Why You Might Want To Get Into (or Stay in) The Restaurant Business
QUESTION From: Cindy in TX
“If it’s so bad and industry everyone keeps trying to tell me it’s going to be a mistake and has so many horror stories, I’ve often wondered why people do this line of work especially when it’s so grueling and demanding, not a money maker and you get knocked back 6 steps for every 1 step forward?…I have an opportunity to buy the restaurant and bar I run with almost no staff but wondering if I’d be setting myself up for a world of disappointment and regret.”
HH ANSWER:
It’s a tough life for even the most experienced operator…which is why they’re probably trying to dissuade you.
Although some may stay in this line of work because it’s the only skill-set they have or because this is a field where advancement depends less on an expensive degree (which requires sitting still for extended periods of time) and more on your ability to learn by doing; I think a majority of us do it because as the great Vince Lombardi said:
“I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.”
Hospitalitarians are not just workaholics. And we’re not just masochistic gluttons for punishment. Many of us are artists who find comfort (and sometimes even extended family) in the company of similarly wired misfits who love food and appreciate the irony in being an occasional misanthrope committed to the service of others.
Foodservice, like most any other forms of service, is an opportunity to share. It’s an opportunity to invest in humanity…or more specifically, in human connection and emotionally codependent people (with some degree of hybrid ADD/OCD like me) usually derive an intense sense of pleasure and fulfillment from simultaneously: multitasking, overcoming adversity and creating an experience that makes people happy.
Few industries offer the pace, the social interaction, the energy, music, opportunity to share a great experience and story / history / culture through food. Restaurants make up the very fabric of every vibrant community and there's a lot of pride in being a part of that.
This job is more than an addiction. The draw to this particular type of service is innage and often said to be “in the blood”. There’s a love hate relationship to the restaurant industry that only someone whose happiness is tied to the happiness of those around them can understand. Much of the time it feels like we're all deaf musicians playing for everyone but unable to fully enjoy the experience we create for ourselves - but the fulfillment and sense of accomplishment in entertaining others and putting on a show that’s better and more memorable than the last one is fucking awesome! And unless you’re a rock star, surgeon, nurse, fire fighter, law enforcement officer, soldier, social worker, teacher or civil rights worker - I don’t think you’ll find anything that scratches the itch.
I know I said it before but please don’t ever underestimate the value in (and necessity of) some time away / vacation. And by time away, I mean TIME AWAY - not time out of the building but fielding calls and solving problems remotely. I mean physically, mentally and emotionally unplugging from the work. It really will do wonders for most ppl suffering from (or at the risk of) burn-out and I hope you’ll seriously consider taking time off before walking away entirely.
Like countless others who call restaurants their second home; I knew, at an early age, that sharing a good meal does a lot more than just fill bellies and I’d bet you know that as well.
As a stereotypical American-Italian, I grew up witnessing my mother and grandparents spending hours - every day - working in the kitchen or in the garden to keep traditions alive. The seemingly tireless work of planting, picking and preparing food for the family… while forgoing other activities or luxuries to provide special moments around the table reinforced the idea that our gatherings over food were incredibly important. So much so that yelling for everyone to come and sit down together was as much a part of every meal as saying grace.
Growing up like that made it impossible not to appreciate the love, work and focus that went into making every meal a special occasion. And the food...oh the food!
But it wasn’t just the fact that the food they prepared was so indescribably satisfying or prepared with great intention that made these occasions so special. Nor was it the overwhelming quantity (the endless supply of melt-in-your-mouth pasta, tender braised meats and bowls of vegetables that were so large that I was impressed they could be carried to the table by my Nonna! (And I haven’t seen serving pieces the size of the ones handed down to me outside of European roadside ceramic shops). Every bit of it was merely an accompaniment to the enjoyment of family (and often friends) who came together over shared stories, profound thoughts, bad (and often very long) jokes, incredible tales that could’ve been true, updates on family and friends thoughts, dreams, news, etc... In short - sharing the moment, creating connections, appreciating our past and sharing our excitement for the future.
“It’s incredible what a difference to everybody’s spirits one meal can make.”
Coming together for a really good meal satisfies all kinds of hunger. Not just the physical kind but the emotional hunger we all have to connect, to share, to pause and reflect, to remember, to laugh and to feel special. To feel recognized as part of a unit. To feel appreciated and to feel grateful. To feel loved.
That’s what restaurant owners, operators, chefs, managers, servers, line cooks, bartenders, dishwashers, bussers, hosts, stewards - every member of every team does for countless members of every community.
Restaurants are more than employers.
Restaurants are more than a market for growers, sellers, vendors and service providers.
They’re more than a source of tax revenue and more than a place for friends to meet, for family to re-connect, for colleagues to come in from out of the rain for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine…
Restaurants are an integral part of our lives and make up the very fabric of our communities. Yes, they create jobs but they also satisfy the kind of emotional and psychological hunger that Abraham Maslow speaks of in his Hierarchy of Needs.
It’s that appreciation and attraction…whether consciously or subconsciously that most of us are drawn to.
As most great stories demonstrate, every great heroine / hero requires some great adversity to overcome ;)
If any of what I’m talking about resonates with you - this could be your great story too.
If you’re foolish enough to buy the place you’re managing and you’re looking to bounce an idea or two off of someone outside your inner circle - please feel free to join my online facebook community (Restaurant & Bar Owner Operators & Managers) and don’t hesitate to reach out directly or consider subscribing to the Hospitality Helpline Library.
All The Best!