Excuse me, Mr. Taco Bell Guy:
I don’t know you from Adam. You could be filming an episode of Undercover Boss, and for all I know you could be intellectually ripped behind that G.E.D. exterior. Even though you couldn’t change a register tape without assistance, it’s possible you could be a Fortune 500 CEO in disguise.
You certainly were polite, enthusiastic and tried to do your best. I get that. But if you temporarily gave up your Benz to slum in the trenches, you had me fooled. Perhaps it was the extra long hair, the immature mannerisms or the fact that I had to repeat my order to you four times.
So Mr. Taco Bell Guy, I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, but my son was watching. I still treated you with respect. Didn’t raise my voice. Didn’t outwardly display my irritation. Although, I might have burst an artery if I had to explain what a fresco Steak Burrito Supreme was one more time.
So I used you as an object lesson. Put you up as Exhibit A on what could happen if you cut your education short. My son and I had barely sat down to eat when I broached the subject to him.
“What if this is where it ends,” I asked him. What if this is the end of the road because somebody failed to get all the education and training they could?
Don’t let hot or mild sauce be your legacy in the world was my message to my son. Build your credentials with something else besides expert sour cream gun shooter.
Again, TBG, this may be a brief stop for you on your way up. It could be hard times and this is the only way to bring in some money for the family. Hey, you’re here instead of immersed in World of Warcraft right?
But my son was watching and I saw a teaching moment. I need every one of those opportunities I can get.
If you helped my son reach higher for his potential some day, then thank you. That means much more than eventually getting my order right.
Regards,
Mike
12 comments
jennifermoody says:
May 19, 2010
Unfortunately, I could have written a similar lesson to a gal at my doctor's office who took a message for me one day. She had to start me over twice (the second time I spoke ver-r-ry slo-w-w-w-ly and she STILL didn't get it) and then when she read it back to me, two key facts were wrong. And two different key facts were wrong the fourth time we went through it. And this is in the MEDICAL FIELD. Good thing she isn't a pharmacist.
JaeJay says:
May 19, 2010
I bet this got his attention, Good on you for taking that opportunity!
LaurieBee says:
May 20, 2010
I wish I could make them understand that the difference between a Coke and a Diet Coke could make a difference in whether or not someone goes to the Emergency Room in a diabetic coma!
Jen_R says:
May 20, 2010
I don't think there is anything wrong with teaching our children that getting an education is the key to making it in a career field where they are NOT humiliated, insulted and spit upon for their entire career. There is value in any kind of work, and it's better than living off the government. But I don't think most anyone–even the Taco Bell Guy–would argue that it's something that would be enjoyable to spend 40 years of your life doing every day.
Steph (sahans) says:
May 20, 2010
We always explain to our kids that everyone has a place in life. There has to be someone to clean carpets, work at fast food joints, mow lawns, and even own multi billion dollar companies. It is up to them to choose what path they take. If you make a couple wrong decisions in life then you may have very few options as to where you can work. I hope they make the choice to be billionaires because seriously… I need a MAID!
That being said… no matter your position in life you should always strive to do your best. It sounds like the TBG was trying very hard but just couldn't get the hang of it. Maybe Wendy's is more his speed.
LaurieBee says:
May 21, 2010
My dad used to say, "I don't care what you do in life. If you are a ditch digger, be the best ditch digger there ever was." Having said that, he also encouraged us to live up to our potential.
I'm not sure why Mike's post hit a few raw nerves out there. Being an avid reader of Mike's blog, I'm sure he meant no harm or disrespect to the Taco Bell employee. As parents, we have to use every possible teaching moment to get our kids to live up to their potential. Mike's posts over the last couple of months indicate that he is struggling to teach at least one of his kids that school and grades are important. This blog post, read in that context, just shows he's a struggling father doing his best to raise his children. Continued . . .
LaurieBee says:
May 21, 2010
. . . Continued. I had four teenagers. Teenager 1 worked at Weinerschnitzel and Gunther's ice cream. Teenagers 2 & 3 worked at Gunther's ice cream. Teenager 4 didn't work through high school, but is working through college in a day care center. All of them had different experiences. Teenagers 1 & 2 did great working through high school. If I had to do it over again, I would have made teenager 3 quit the job and pay more attention to school. Teenager 4 didn't work through high school because I didn't want a repeat of teenager 3 — and then the current recession hit and she found it difficult to find employment for almost 2 years because she was competing against kids who worked through high school. So, I've made my share of mistakes with teenagers, grades, and jobs. I think kids who work in fast food restaurants learn a lot of good life skills — like learning to work hard and learning to get along with people. However, I don't think it was a deadly sin for Mike to point out to his son that if he didn't want to work in a fast food restaurant his entire life, that he needed to get with the program in school.
Charlotte says:
May 24, 2010
Wow Mike, you found an angry person, didn't you? My husband worked construction one summer and you know what he learned? He wanted to go to school and get an education. Not because he despised his fellow workers, he admired their hard work, but because he realized effort to do well in school would make the tough physical and often menial effort unnecessary.
I worked fast food for two years and I never had anyone swear, spit, or throw things at me. I did learn that this wasn't something I wanted to do the rest of my life. Which is a valuable lesson. One you were trying to teach your own child. Why would someone hold it against you? I bet even the TBG would want his children to learn the same.
(My husband's father, who worked tough construction his whole life definitely wanted his children to)
IsThisMikeOn says:
May 18, 2012
Justin: You make some good points and thank you for reading. It's true that people have gone on to great success after getting their GEDs. And people working in fast food truly are in a thankless job.
For that reason, I do not ever recall yelling, insulting or mistreating employees for some incredibly horrendous service. While I have held them accountable for their customer service, I have always tried to treat them with respect. I have no idea what their stories are and I understand how difficult their jobs can be.
My whole point to my son was to not let Taco Bell be the end of the line. Reach for something higher that can impact the most lives, and that doesn't necessarily mean making the most money.
stephanne2 says:
May 20, 2010
I was trying to make the same point somewhat in my post above.
I too, worked in fast food. It was the most humiliating experience I have had to date. It was difficult and stressful.
Mike, your son has a father who cares about him and will make sure he gets all the tools to succeed. Many people in low paying jobs didn't have the tools to succeed or someone who cared to enough to make sure they got them. I guess what we are saying is that for those of us who have been there, we can feel your disgust with our job of taking your order.
You should get on at a restaurant and work there for awhile. Now THAT would be an interesting story and a great life lesson for both father and son.
IsThisMikeOn says:
May 20, 2010
Hi Stephanne2
Thank you for reading my blog and I appreciate your comments.
You are absolutely correct to recognize that least this young man is working. I totally agree and that's why I said in my post,
But in case it was the end game for this young man, it proved to be a great visual for my son.
IsThisMikeOn says:
May 20, 2010
You bring up a good idea. I may be speaking to our local Taco Bell about letting me work there for the day.