Why are we pursuing? It’s a fair question. Throughout this year, in our PURSUIT, we’ve talked about Cultivation, Pivot, Drift, Intention. But what’s driving all of that? Why does it matter? Because we’ve been called. Calling isn’t just one of the five words on your Pursuit coin. It’s the reason the other four exist. A career is something you choose. A calling is something you embrace. It’s the conviction that what you do matters, that how you do it matters, and that the people you serve matter. When you discover your calling, Monday morning doesn’t become easier, but it certainly becomes more meaningful.
Every one of us has a calling, regardless of our title. Some people are called to lead restaurants. Others are called to mentor a new teammate, prepare great food, create memorable guest experiences, solve problems, or simply encourage someone who is having a difficult day. We don’t just serve wings, burgers, subs, breakfast, or BBQ. We serve people. Every guest who walks through our doors has a story. Every team member has potential. Every shift is another opportunity to make a difference. That’s a calling worth pursuing.
Calling should also create aspiration. Aspire to be the best server. Aspire to be the best cook. Aspire to be the best dishwasher. Aspire to be the best shift leader, General Manager, Multi-Unit Leader, or Support Center teammate you can possibly become. Not so someone notices, not so your name appears on a report or a plaque, but, because excellence is how we honor the opportunity we have been given. It reminds me of fellow BWW franchisees, Chris and Kimberly Olexa, who named their hospitality company Aspire 2B. I love that name because it’s more than a brand, it’s a mindset. Average happens by accident. Excellence happens on purpose. Every day you have the opportunity to decide which one you’ll pursue.
We have also talked a great deal this year about Stewardship. Here’s the connection: if God has entrusted something to your care, then your calling is to steward it well. Guests. Team members. Equipment. Buildings. Food. Money. Time. Reputation. Culture. None of it truly belongs to us. For a season, we’ve simply been trusted to care for it. That’s why we don’t cut corners. That’s why we don’t settle. That’s why we keep learning, keep improving, and keep growing. Good stewards don’t do just enough to get by. They aspire to leave everything better than they found it.
The next time you hold your Pursuit coin, pause for just a moment when you see the word Calling. Ask yourself, Am I simply doing a job, or am I living my calling? One mindset punches a clock, the other changes lives. Keep serving. Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep stewarding. Keep aspiring. And above all…keep pursuing the person you’ve been called to become.
Comments