The Restaurant Industry According to Hollywood #21
You can't help but appreciate Bill Murray’s tirade in the diner during his endless visit to Punxsutawney, PA if you are a restaurant veteran (Groundhog Day). Sometime we don’t even realize the extent to which we know our regulars and staff and how much a part of our lives they become.
In this case, Murray’s character, Phil Connors, didn’t know a soul when he arrived in the tiny little hamlet in Western PA. As he repeats the same day endlessly, he becomes more than familiar with the folks in this small town; in fact, he begins to care about them. We see this every day in our own restaurants as we get to know our regulars and become closer to our staffs. The trick is to appreciate it and not allow familiarity to breed contempt.
All of us have made those connections over our time in the industry. We are truly fortunate to work in an industry that facilitates social interactions that can ultimately fuel real and meaningful friendships. So even if your regulars and staff get on your nerves, remember, they only do so because they are around enough to care about them. People that don’t matter to you will never register anything worthy of your annoyance. So, we suggest you take a lesson from Phil Connor and embrace why your regulars and staff are worthy of knowing. Be grateful that they are part of your business and your life.