From Server to Financial Advisor
Lessons waitressing taught me about getting noticed, teamwork, and the value of only one person.
When I returned home as a college graduate and held a few miscellaneous jobs of no interest and no future. The only thing I learned was what I didn’t want to do. My parents had enough of watching me try to “figure it out” on their couch, and dad told me I better get a real job, or he’d take my cell phone away. I got out the Classifieds (for you young folks, that’s a section in the newspaper — or antique internet) and found out a not-so local, but high-end, restaurant was hiring…and I became a waitress. Exciting, right?!
My third day was Mother’s Day and because we were short-staffed, my manager sent me on the floor without a trainer. I looked at him in absolute fright and asked, “You’re kidding me, right? You expect me to service eight different tables and get it all right?” My only choice was to learn fast! I don’t mind admitting to you that I was just awful. Truly terrible! I brought the salad after the main meal and gave drinks to the wrong people and forgot to bring out the bread. You’d think I’d never been served in a restaurant before! Some customers were forgiving, others not so much. But I got my act together and learned how to anticipate needs so customers didn’t send me back to the kitchen 100 times for extra cream, crackers, and butter.
A restaurant is the same as any other corporation…it doesn’t work without everyone doing their jobs efficiently. I could have had the best timing on the floor, but I didn’t set the staff schedules, make the drinks, cook the food (you’re welcome), clear the tables, or wash the dishes. The more I split my tips with the bartender and the bus boys, the more willing they were to make my life easier. It was a network I depended on.
The restaurant has four main sections: The atrium, the train, the bar, and the main dining room. I was working the atrium one Monday night, and I noticed two really good-looking men at the bar. Tom and Mike entertained me while I went back and forth to check on my tables. Mike finally asked me, “Why aren’t you in sales?” I said, “Are you kidding me? Do you know how hard it is to get people to eat dessert? I AM in sales!” They laughed and Tom handed me his business card and said, “I want you to come interview with me.” I asked what they do, and he told me they sell securities. I joked, “Okay, you say ‘securities’ to me and I think home security systems…I haven’t been out of college too long, and I know nothing about the financial services industry.” He said he understood that, but the company has an extensive training program. I was still puzzled. “You’re kidding me, right?” I mean, I’m just a waitress standing here in my black and whites — why do you want to hire me?” Tom explained, “Because you’re a waitress. Mike and I have been watching you work. You have an excellent personality, your multi-tasking skills are amazing, you’re passionate about what you do…those are all qualities we need in our business.” Now, I knew I was a good waitress because I loved it, but I never considered why I was good at it. Tom and Mike made me see what others notice in me, and I used that to figure out what direction to go. I took a closer look at Tom’s business card, and it read Tom Ryan, LaSalle Financial Services/ABN AMRO, President & CEO.
The President & CEO of LaSalle Financial Services — wanted me. Wow, what a huge compliment! They hired me as a Sales Assistant to a Financial Representative. LaSalle eventually moved me to the corporate office in the compliance department and later I became a Financial Planner with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. I eventually moved on and somehow fell into project management, but I take that start with me every day as a reminder that when you work hard, you get noticed.
Come to think of it, I was also offered jobs to sell grave plots, furniture, and cars. Looking back, they all probably thought, “Now there’s one we can mold!” Young blood…
Serving tables might not sound like much, but it taught me that I was only one person, and if just one unit fails to deliver, the entire network falls apart. And if you don’t work hard, you still get noticed, but you don’t want that kind of publicity, so don’t be “that guy”!
A special shout out to everyone in the service industry — I applaud you!
Thanks for reading! And remember — Smart people read. Smarter people write!
I am a proud writer in the ILLUMINATION publication developed by Dr Mehmet Yildiz — join us!
