Worked in kitchens for the past 6 years and learned as much as I could to do as much as I could. Landed a decent kitchen job that I held for 3 of those years, and I strived to move up their ladder in hopes or being a manager, because I always hated those who stood around and barked orders, especially when the line is slammed. I need a ServSafe Manager certificate? Got it, here you are. I need to learn every side from prep-fryer-grill-saute? Schedule me them and watch me ask questions and learn. Need me to order the truck and put product away? Let me do it and answer my questions so we don't fuck the whole operation.

Well, they do what all cushy job leeches do and didn't like the drive. They talked behind my back, blocked me from going to HR, and then I tried to play a hand. I dropped them a 2 weeks notice since they weren't respecting me. When I told them no jobs had gotten to me and I could use the job still, they cut me loose then and there. What a hand, but not a losing one.

Got reached out by a fast food chain who were more than happy to teach me to be a manager and to give me what we all would hope for. 40 hour weeks constantly, no overtime, great pay for the area, 4 days on and 3 days off. Just be a manager, help your team, and follow or guidelines for the brand.

I know not everyone shares my drive, or wants to work with a chain business, but the kitchen is always brutal. But surviving that brutality and keeping your head up high shows people outside of it that you're an asset, whether your management acknowledged you or not. Never settle for less, and keep your fucking worth.

For reading all that, I hope your beer is cold and whoever the fuck closed last night left you stocked up for the day.