Life Outside Work Is Critical

Keeping perspective is really the key in the QSR world. When you start taking things personally (they never are) and treat each challenge like the end of the world (they're not) you're going to get stressed out and make bad decisions. These bad decisions will more often than not make life more difficult for your subordinates...and that's really the cardinal sin. You have to keep your cool so you can keep the needs of your team in mind.

The best way to do keep perspective is realize the importance of the service industry. It's important: People pay money for the convenience, for the experience, to have their day made a little better. There's a reason so many people make their livings (albeit most of them just barely) in the service sector: it's imporant.

That being said, no small child ever got cancer because of a late pizza. No one lost their life because a coupon wasn't rung in correctly. Economies of nations do not fall because food cost is high one week. These are all things to be avoided, and your ability to make the day go by without these problems is why you're the boss.

But it's just work. It's just a job. It's a big part of who you are, but it's not the whole package. You spend quite a few hours of your week outside the store too. You've got a family (or hopes of having one). You've got hobbies. Friends. Books you like to read, movies you like to watch, volunteer work you like to participate in.

If you work to live—instead of living to work—you'll be more balanced. More able to put that dropped meat patty into perspective. (Really, those things don't cost much. If that's your biggest problem in life you're golden). You'll be less likely to fly off the handle, throw things, yell and scream. You'll be a more compassionate human being, and compassionate human beings take better care of their team. A team that feels looked after tends to work better.

By an odd paradox, having a life outside work will make you a better person. Being a better person will enable you to do a better job at work. Having a life outside the store lets you have a clearer focus on what you do in the store.

So leave on time, or even a little early, whenever you can. Don't show up absurdly early for no reason. Stay away on your day off, live your life instead of stopping by or calling every hour. And if you're sitting there going, “But then the store will fall apart!” you need to get yourself a management team that's up to the job. Teach, train, and a develop your junior managers and use them in a way that takes advantage of their skills.

That's all there is to it: get a life. If you have one already, don't be ashamed of it. If you're putting in your share of the work and the hours, very little will be gained by doing more. Everything in moderation, people, even your job.