The Six P's

OK. ... I have been a little too laid back on these posts for too long. Well no longer. Now I am about to drop some info that I have known for sometime. What I am about to tell you is so simple, so well thought out, so user friendly, you may wonder why I have not given this information sooner. Was I holding out? Maybe I did not think you would be ready for this mind-blowing information. Did I hope some would figure it out for themselves? C'mon, who am I kidding. Do I reserve some shred of fair-play or think that this, in some form or fashion, is common sense. Again, I could keep this monologue up all day, but none of this is quite true.
I have held myself to the Six P's since college, when a Chef I worked for, Chef Ron, thank you very much, taught them to me. And over time I have pulled the S.P's out of the proverbial pocket to use as a teaching tool, and only in a teaching atmosphere does this come into play. Perhaps because that is how it was taught to me; perhaps it was something that is so ingrained into my very work ethic, I forget that maybe everyone else I am surrounded by, doesn't understand the very idiosyncrasies that make up its complex simplicity. Huh?
AAAANNNYYYYWWWWAAY.....
The Six P's. I will put them into verbal form, written here for all to read. If upon reading them, you find that they could be of no use, no matter what career, lifestyle, work place, pleasure procedures, you name it, then tell me how they are wrong.
The Six P's: Proper Planning, Prevents Piss Poor Performance. See, told ya it was simple.
Proper: to be true. Right, and expected
Planning: the act of being, or the honest attempt, at being proactive
Prevents: the process of stopping some act, or happening
Piss: slang : body liquid, most often used as a body of a punch line ie "I wouldn't piss down you back, if your butt was on fire". Or less than pure.
Poor: not rich, either in character, life, friendship, etc...
Performance: what ones work can be measured by.
With me so far. Good.
So taking into account the previous gospel, now put that into some perspective in the day to day life you lead now. Surely someone in your circle of work, play or other, has fallen short in some way or other, by not following this simple phrase to a T. Go on think about it.
Whether its a retail store, gas station, sports team, restaurant, grocery store, or enter item here. Hasn't their been a time when you witness something and your just like, "Idiot! How could you not have prevented that? How could you not have seen that coming? How could you not have prepped that? Bought that? Scheduled them? Cooked that? Fixed that? Anything other than standing their with that stargazing look of stupidity on your face. It would have been better had you not got out of bed, and laid around in your stained undies instead, then allow me to bear witness to your unworthiness!
Why such hostility you may ask? Well, are you asking?
OK, since you obviously want to know. I mentioned a couple of entries ago, that I work with some intellectually challenged individuals. The one who will get my angst today is the Kitchen Manager where I work. I have tried to be patient, I have tried to drop casual hints here and there. I have even attempted to push this individual into a direction where the percentage of success could almost be assured. But apparently the thickness of ones skull, is harder that the verbal pressure that I have applied.
Case 1: Saturday night, I close, run kitchen, sell the food, yada yada yada. I peruse the prep available to me for the night. I find that I am short in a number of areas. I ask him where this product is? His reply is the ol', " Did such and such not prep it?" Uh, were you not awake today? Wouldn't it be your job to ensure that the prep necessary for today's dining festivities to be done, properly, which would ultimately prevent any piss poor performance by this kitchen, and ultimately the restaurant, should we fall short in taking care of our patrons? Would that not be the Plan? See how that worked? Simple really. No thank you. No really.
Case 2: Tuesday morning. I open said kitchen. I have no dishwasher, nor do I have a bread maker. No dishwasher. Bread maker? you mean the individual who single-handidly controls whether or not we serve our hot, delicious yeast rolls to the hordes of people who come from Mooresville, to Hickory, Winston-Salem, and Wilksboro to enjoy there sweet Buttery goodness? The Dishwasher who ensures we have sanitary, clean dishes, silverware, and storage containers to serve up the tasty dishes on a person by person basis? How can this be. The schedule is done a week in advance. You were there 80% of the days leading up to this particular day when two of the most influential people in the kitchen are not present. Mistake? I think not. Scheduling staf-fu? Definitely. Total and complete lack of frontal lobe thinking, that results in numerous others suffering, due to the inability of one person making sure that all the i's are dotted and T's crossed. BINGO! And its no big deal. "I'm off today, so give him a call, to see where he is at. No the regular dishwasher is "On vacation" I asked Humberto to come in today. No I didn't write it down on the schedule, no I didn't leave it in the managers log, no I did not leave a paper trail to ensure that this would not, could not happen." "The bread lady, oh she's at court today, she will be here later on." (Never showed)
Case 3: Saturday night: I am in the dining room. Kitchen is running like a un-well greased machine. No direction being given by the KM. No audibles, in or out, of the pocket. No control. The kitchen is running him not the other way around. Result= Long ticket times, yours truly spends most of his time, putting out fires with dissatisfied guests as to why their food is late, steaks are burnt (literally) yet still served, or where their appetizer is. Not doing pleasant table checks, or chatting it up with guests. Just, "Run Forrest, Run".
Now, am I over-reacting? Put yourself in a similar situation, and now ask that question. It happens everyday, in every walk of life. It has happened to you, and countless others, and will happen again. That is why I live by this creed, the Six P's. To lessen, or avoid altogether this from ever happening to me. It happens, but by simply involving some planning is better than none.
I hope that I have touched some of you with this post. All four of you. If their are more, please forgive me, I have not had the pleasure of "meeting" you. I have not the following that Dhazy or Bhazy have. I am simply....here. Any and all responses to this are welcome. Perhaps you have a little "Sweetheart" that you use, and would like to share.
Until my next rant...
~R