What’s a lesson you’ve learned recently that shifted your perspective?
Creative ordering.
It’s the thing you learn to do at restaurants so you can still take a family of seven out to eat every once in a while. The thing you learn when value meals are an expensive trap for parties that large.
It helped at a lot of other places. It wasn’t helping at this particular Chipotle on this particular day.
High expectations
I walked in with my reward of a free burrito, excited to have a quality meal on the road on the way to my daughter’s soccer tournament the next state over.
I thought my plan was foolproof: order a chicken burrito with the chicken on the side, double rice, double beans, a side of guacamole, and a fountain drink. Then we could both eat a normal, balanced meal on this meatless Friday without spending too much.
Yes, I’m cheap. But like I said: creative ordering.
At least that’s what I thought until we got to the register.
Misunderstandings
The cashier rang me up for twice the amount I expected. I tried explaining the order to the employee, but he fixed me with a steady stare.
A stare that said “No, this is what I see on your tray and this is what I’m charging you.”
I started to think something was wrong with the way I ordered as we walked to our seats. But, after looking over the receipt, I confirmed they gave me a free chicken bowl and charged me for an extra side of chicken.
I could sit there and lament my loss. I could complain none of the right people appreciate creativity. I could vow to never again step foot in that Chipotle and give them a one star review.
But that would strip me of my agency.
What could I learn from this?
Learning moment
We were facing a deadline to get to the hotel, and while asking the cashier to talk to the first person in the serving line or clearing some of the top layers to show there was no chicken underneath would only have taken a couple extra minutes, five bucks didn’t seem like anything to lose sleep over.
But what would this say about standing up for what’s right and just? If I have a different way of doing things within the established order, shouldn’t they just accept it?
Well, no. If there’s confusion about how my creative way isn’t fitting within the cashier’s paradigm, it’s on me to explain what actually happened and to make sure I’m being charged fairly for what I’m accepting from the restaurant.
Take it on yourself
There’s a lot of whining about how creative genius is under appreciated, isn’t there?
But the missing thing is the ability to communicate what’s actually happening with the new process in a way someone with decision making power can understand.
Sometimes, it could be standing in front of the wrong audience. Others it could be the message was bad. Either way, if those rejections stand for something other than try, try again, the creative way of doing things won’t break through.
So while I’m sitting there tending to my wounded pride, pondering what could happen, I also have an example to look back on, to try to improve upon, so my creative way can get more traction the next time I try.
What about your experiences? Is there a time where you didn’t get what you want from a misunderstanding?
Leave it in the comments below 👇
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