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Monday, August 30, 2010

“I Just Work Here”

Portrait of a Waitress

Wendy Worker has an incredible attitude about her work.  She is positive, pleasant, and productive. 

“How can I help you?”

“I don’t know the answer, but I can find out.”

I’m really sorry about the error, I’d be happy to fix it.”

***********
Don’t-bother-me Betty is just the opposite.  She is easily irritated, only does the “minimum” amount of work, and is quick to blame others.

I’ve never done that before.”

Don’t ask me, I just work here.”

“Sorry, but I don’t make up the rules.  I just follow them”

Don’t-bother-me-Betty was our waitress recently on vacation.  Her attitude was bigger than Texas, and she went out of her way not to be helpful.  Here’s how the conversation went.

Doug:  “Do you have a children’s menu?”

Betty:  “Not that I know of, I just started.”

Doug:  “Can you make rigatoni with butter?”

Betty:  “I don’t know what rigatoni is.”

Doug:  “Do you know what spaghetti is?”

(Doug starts to get really irritated, so Susan jumps in.)

Susan:  “Are you sure you don’t have a kids’ menu?”

Betty:  “Sorry lady, I just work here.”

Five minutes later, I couldn’t help but overhear Wendy Worker explaining the children’s menu to the table next to us.

Doug and I just looked at each other and laughed.  I’m sure Don’t-bother-me Betty was probably a college student just trying to make a few bucks at a summer job, but I couldn’t help but notice the difference in Wendy Worker’s attitude and service.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’ve been a waitress before, and it’s hard work.  Maybe Betty was having a bad day.  At least she made me think hard.  I never want to have the attitude that says, “I just work here.”  Do you?

(Bonus ending:  Don’t-bother-me Betty went on to screw up our order and delay dinner for our hungry children.  But Doug still left her a good tip!  Go figure.  We all need a little grace sometimes.)

8 comments:

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Believe it or not, I loved waitressing. I lived in Hilton Head one summer and waitressed during the day and put on a hostess cape at night.

I'm weird, I like work.

(bonus: and I know what rigatoni is) :D

Like the new look & the picture.
~ Wendy

Esther said...

Susan, love your new look.
And sometimes I feel like Don't Bother Me Betty at home :)

Susan DiMickele said...

Thanks Ladies - & thx for the comemnts about the new look. It totally happened by accident. My old site got corrupted over the weekend (go figure) and I had to get to work fast. My goal is to have a really cool template in place by Jan 1!

Miss. C said...

Good luck!!!! Cute picture!!!

Heidi @ Decor & More said...

Attitude is everything! Thanks for the reminder. :)
Love what you've done with your site! All that work and Twitter, too? You go, girl!!

Laura@OutnumberedMom said...

I'm with Esther -- sometimes I feel like Don't Bother Me Betty at home, unfortunately.

Yeah, I like my work too -- it's filled with kids and I still like them. But I guess we all have Don't Bother Me Betty days...

Now you have my interest piqued about your "totally new template" on Jan. 1st!

Unknown said...

Yeah for Doug. We do all need grace, even when we are the least deserving. Isn't that the definition of grace "unmerited favor". If we had to earn it we would all be in hot water.

algunas profesiones said...

I enjoyed readding this