What I Learned Working at McDonald’s

I was 18 years old, and needed to get a job. My father’s best friend, Ray, owned a McDonald’s franchise and needed an assistant.

My job was to mingle with the regulars who came in every morning for breakfast and coffee, and Ray started teaching me how to do some basic accounting and bill paying.

I’ve never been a math person.

But as he slowly started teaching me how to keep his books, I became more confident and was excited to do a good job.

I don’t remember what exactly I did wrong.

But I found a sizable error, and knew instantly it was my fault.

Ray was a busy guy, and he had somewhat of a brusque personality.

I was frightened to tell him what I had done, and I do remember that it cost him some money.

But I was raised to own up to my mistakes, and I found the time that day to spill the beans on my stupidity.

He looked at me and said, “Stacie, thanks for letting me know. I know it took some guts to tell me. But here’s what I want you to take away from this because I can see you are nervous. If you aren’t making mistakes, it just tells me you aren’t doing anything worthwhile.”

I took his advice to heart. I believe that may be why I don’t even remember what exactly it was that I did incorrectly, because that isn’t what I remember as important about that day.

Ray freed me to make mistakes doing worthwhile things.

And I learn so much by making mistakes. That’s where we can make discoveries about ourselves, our business and our humanity.

Thanks a million, Ray.