“Getting Uncomfortable”
A few weeks back, Tara and I were brainstorming over dinner at a local restaurant. The conversation was on the effectiveness of our website. We dissected the website, looked at the data, came up with a few ideas… really nothing groundbreaking.
As we scanned a little longer, we clicked on the blog tab and low and behold it was still blank. Now Tara began developing the website about a year ago now, yet not one word on the blog page. After an awkward stare, a productive conversation started.
Our first action could have been pointing fingers at each other, making up some excuse, or just shun it all together and order dessert. But how can we hold to the idea of holistic solutions without reflecting and moving forward? Now, I admit it has been over three weeks since that dinner, so here is my attempt at moving forward.
As part of our conversation around the blog, both Tara and I realized that the whole idea of a blog is out of our wheelhouse. Now, if you need someone to train your kitchen staff, streamline your production or reduce food cost, I am all over it - But writing? That’s a different story. Putting private thoughts on paper, kind of makes me queasy. I am the type of guy that reads the room, draws off the energy and pivots as needed. This blank white screen gives me none of that.
So WHY do it?
Growth.
Whether it is personal or professional, we all should be striving to grow. And sometimes in order to grow we must push our own boundaries, get out of our own comfort zone and explore.
Over the past couple of weeks I visualized writing this blog. I thought about what I would write but never put the plan into action. To be honest, I was afraid of how it would be received.
Isn’t that what holds us back? Fear? Fear of failure, fear of not being accepted, fear of making the tough decision because it might make someone uncomfortable? But if we let being uncomfortable control our actions, how will we succeed, excel, and ultimately grow?
Maybe it is the time to make being uncomfortable a part of our daily routine.
Everyday each of us no matter what our title may be, has to face an uncomfortable decision. Maybe it is reducing the labor cost by sending workers home early, redoing an entree because the scallop wasn’t seared enough, or telling a line cook to put his phone away during service. But then again, why waste the time and the energy?
GROWTH.
Growth is not something that comes overnight. Growth comes from small acts, MANY small acts, and it can’t be just a one time thing.
Once we decide to step outside of our comfort zone and act on what we know should be done, we need to be consistent. Whether it's reminding someone that being scheduled for 11:00 means showing up at 11 (not 11:15), talking to the staff about the volume/language of the music in the kitchen, or writing a blog, we need to embrace the uncomfortableness in order to grow.
“Growth is not something that comes overnight. Growth comes from small acts, MANY small acts, and it can’t be just a one time thing.”