Servitude

What I meant to write about was servitude in relation to my job at Red Lobster, serving people (go figure). My business is all about serving people and helping them to achieve a goal. So I thought today about how business is as easy and quite similar as becoming a server. When you start to learn how to serve, your first months are always rocky. You are learning how to talk to people and articulate the conversation in different scenarios and greetings, stumbling often on your words while trying to say the perfect spiel. You sweat, get red in the face, completely mess up your speech, and miss the whole point of what you are doing; to serve people and provide them what they want.
After a few months, you are starting to get the hang of it. You are learning how to sell the products available, to promote Red Lobster and its greatness, and can handle more people (or tables) at once. In fact, you are probably getting so good that you can bring out a sales pitch on any of the items you choose.
But here's what happens when you are around the business of serving for longer. You start to realize that you cannot sell people on things that they don't want, often times wasting your breath. You begin to see the value of identifying a need and filling a need, only suggesting the deal to someone who is interested and not pushing it on others who do not. You used to push it on others because you wanted to make more money off of that table, but then you realized you could be just as profitable and productive by serving someone who was looking for that item you suggested. You stood available when someone needed something and gave them what they wanted. So you realized you cannot sell people on things they do not want but only serve the heck out of that table and be there when they need something.
Now there is the certain expectation of rewards in this business. Some serve for the financial rewards while others find reward inherent in, and fueled by, the genuine desires found in the service industry to serve and please the people to maximum happiness. Thats what separates the good from the great. And when that table is happy and appreciative, 9 out of 10 times you've earned financial reward as well.
Here's how it goes: Sometimes a table will reward you tenfold based on the service and the example you have provided, sometimes the tip will be average or below expectation, and sometimes there will be no visible reward on the table. Thoughts run rampant through your head. "What did I do wrong?" "Why did those cheapos shortchange me?" Most times you did nothing wrong, you forgot something minor or the people knew no better on how to repay you for your good service. I believe that eventually they will discover how, and the more that you serve them with great service, the higher the likelihood of receiving that financial reward. But it was the consistency in great service with hopes to make those people happy that ultimately brought prosperity.
When you get that table that does not wanna tip, will you wanna quit because you are now without financial reward, or do you move on to the next table and continue to try your best and get better at serving (and accepting people for their human nature)? If you are a strong server, you anticipate the next party and continue to give it your all, not prejudging nor falling short of giving every table an equal chance at receiving your service.
Now take that philosophy and apply it to your business, but now allow your Dreams to be what manages you through your efforts, not a Boss. How hard will you work for it then? And when there are no visible financial rewards?

Business mindset

I've been studying business mindset for quite some time now, going on 8 months, with multiple failures that have led to current successes. A common struggle for new business owners in our endeavour (and in today's society) stems from the "microwave mentality" of our generation, where you press the start button and you want it done, ready and delicious in the matter of 2 minutes. I am finally seeing outside of the box, now months down the road. I can finally understand my past weaknesses from a position of strength. Business owner mindset is synonymous to the philosophy understood with any good, rewarding entity in life: nothing good in life comes for free, is gained quickly or is easy. Working hard at something of value in life is bound to yield you the desired results. But that "hard" work (consistent, persistent, effortful, and honest work) is what scares people from becoming as great as they desire to be. Often times people fail once and give up, moving on to some other task to see if a once-around in that field will grant them the epiphany of where God wants them to focus their talents. But serving tables or filling out paperwork for someone else, contributing to another person's dream, isn't necessarily a revelation to where our talents belong in life, now are they? What happened to the dreams of our childhood: a superstar pop singer, a revolutionary writer of the age, picturesque landscapes painted by an aspiring artist?
We have got to fail to succeed. The opposite of success is not failure; it is TO QUIT. Failure is the only actual means to success; a rocky, dust-riddled pathway if you will. Put on your hiking boots, because the sooner you start the quicker you will finish. But when you finish is what messes people up. People often start too late and know the journey will take 5 or 10 years. The later they act on their dreams, the older they are when (rather if) they achieve them. It's ok to be old and finally reach great heights. As long as you finish though. I know of 80 year olds that just finished a similar project, making 80k a year and not working. At 80 years of age, you have all the excuses in the world not to conquer it. But they made none. And why do 20-25 yr olds make all the excuses in the world? Lack of confidence, purpose, motivation, goals. Find a reason and get to hiking, whatever mountain you decide to climb.
Owning and working towards a successful business has challenged my confidence, stretched my strengths and revealed my weaknesses. It will wear you out mentally and emotionally as you cut yourself open, pour out your insides, restructure them and put them back in. I'm still seeing what I am really made of, but have yet to give up.
Anyways, I digress...