Stop Fooling Yourself

Summary

The author recounts a challenging workplace situation at Pizza Hut in 1980, where a confrontational new assistant manager threatens his position, leading to an epiphany fueled by music and cannabis that inspires him to take decisive action.

Abstract

In 1980, while managing a Pizza Hut in Chicago, the author faced a difficult situation with a new assistant manager who was uninterested in his role and aimed to usurp the author's position, encouraged by their boss's divisive management style. Frustrated by the lack of support from his superior, the author turned to music and cannabis to escape his troubles. However, the lyrics from Styx's "Grand Illusion" motivated him to confront the issue directly. The next week, he removed the assistant manager from the schedule and instructed him to discuss the matter with their boss. The author reflects on this experience as a lesson in facing challenges and the inevitability of success when one believes in themselves.

Opinions

The author believes that insecure bosses who create conflict among employees do so to assert control.
He suggests that escaping problems through isolation and substances is not an effective long-term solution.
The author holds the view that personal agency and bold action are crucial in overcoming workplace adversity.
He implies that success is inevitable for those who stand up for themselves and take charge of their situations.
The author values personal success and self-determination over enduring a toxic work environment.
He advocates for the importance of music and introspection as catalysts for personal growth and decision-making.

Pizza + cannabis + music = Life lesson

The year was 1980, and I was working at Pizza Hut in Chicago. I was the general manager of the unit. I loved my job, and I was breaking records in our district and setting new ones. My assistant got promoted, and I got a new assistant — from hell.

Without getting into details, let’s say he wasn’t interested in being an assistant manager, he wanted my job. I have no problem with someone ambitious who wants to move ahead, but this guy came in with the attitude that he was there to replace me. My boss had something to do with it, that was his style of management.

One night, when I was giving him directions about what he needed to do during his shift, he flat out told me, “Don’t tell me what to do. I am not answerable to you, I answer to Gus.” I knew he was telling the truth because Gus had said the same thing to me when he hired me.

Have you ever worked for a boss who was so insecure that he would pit people against each other to feel like he was in control?

When I called Gus to get the matter straightened out, he wasn’t much help. He said something to the effect, “Your assistant, you deal with it.” I was furious. I didn’t know what to do. So I did the usual thing.

I went home, put on my headphones, and lit up a joint. I turned the volume up. I just wanted to get away from it all. Can you relate? Have you ever tried to escape from your problems by shutting off the world? How did that work out?

Generally, I’d wake up the next morning and go about putting up with my misery as a part of life. I would’ve probably quit because that’s what was going through my head. Fu*k him, Fu*k Gus, Fu*k Pizza Hut. That’s what I had done in the past in similar circumstances. No job was worth putting up with incompetent people.

However, that night was different. It was the night of an epiphany.

I was listening to Grand Illusion by Styx. The second song on side one spoke to me. It inspired me to face the situation head-on and take bold actions.

“You got it all in the palm of your hand, but your hand is wet with sweat.

And you’re fooling yourself if you don’t believe it.

Com’on, get up! Get back on your feet, you’re the one they can’t beat, and you know it.” ~ Tommy Shaw

The following week I took him off the schedule and told him to talk to Gus.

Next time when you’re facing challenges or obstacles that seem insurmountable, remember that Success is Inevitable, and you’re fooling yourself if you don’t believe it.

So get up, get back on your feet, and as Zig Ziglar used to say, “I’ll see you at the top.”

Before you go…

“You can let others tell you what it means to be successful, or you can decide it for yourself.”

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