Good Ole’ Chick-Fil-A
Life Lessons
09.12.2008
For a mere $4.25 (which would hardly put the gas in my car to get to work these days), I would take customer orders and run the cash register. On a good day, I would serve samples in the mall (and no, I did not wear the chicken suit!).
I wasn’t allowed to work the food line or handle any kitchen equipment (knives or cookers) until I was much older and more steady-handed. The perks: For every four hours that I worked, I could eat five bucks worth of food. Needless to say, my waistline increased proportionately with my paychecks! Since I only worked on Saturdays, every paycheck was a mere $30 after taxes. I would cash my paycheck at the register and head straight to the Gap - what else would a 14-year-old girl do? But I did learn a few things that I’ve carried with me through the years: 1) enjoying who you work with makes all of the difference in the world; 2) marketing works (e.g., “boneless skinless chicken breast breaded and cooked under pressure in peanut oil” sells and sounds better than “fried”); and finally, 3) when you stand near a fryer for eight hours you might as well have jumped in it!
