Hello RedsZone. Today was the worst day of my professional life. I’m going to spend the next several paragraphs complaining about it. Feel free to stop reading now. That’s probably what I would do if the situation was reversed.
I work in the restaurant industry. I started as a server in 2013 and went in to management after about a year. I’ve worked for a few different concepts. For awhile, I had to work night shifts - my kids were pre-school age and I had to be with them during the day - my wife is a teacher. But a couple of years ago, my youngest started public school and I was able to really focus on my career. In October of last year, I was promoted to General Manager of my home restaurant. We are a large - but old and struggling - chain. I’ve put in 60 hour weeks with an inexperienced management team trying to ensure that we continue to eke out a profit in a highly competitive field. I’ve spent my own money running Facebook ads and my personal time handing out free dessert cards to apartment complexes and hotels. My restaurant has show growth - up almost 10% in YoY sales for a brand that’s down 10% overall. The last few months have been some of the most challenging and rewarding of my professional life.
A couple of weeks ago, I hosted a meeting with some executives from another concept that wants to sell their product as delivery-only using our facility as a “ghost kitchen.” We cleaned, prepared, and practiced for this meeting. Three young executives from the other concept came to meet with me. We made small talk about our shared previous employment with Chili’s. I took them on a tour of my restaurant and we lightly discussed line schematics and strategies for executing their food in our kitchen.
Today, I found out that the deal is off. The young executives I met with claimed that the restaurant is dirty and the product isn’t being held at the proper temperature. They shared this opinion with my corporate bosses. Days - not weeks - but DAYS before this visit, we got our quarterly health inspection. The inspector spent 3 hours in my restaurant and measured the temperatures of about 40 items across the cook line and our three walk-in coolers. All 40 temperatures were squarely safe and appropriate. She walked throughout the whole facility - the kitchen, bar, front-of-house, restrooms, etc and found ZERO sanitation issues. We received a score of “1” which in Texas is equivalent to an A.
But somehow… in 10 minutes, these executives found temperature and sanitation issues that a professional health inspector couldn’t find in three hours.
Now, instead of being a (relatively) young, rising star GM, I’m the guy who cost the company a boatload of money - in the corner, wearing a dunce hat. I might get fired - that’s entirely within the realm, but even if I don’t, my reputation is irreparably damaged. My building is old - but we are clean and compliant with health standards. We are crushing projected sales numbers and controlling our costs. This company wanted to back out of the deal and used my restaurant as an excuse - disregarding any personal or professional collateral damage might be pinned on me.
I’ll be fine. I’m a 35-year-old white male with loads of experience. Millions of people would kill to have the privilege I have. Still, it makes me want to stop trying. I’ve given all I can and it doesn’t matter.
Maybe I should learn to cook meth…