Unexpected Lessons from Pouring Drinks and Fixing Things
- Feb 15, 2018
- 4 min read
Our experiences have so much to teach us, if we can see and find the lessons learned. This past year has been one filled with lessons that I probably would not have learned if the year had gone as I originally planned. To my surprise, some of the best lessons I learned came from working as a bartender and fixing a house in need of some tender loving care.
RAISING THE BAR
Yes, being a bartender taught me some great lessons that I was not expecting to learn and it helped me sharpen some skills along the way. I learned much more than just how to make a great drink or pour a great beer. Bartending has given me an arena to test people skills and hone them.
“Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast”
The biggest skill and lesson that bartending has helped me hone is how to stay cool during chaos. This is a skill that is useful in all aspects of life. I have used it in sports, finals week, sales, and in my personal life. Usually the bar functions in extremes; people don’t tend to gradually trickle in. I usually blink for a second and the bar goes from empty to full, which means that a lot of people all want food, drinks, and conversation at the same time. This stressed the hell out of me and still does. I take a deep breath and remind myself of my mantra for these situations, “slow is smooth, smooth is fast”.
On the surface, it seems that I am learning how to be a better multitasker, but when I multitask I make mistakes. What looks to be good multitasking is really timesharing, a conscious decision to efficiently deal with one situation, one customer, one drink at a time and then move on to the next. This keeps my mind focused, conserves energy I would have wasted stressing out, and makes me better at my job.
Smile
Sales taught me the importance of a smile and how to bring out a smile in others. It sounds cheesy, but Maya Angelou was spot on when she said, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” People want to feel good and if I can help make them feel good, then I am doing a good job.
So how can you help people feel good? Smile, genuinely smile, and show them that you are happy to see them. Genuine smiles are infectious. I smile and try to shake almost everyone’s hand when they sit down. I want people to feel good. It makes them have a better experience, makes me feel good, opens the opportunity for good conversation and learning, and positively affects my bottom line.
THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE RIGHT JOB
Fixing a house in need of some TLC has also taught me some unexpected lessons. I have gained a deep respect for joint compound and a screw gun and have learned that water is not always my friend. I have also honed some skills
There are a lot of clichés I hear when it comes to both business and repairing a home. My knee jerk reaction to most home repairs is to throw some joint compound on it, but that is just a band aid if the source of the problem is not fixed. Doing it right the first time matters; it gets the best solution, saves time, and saves lots of money. There are a lot of useful tools, but the two most useful are problem solving and using the right people.
KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid
Simple common sense can solve a lot of issues from leaking ceilings to ripping out flooring. I have a tendency to over-think and complicate, so I have found the metaphor KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid, has been one of the best lessons learned and skills honed by fixing a house. It allows me to break down complex issues into easily digestible chunks which I can comprehend and relate to other non home contractor people like myself. Without the complexity, the fear and stress almost disappear and solutions are in plain sight.
Find and Work With the Right People
I am not a contractor, I am not a home builder, I am just a guy helping fix up a house. One of the best tools I have in my tool kit is people that I can rely on and trust. Using the right people to fix the right problems matters. Just like in business, this as a team sport. I weeded through lots of contractors and have found some great ones to fix what I cannot fix. They let me know what needs to be fixed, what doesn’t, what I can fix myself to save some money, and even help me with how to fix it on my own. Good advice is helpful, great advice is priceless.
Things do not always go as planned, which can be a good thing. Unexpected lessons can be learned from unexpected experiences. In almost every situation there is a silver lining with lessons that can help us learn, grow, and develop. The real trick is to find the silver lining.
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