Obvious question, how does this apply to the current DOGE and the investigations for fraud in the federal government? How would you handle auditing all these federal employees? What would you do differently?
That's an Interesting question. My first rule for my own work is to Be Defensible. If it takes extra time to do the analysis, then that needs to happen. It's aligned with Einstein's quote: "If I had an hour to save the plane,t I would spend 55 minutes defining the problem and 5 minutes coming up with solutions."
Once the good and clear analysis is done, I'd execute quickly. There's nothing nice about laying off tens of thousands of people and cutting funding. If you've ever had to help people face deficits in their personal finances... well... In this case, we aren't talking about avoiding that extra coffee but cutting easy money.
Yet we are $2T in yearly deficit and $36T in debt. That's an unfathomable number. To actually pay down that debt, we need to cut $3T to make any difference at all. We spent $6.75T last year so we're talking 45% cuts just to allow us to pay off the debt at some time. For context, our debt servicing is more than our military budget, which is the biggest budget in the world and bigger than I think the next 10 countries combined, including China and Russia. We are violating Ferguson's Law that says countries collapse when they cross that threshold.
We need to cut 45% to balance our budget and pay down debt. That's not surgical cutting. That's taking a machete and hacking off zombie parts.
Wrapping it all up, I'd spend a bit more time letting the situation develop so I'd be defensible, and then I'd cut quickly and as accurately as possible.
I'm quite confident that working in restaurants helped me learn how to think. I would not object to a plan wherein everyone has to do one year of civic service, and that one year consists entirely of working in restaurants. I'm quite confident the world would have more empathy, but also: better problem solving skills.
These are great front-of-the-house callouts, and there are just as many kitchen corollaries. This time in my memory will always have its own special space.
Very true. I do love how you’re always about one week behind the release of these essays. 😆 I’ve been waiting for a comment since I had you in mind based on your own writing on working in resturaunts. 👊🏽
Yes, very much in "catching up" mode for a bit, but then I realized: it's kind of cool for you to have an excuse to revisit and think about these ideas once again. Win/win; I'll take it!
I think I might have dated at least five people from the front of the house, maybe way more.
Interesting post! The only thing I would mention here, is the bit about the Karen and the alcohol. I will tell you straight up, you (or that waiter) have no idea if that man is an alcoholic. If I went to a restaurant and my husband ordered alcohol in front of me like that, I'd be acting the same way as that "Karen." Rather than make a scene, I'd pull a look, and of course the alcoholic in the middle of their recovery is going to look beaten down. This is just a caution to others that might read this and think, "right on, screw that Karen bitch!" There's a reason for everything, and mistreating someone because someone deems them Karen is just shitty IMO.
Valid point. It's a very summarized example with a lot more context that I couldn't quite work in, but you've hit on an important point. We need to know the whole story.
wow - great post. I've said that if military is mandatory for young men and women, where they learn to kill humans, then food service should also be required to learn how to serve humans.
Awesome share. Ironically, I've been in the Military and Food Service, but I've never learned to kill AND serve humans... at least... not the way it sounds when said like that! 😂
I'm originally from the U.P. and we loved to eat at the Keweenaw Mtn. Lodge as a kid and later on vacation. We camped past the end of 41 on the 4WD road many times. The black flies could be horrendous.
I worked many service jobs, from gas station pump attendant to professional cleaner, and learned early on that you EARN tips. The 'superior service' attitude with attention to detail paid off handsomely in the corporate world. Attitude really does control altitude, because our reputation precedes us wherever we go. We command respect with our behavior.
Everyone is an example; please be a good one as we have too many bad ones already.
This essay resonated deeply. I feel like I have a polymath’s dream job finally after years of just changing jobs when I was bored. I’m now leading organizational effectiveness in a hospital and long term care facility that also has a neuroscience research facility, global consulting arm and one of the world’s largest innovation incubators for brain research. The people and micro cultures I serve involve jobs and skills that are as diverse as the patients and clients we serve.
But my real advantage comes from the breadth of my experience: starting my career as nursing student in a community hospital, switching to working as an EA to the CEO of Canada’s largest hospital, then spending seven years in management consulting at Accenture. I understand frontline challenges, executive concerns, and how to design and deliver solutions in the complexity of public healthcare. That range of perspectives has been key to making an impact today.
That's an awesome experience, and that does sound like a Polymath's dream job. Much of my career has touched on OE and its sister, Six Sigma, across large companies. Getting to touch so many things really gives a great perspective. Thanks for sharing!
Obvious question, how does this apply to the current DOGE and the investigations for fraud in the federal government? How would you handle auditing all these federal employees? What would you do differently?
That's an Interesting question. My first rule for my own work is to Be Defensible. If it takes extra time to do the analysis, then that needs to happen. It's aligned with Einstein's quote: "If I had an hour to save the plane,t I would spend 55 minutes defining the problem and 5 minutes coming up with solutions."
Once the good and clear analysis is done, I'd execute quickly. There's nothing nice about laying off tens of thousands of people and cutting funding. If you've ever had to help people face deficits in their personal finances... well... In this case, we aren't talking about avoiding that extra coffee but cutting easy money.
Yet we are $2T in yearly deficit and $36T in debt. That's an unfathomable number. To actually pay down that debt, we need to cut $3T to make any difference at all. We spent $6.75T last year so we're talking 45% cuts just to allow us to pay off the debt at some time. For context, our debt servicing is more than our military budget, which is the biggest budget in the world and bigger than I think the next 10 countries combined, including China and Russia. We are violating Ferguson's Law that says countries collapse when they cross that threshold.
We need to cut 45% to balance our budget and pay down debt. That's not surgical cutting. That's taking a machete and hacking off zombie parts.
Wrapping it all up, I'd spend a bit more time letting the situation develop so I'd be defensible, and then I'd cut quickly and as accurately as possible.
I'm quite confident that working in restaurants helped me learn how to think. I would not object to a plan wherein everyone has to do one year of civic service, and that one year consists entirely of working in restaurants. I'm quite confident the world would have more empathy, but also: better problem solving skills.
These are great front-of-the-house callouts, and there are just as many kitchen corollaries. This time in my memory will always have its own special space.
Very true. I do love how you’re always about one week behind the release of these essays. 😆 I’ve been waiting for a comment since I had you in mind based on your own writing on working in resturaunts. 👊🏽
Yes, very much in "catching up" mode for a bit, but then I realized: it's kind of cool for you to have an excuse to revisit and think about these ideas once again. Win/win; I'll take it!
I think I might have dated at least five people from the front of the house, maybe way more.
Loved this trip down service memory lane. I wrote one of my own not too long ago.
https://deerambeau.substack.com/p/the-church-ladies-at-table-19-got?utm_source=publication-search
Nice share. Good memories and lots of learning.
Working in a restaurant taught me I never want to run a restaurant and would rather cook for myself and friends. It's a lot of work and stress.
Yeah, I'd love to start a brewery but that requires food and then I'm like... Ummmmmm....
Lol. What's your favorite beer that you make?
Oh sheesh. I've got a wonderful Saison and Sour Prickly Pear Cream Ale on tap. I don't have a favorite per se.
Wow! Pretty crazy!
Interesting post! The only thing I would mention here, is the bit about the Karen and the alcohol. I will tell you straight up, you (or that waiter) have no idea if that man is an alcoholic. If I went to a restaurant and my husband ordered alcohol in front of me like that, I'd be acting the same way as that "Karen." Rather than make a scene, I'd pull a look, and of course the alcoholic in the middle of their recovery is going to look beaten down. This is just a caution to others that might read this and think, "right on, screw that Karen bitch!" There's a reason for everything, and mistreating someone because someone deems them Karen is just shitty IMO.
Valid point. It's a very summarized example with a lot more context that I couldn't quite work in, but you've hit on an important point. We need to know the whole story.
wow - great post. I've said that if military is mandatory for young men and women, where they learn to kill humans, then food service should also be required to learn how to serve humans.
here is my take on my 30 year food industry career - https://open.substack.com/pub/riclexel/p/its-you-not-me?r=bcx26&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Awesome share. Ironically, I've been in the Military and Food Service, but I've never learned to kill AND serve humans... at least... not the way it sounds when said like that! 😂
I'm originally from the U.P. and we loved to eat at the Keweenaw Mtn. Lodge as a kid and later on vacation. We camped past the end of 41 on the 4WD road many times. The black flies could be horrendous.
I worked many service jobs, from gas station pump attendant to professional cleaner, and learned early on that you EARN tips. The 'superior service' attitude with attention to detail paid off handsomely in the corporate world. Attitude really does control altitude, because our reputation precedes us wherever we go. We command respect with our behavior.
Everyone is an example; please be a good one as we have too many bad ones already.
Where in the UP? I love it up in Houghton and I've been out at the end of 41 as well. We've camped at High Rock many times.
I went to school in Watersmeet and later Michigan Tech in Houghton.
As you've probably divined, my wife and I graduated from Tech. Myself in 05 and my wife in 08. Awesome to run into another Husky.
This essay resonated deeply. I feel like I have a polymath’s dream job finally after years of just changing jobs when I was bored. I’m now leading organizational effectiveness in a hospital and long term care facility that also has a neuroscience research facility, global consulting arm and one of the world’s largest innovation incubators for brain research. The people and micro cultures I serve involve jobs and skills that are as diverse as the patients and clients we serve.
But my real advantage comes from the breadth of my experience: starting my career as nursing student in a community hospital, switching to working as an EA to the CEO of Canada’s largest hospital, then spending seven years in management consulting at Accenture. I understand frontline challenges, executive concerns, and how to design and deliver solutions in the complexity of public healthcare. That range of perspectives has been key to making an impact today.
That's an awesome experience, and that does sound like a Polymath's dream job. Much of my career has touched on OE and its sister, Six Sigma, across large companies. Getting to touch so many things really gives a great perspective. Thanks for sharing!
Loved this, Michael. Very relatable— especially the front and back of house juxtaposition!!
Unlike you, I definitely DO NOT miss waiting tables. But it made for great stories!!
Thanks. I'm not sure how much I'd want to do it again or if it's just nostalgia. 😂