What was your first job?

[VanKalkerFarms]

More of an icebreaker question this time, reminiscing can be fun, so what was your first job?

Bonus, did that job have any influence on your business or personality?

[VanKalkerFarms]

That's awesome, what Duke's, there's a few in the area? Mokena has one but it relocated from brigeview, I think, and they are huge into cruise nights.  Working at a place like that definitely gave you a good foundation in the speed and stress of food service.  I never did but had friends that worked at Andy's and Portillos in and after high school.

[BofBArtStudio]

It is cool that you know of it!

I worked at the one that used to be in Bridgeview.  

I started there back in 1986 when I was 16. I lived 3 mi away in Burbank and used to think nothing of it that I had to walk that 3 mi to get to work. 

I definitely learned about the speed and stress of food service. 

I am always very nostalgic and proud of that experience.

[Donnie-M]

McDonald's.  Great first place to start out, structured training, food was still good.

What I realized is that if you show up to work every day and stick with something, and just smile, you can go farther than good intentions and intelligence will take you any day.

[Minion]

I first started out maybe 14, as a dishwasher to a local bar/restaurant. Mainly seasonal, for snowmobiles.  Pumped gas in the sleds, prepped french fries , did dishes etc.  I drove my little 3 wheeler (yeah the dangerous things)  about 15 miles on back roads to get there.  

Ironically enough, 4 years after that job, the same cook who was there hired me at a new restaurant he was working out.  Started with Dishes, moved up to prep cook, and then 6 years into it ended with Sous Chef.  

One day I was just tired of the deadend-ness (?) and overworking with people who didn't "work".  Tossed up them deuces and ventured out. 

At times, I do miss the daily grind of restaaurnat business, not going to lie there.  The rushes, the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction when you get through some hectic times.   

All in all, It taught me how to prioritize my time throughout a day. 

[Hailey]

"Tossed up them deuces and ventured out." hahaha love this energy. I also had many early jobs/supplemental jobs in restaurant industry and feel the same - at times i really miss that rush. You feel tired (probably more due to cortisol overload than anything) and you have cash in hand from tips at the end of the day.... something about that combo can be addictive a bit. 

[Bronze_Palms]

My first job was as a event staff member for little girls spa birthday parties. It was very fun, engaging and high energy.

[JUYBoutique20]

For my first job I was a carhop at Sonic.  I loved being able to talk to everyone flirt with all the boys my age 🤣.  It definitely didn't influence me to start my business, but it did help me see my bubbly, talkative, people lover personality.

[Hailey]

My first job was the Summer before highschool - so 14 years old - and I worked as cashier at a grocery store. Haven't stopped working since and have dabbled in F&B (the most consistently other than marketing), retail, non-profit, sales (like horrible telemarketing sales... the worst), ad agency, and other random jobs. I'm a very curious person so the job bouncing makes sense - chasing new experiences and dopamine all throughout my teens and early 20's in the workforce. Landed in marketing after studying it throughout school and get my creative curiosity fix every day 😊