Mike Rose Summary (Kirsten Brower)

The Work of a Waitress
I read chapter one in Mike Rose`s book The Mind at Work. Rose was inspired to learn more about the work of waitress` and servers. His mother worked as a waitress throughout her entire life, and knew all the hard work waitressing truly is. Mike was particularly interested in the memory involved with orders, relationships among co-workers, and the overall image of a server. It can be very difficult to remember orders from a large group of customers, but a well trained waitress will always remember who got which plate of food. Also, a server must learn how to work with the customers, the boss, cooks, and the other servers. The most important attribute of a good waitress is the overall image. A customer’s glass must be kept full, the table must be clear of dirty dishes, and the service must be quick. On page nine, Rose`s mother stated that a waitress “requires developing a walk that is all business from the waist down, but looks fairly relaxed from the waist up.” A waitress must also be in shape, because she “must be able to balance and carry multiple items, using the hand, forearm, and biceps, creating stability by locking arms to torso and positioning the back.” (pg 8.) Mike Rose`s main point in this chapter was to prove that a server`s job is much harder than it looks, and that they deserve more credit than what is given to them.
I feel that Mike Rose`s viewpoint of work is wonderful. He understands that some jobs may go unnoticed or appreciated, when in reality, they are difficult jobs. I was especially interested in waitressing because I once had a job in a diner busing tables. At times the job could be very difficult: carrying stacks of dirty dishes, needing to clear a table during peak hours, and making sure not to miss any trash on the table or floor. I can relate to a server because of the stress of keeping everyone happy and working at a quick pace. I truly enjoy learning about the work of unappreciated jobs, and how much effort is really put into them.