in a heated discussion with someone take it back a few notches.

Fewer words, quieter tone... you'd be surprised to see how attentive your audience will be!