It's a team thing

You know how in baseball you have different players that specialize in different areas? Well, the Retro Diner is certainly no different!

I have a distinct preference as to who I want beside me (cooking) on a Friday at dinner and I know who I like to leisurely start Sunday mornings with.  It's like baseball, you're not going to ask your third baseman to pitch, and you're not going to get your left fielder to play first base.  Different people are better at different things. This is my mantra. I tell my kids this all the time. Each child (or person) has a gift, you just need to find it. And sometimes, those people need outside guidance to find their skills.

In my kitchen, I like a second baseman who can cover "first" if called upon.  I like a second baseman who is going to step up and make the play if I can't. And I like having someone at my side who will back me up if I should happen to drop the ball.

My assistant manager, Desiree used to say, "if you only show up with half a brain, and I do the same, we should be fine today." It makes me smile to think of that.  We coasted through many a Monday that way. I'd make the salad, and she'd do the entree. No chit chat, no discussion. She would go left, I'd go right. If I forgot to start the take-out order, she'd start the chit chat at the register. (Kill some time.) It worked soooo well!

It's a team thing!

Get a real job

Restaurant life is a unique thing. You either get it, or you don't.

You can either hustle, multi-task and thrive, or you can stumble, be disorganized and fail. I live, and breath multi-tasking. I was pretty much born ready.

In my restaurant, as the owner and chef, I juggle customer orders, suppliers, sales people, staff, the phone and whatever else comes up. This is a daily juggle.  It's quite the balancing act at times. But I'm good at it.

This is not something my family, or some friends understand. Should I, even for a moment explain or share my strife, their answer instantly becomes "sell the place and get a real job."

Get a "real job?" What.... are you kidding? This IS a real job x5. I manage HR, Customer Service, the Kitchen, Marketing and so much more. I really don't think I could sit at a desk. I don't think I could possibly type all day, or fake work while spending hours on facebook. Isn't that what people do at their "real jobs?" No thanks.

I may leave the kitchen smelling like bacon, feeling greasy and tired. But I know, without a doubt, I fed and served hundreds of happy people. I contributed to their day. I also contributed to the 10 families whose loved ones I employ. I give them real pay cheques and offer real support.

I have a real job. And I love it.