Here it Goes, Here it Goes, Here it Goes Again

Yeah, I'd say 2012 has been a lot like the OK Go video. Good thing I like treadmills, right?

That's not to stay I've been stagnant, I've just been moving and changing a lot but my scenery isn't really changing. I've been going through the motions - flipping through my ACE texts, getting the personal and group training certifications, trying to be an active fitness blogger - but not really getting ahead. This past week I finally moved into action.

Step One: New serving job. I've hesitated to post this because I needed to make sure I gave my notice before any wandering eyes found their way to my blog. I've really enjoyed working with the people at this most recent establishment, but the overall environment - being a restaurant adjacent with and belonging to a hotel - just was not for me. I needed something new.

A serving job that was a little less:

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Definitely NOT:

And wouldn't make me want to:

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That third one is always iffy. I mean, the world is full of people. Not all of them are exactly brilliant, and of those less-than-brilliant types, I might have to wait on a few. At least if someone's stupidity makes me cry, I'll try to keep it on the inside :-D

Step Two: Get my A$$ in the gym!

No, not to work out. I finally, for real, not just saying I'll do it but actually DID, get all of my certifications and resume together and presented it to the gym I currently work at teaching spin. There was a minor hiccup today, as I found out I needed to fill out an entire new application, but that wasn't bad because it forced me to update my resume, qualifications, and references. I just hope that this gym allows its trainers to teach group fitness and vice versa. I don't see why they wouldn't except that it might complicate payroll, but I will argue that - in my opinion - members would want to see their instructors in multiples roles at the gym.

Years ago, when I was first just getting back to the gym and doing something about the rounder shape I'd gotten myself into, I noticed a divide straight away. There were the instructors, who just came and went as they had classes scheduled, and the trainers, who pretty much kept to themselves behind the trainer's desk, not interacting with members outside of their appointments. This didn't seem right.

It wasn't for several years after I first got back into shape that I took up an interest in training, mainly because I saw a gap that needed to be bridged. And maybe this is the server in me (the happy server, not the one who sometimes wants to scream), but I think the spirit of hospitality and helpfulness should extend to EVERY industry.

How many times have you walked into the gym and not even been greeted by the person at the front desk? I bet it's happened this week. The gym I work for isn't so bad - the front desk staff is typically attentive and friendly - but I've been in other places where it seemed like most of the staff, trainers, sales team, and front desk alike just didn't want to be there. I get that maybe they're bored or even frustrated because it's slow and they don't have any appointments, but what's stopping them from getting out on the floor, offering to spot someone, or even seeing if they can give some free pointers? What's more likely to get new clients, anyway: sitting around doing nothing, or engaging with members?

I say that I am and always be a server at heart. Maybe that's why I went and got a new restaurant job (I know, again) instead of quitting the industry altogether. And what I've learned in the service industry most certainly extends to the attitude I have toward personal training: it's not just taking an order and then providing the product, it's about guiding the experience. When I take on new clients, I could make every one of them do the same routine and see results, but that's not what they want, either. They need to be a part of the process and I need to make it enjoyable (or less torturous) for them.

Step Three: The Balancing Act.

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Both jobs start in about two weeks. I'll train in the mornings and work four dinner shifts Wednesday through Saturday. My husband asked, "When will you sleep?" which I told him I'm not worried about. I'm actually concerned with when I'll eat! I'm going to start stocking up on Luna Bars, Lara Bars and Zone Perfect Perfectly Simple. I should just start sending emails:

Dear So-and-Such Company,
I am a mom/server/trainer/fitness instructor and perpetual student of fitness and life seeking sponsorship in the form of free food so that I might survive from one day to the next. I will eat and review your tasty food products, wear clothes with your company logo, and might even get the image of your best-selling product tattooed on my arm if it means I won't have to go to work on an empty stomach ever again.

Who would you have help sponsor your life?

What's the worst job you ever had? 

The Running Server: Hospitality PR

Tonight, I had the pleasure of waiting on an ornery old man and 13 of his friends. I already resisted throwing food at him took care of him the night before and it seemed the rest of the company he was in was well aware of his... how do I put this diplomatically? Idiosyncrasies. I got to know them as the evening wore on and came to the understanding that I would have to "take one for the team" and go ahead and volunteer myself to wait on him and his party again tonight. Even though he yelled at our chef about a glass of wine that took half and hour (5 minutes) when he arrived to deliver his cooked-up steak (ordered medium, served medium, but still "too bloody"), and basically seemed to find a reason to send me off running for something every time I approached the table. I figured I would have a leg up on everyone else in knowing what exactly I would be in store for waiting on him for a second time in a row.

By the end of his dinner, he seemed to love me. I piled on the "ya'll"s and the southern charm and said "absolutely" and "certainly" a lot. Never mind that I'm from NY. Normally, when a guest gives me a hard time, I just can't wait for them to go. I don't know why, but I just had to win my way into this man's heart. And before anyone rushes to assume that I did it for the tip, the party was at a set dollar amount with gratuity included. Essentially, I would not have made a penny more or less regardless of whether I asked "how high?" each time he told me to jump.

I don't know why, but I felt it was really important to get this man to like me and, at the very least, not yell at our chef again. Well, my mission succeeded. Obviously we want ALL of our guests to leave happy, but it's especially nice when it's someone you thought no one would be able to please. We'll call it a serving PR of sorts.

Just a little life lesson for today: Sometimes it is the thing you want to do the least that will bring you the most reward.

Even better than making the old man happy was how happy his wife was that we were able to (mostly) please him. I think they had been married for 52 years or something like that and she has been running interference of just as long between him and any other waitstaff he's encountered. My true reward for the night was how thrilled and happy SHE was - probably that she didn't have to apologize for him or listen him go on about how crappy he thought everything was afterwards.

And even though we had to cook his steak up - again - he was more than happy to have the rest of his meal remain in front of him while we cooked up three slices of sirloin.

I win at serving. The end.