“Would you like your hamburger medium-well or well-done?” is a question that I asked numerous times a day during my college years. I worked at my family’s restaurant as a server for about three years. At the time, I couldn’t imagine how my job serving hamburgers and corned beef sandwiches would contribute to my ultimate career goals, but I enjoyed getting to know my “regulars,” customers who came back week after week and whose orders I knew by heart.
After meeting with our JCC’S Hand in Hand campaign co-chairs this week, I realized working as a waitress might just have been the best experience I could have had to prepare me for my career. (Our Hand in Hand campaign will be chaired this year by JCC Past Board Chair Katy Cantor and JCC Executive Board Member Ally Weiss.)
You see, in the restaurant biz (and in the JCC biz as well), it’s always about customer service. As a server, I was constantly trying to cultivate the relationship with my customers. Yes, my tips depended on the service I provided, but I genuinely enjoyed meeting people and getting to know them. It is amazing what you can learn about someone in the short time it takes them to eat a meal.
One of my favorite customers always sat in the same spot, arrived at 4:15 pm every Tuesday and Thursday, and almost always ordered the same thing. It wasn’t the tip he left me that made him my favorite customer, but it was him bringing me news articles that he thought I might be interested in reading. He was my favorite because I knew about his family, and he knew about mine. We had a relationship.
One Tuesday, I noticed that it was past 4:15 and my favorite customer hadn’t come in. He didn’t come in that Thursday either. Several weeks went by and I was worried. Had something happened to him? Had I upset him?
He came back about a month later with some exciting news. His wife had died many years ago and he had found someone else he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He went on a long vacation with her, which explained his absence. And, when he ordered this time, it wasn’t his usual. “She’s making me watch my calories,” he told me jokingly.
Building relationships is key – both in fundraising and in community work — and I have had a lot of practice because of my “hamburger days.” As I have gotten to know our community, I have wanted to be sure that our donors aren’t “just” our donors. I want to know about their families, their interests and, certainly, we don’t ever take them for granted.
Katy, Ally, and I will be officially launching Hand in Hand in the coming weeks. Already, it has been so inspiring to work with the many folks who love our JCC and want to give back. Our needs are clear and the impact of a contribution to our JCC – regardless of the amount – is significant.
Though I’m glad I’m not rushing around taking orders in a restaurant anymore, the lessons I learned waiting tables will always stick with me, as will the usual order of my favorite customer’s order (chicken salad on toasted rye with a side of coleslaw).
Shabbat Shalom,
Sam Dubrinsky, CEO
Around dinnertime Monday evening, my phone lit up. Typically, I wouldn’t answer the phone during…
A good friend, whose opinion on current events, Israel, and antisemitism I deeply value and…
Summer fun doesn’t have to end in July! At JCC Indianapolis, we’re keeping the momentum…
Summer at JCC Indianapolis is full of energy, community, and opportunities to connect, learn, and…
As summer approaches, the JCC Indianapolis invites you to engage in meaningful celebrations, honor significant…
As summer approaches, JCC Indianapolis invites you to engage in a season filled with meaningful…