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Remember your first boss?

September 18, 2010 by Don Fox — CEO, Firehouse of America

Do you remember your first boss? Of COURSE you do. That person holds a unique place in your personal history. Be it a source of inspiration, perspiration, or palpitations, your first boss helped mold your perception of what a boss should be. For better or worse, you’ve carried those impressions with you the rest of your life.

My first boss was Vinny. He owned a Mom & Pop Italian restaurant in Lakewood, New Jersey, back in the 1970’s. Like so many restaurants then and now, the kitchen served as a melting pot for a wide range of personalities. I was 16 years old, and my personality was quite reserved compared to many of the colorful characters that made the kitchen buzz with life on a Friday night. Vinny was not only the owner of the restaurant; he was the unquestioned leader. Small in physical stature, he dominated by virtue of his exuberant laugh, winning smile, and uncompromising standards. He was a stickler for doing a job right, each and every time. As an entry level dishwasher, I quickly found this put to the test the first night I had to clean the sauce pot after closing. Not a speck of carbon was allowed on that pot, inside or out. And you could be certain that if Vinny was in the house at closing, that pot was going to be inspected. As a dishwasher, you soon learned to keep a watchful eye on the cooks to make sure they were stirring often, and with vigor.

I could tell many stories about Vinny. But that’s exactly the point. We ALL have stories about our first boss. For me, they are fond memories and tales of valuable lessons. But that isn’t the case for everyone. Unfortunately, not every first boss is a good one.

This brings me to the whole point of this blog. As leaders in the restaurant industry, we must never forget the role we play as the first boss for so many young people. With 36 years and counting in the restaurant business, and now in the role of a CEO, I don’t have that many opportunities to be a first boss any longer. But hundreds of people in my organization do. In their role as restaurant managers, I remind them that they will be remembered years from now for what kind of first boss they were to dozens, and perhaps even hundreds of people. They will hold a unique place in the lives of those employees, who may go on to do great things in their own right. And as a first boss, they will be viewed for better or worse. Or perhaps they will suffer the worst fate of all: being thought of with indifference. Rising to the challenge of being the best first boss you can be is something that will change the way you approach your day. So think about your first boss. And then think about what you can do to be just a little bit better when you are a first boss. When you reflect on it many years from now, you will be glad that you did.

About Don Fox

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