It was a long time ago, longer than I like to admit to myself, but it still seems just like yesterday. I went in and applied for my first job at a Whataburger in Phoenix, Arizona. I was only 15, but I could already feel the weight of an empty wallet and wanted to fix that.
In a few days I received a call on a phone that was hardwired to a wall and was asked to come in and meet with general manager. My grandma took me to buy a white shirt and tie and the next thing I knew, was sitting in a small office right beside the cash register. Who would have thought that fast food restaurants had offices? I was already learning things!
We went through some standard questions, I had an in. My cousin Nate had worked there for a few years, but I was unsure if that was going to help or hurt me. Inside I was a nervous mess, outside I was playing the part of being cool, calm, and confident. The three C’s that I still try to always showcase regardless of what is happening below the surface.
The GM shook my hand and, on the spot, offered me the job. I would start that Thursday after basketball practice, only two days away. I walked out and began my journey home, a short seven-mile walk. Yes, there were about thirty-two fast food restaurants between home and this Whataburger on 35th and Bethany Home Road, but Nate didn’t work at those, so they didn’t even pop up on my radar. I would quickly learn the bus route times and save myself from the long walking journey.
My first day was orientation, followed by chopping vegetables. Another learning moment, I had never chopped a head of lettuce or tomatoes in my life. The lettuce was easy enough, the tomatoes fought back, but after a few we figured it out. And isn’t that the real story of life? Something can be so difficult, nearly impossible at first, but after enough repetitions the challenging is now a breeze. Another lesson learned from the first job.
After a few days of food prep, I made my way to making the burgers. Promotion number one, at least that’s how I saw it. I was now a step closer to the customers and I was in the battle. Now they wouldn’t let me near the grill, but I was assembling burgers… for strangers. This felt like a very important responsibility and I didn’t want to mess up. I had to read scribbled down notes on handwritten carryout bags to know what was to be put on each burger. I think of the lucky fast food workers of today, with these beautiful order print outs, and I wonder if they know just how lucky they are because not too long ago things were a bit more challenging. Was this no cheese or extra cheese? Is this onions for the burger or onion rings on the side? I was now running from the back to the front asking questions on nearly every bag. Another lesson, take the extra effort to make sure you know what someone really wants before you begin working on the project.
Soon I was a master at reading chicken scratch and we were flying food out. The GM pulled me aside on week one and told me I was doing great. He loved how I smiled and interacted with the customers when I brought the food out and he wondered if I would like to take a crack at the register.
This was one of the best jobs in the building to me, only beat by Drive-Thru Specialist, saved for the select few heroes. The best of the best. The Top Gun pilots of the fast-food industry, at least through the eyes of an eager high-school boy.
It came with $0.10 more an hour, but even without the raise I would have jumped at the opportunity. There has always been something in me that wants the challenge and I can’t walk away from an opportunity. Something that has been both good and bad at different stages of my career.
My first day at the register was a CHALLENGE. There were so many buttons, I mean like sooo many buttons and half of them were so worn the words were missing so you had to memorize them. The first order I ever took went amazing. The second even smoother. I was feeling like a champ. Third, I clocked out an employee. On the fourth, I ordered 100 onion rings. Another lesson: don’t get too cocky too fast! Soon, I learned an even more important lesson: people are usually very nice when you make a mistake as long as you keep communicating with them. When I pushed the wrong button, when I got flustered, I would just smile and let them know we are working through this thing together. 9 out of 10 times we would all laugh and soon be on our way.
On top of taking orders, I had to drop all the fried foods, the deep fryers located directly behind me. So here is young Steve on the second week of the Whataburger job, balancing customer orders, fry baskets, timers yelling at me, and you know what… I loved it! I loved the chaos, the people, the ENERGY! And I was thriving. It was all clicking and by the end of week three, I was so efficient I could take out the trash and wipe down tables between customers. The only task I despised, and still do to this day, was cleaning the toilets, but there is no glory without sacrifice.
As the end of week four approached the GM pulled me into the office again. The nervous energy crept back in. The only time people ever went into the office was to be let go. I knew I was doing a great job, the team leaders, my peers, and most importantly the customers were constantly telling me so, but you never know. Maybe they had too much staff, maybe balancing my hours with basketball practice, bus schedules, and 15-year-old labor laws were a hassle. I vividly remember thinking, “I’m getting fired.”
Instead, I walked out with my next promotion. This one worth an additional $0.15 an hour. I was now a Drive-Thru Specialist, and I had been named employee of the month, which came with a bonus and my name on a plaque.
It’s been over 30 years since my first job, and to this day I am still proud of that moment. The lessons I learned from my first job at Whataburger have stayed with me. The joy of making someone happy, delivering on a promise, and doing the very best work I can with a smile have carried me through my entire career and they are the foundations of how we do business here at PunchDrunk Digital.