Happy International Friendship Day!

Imagine if NWTC was a ship; on a journey to discover a new world and be the first of its kind to venture out into the unknown.  How can it successfully reach its destination without a dedicated and devoted crew?!  What protects us from the rough seas that are our competitors?  How can we stay strong and united without our Head Office staff holding the compass, the managers as sails to guide us, the servers as oars which propel us forward, the bartenders who provide our precious beer that keeps us merry and everyone else who acts as the screws and bolts without which we would surely sink!  We don't want to just survive, we want to thrive and we want to take you all on our voyage!  Plus, we want you all to have a good time along the prosperous fun-filled journey we have ahead of us! 

Throughout the year, we celebrate our mothers and fathers and even sibling days.  But what about International Friendship Day?! What about the non-biological family that we choose... our friends?  The people who we haven’t necessarily grown up beside but who can grow in our hearts just as much and can be the crutch we lean on in tough times when all you need is someone who knows you enough to turn your frown upside down! 

A frown can be one of many side effects associated with the concept of work and, unfortunately, the majority of our time is spent at work.  So, what is the cure for people suffering from permanent frown syndrome due to lack of enjoyment and satisfaction in the workplace? Well, the word “unfortunately” doesn't have to be a part of that original statement! I know it seems farfetched but work can be fun, exciting and even fulfilling!  I know you may think I have just told you pigs CAN actually fly, but some myths can turn out to be a reality. Unlike other myths, the way that employment works is: you get out what you put in; which is also relevant in the relationships you establish with your colleagues.  At NWTC we have such a diverse group of people working along side each other from different backgrounds and different ages. If we all wrote our own autobiography…we would probably have more excitement, hardship, and life experience to outsell David Beckham, Katie Price and Dawn French put together. The point is, if we all took the time to understand each person’s story, each person’s journey so far and open our eyes and hearts to the concept that everyone can be your friend if you choose to accept their friendship wholeheartedly, even while working in a challenging and fast-paced environment like the hospitality industry.  

 Let's get real - working with the public can be tough.  We've all had that one customer that, as hard as you try you just can’t get them to crack a smile or that customer who has a bit of money and wants to let everyone in a 50-mile radius know that there will be a big tip in it for you if you play your cards right. The pressure can be intense but the heartbeat that keeps hospitality alive is the friendships we form throughout our time working. The friends who greet you with a smile when you turn up to begin your 10-hour shift and the ones who can crack a joke with you at the end of the night when the last few customers are about to leave.  Those people; who can make you smile when that table you worked hard for didn't tip you or when you’re in the weeds and a teammate instinctively clears your tables to lend you a hand or at the end of the night, the friends who step up when you need all hands on deck to wrap the 493,826,738 cutlery sets before you head home.

The thing is, “work” doesn’t have to be “work” when you’re surrounded by the people who keep you smiling and spur you on; that's the environment we strive to create at NWTC. To take on board like-minded people who understand our concept of “one team, one dream” and that we all want the same outcome whether you work full or part-time.

Ultimately, the friends formed and people met throughout your time in hospitality are the most tested and influential in a person’s development. They prove that there is no “I” in “team” and essentially that friendship is simply obtaining another teammate in your life, someone who's got your back and will put themselves out to keep you going. Those relationships formed through long Saturday nights when you think you’re halfway through your shift but it's only been 15 minutes. Those pals who know what you need and have a spoon waiting for you when there's extra cookie dough that needs finishing. 

So, like the analogy we started with, the ship that never sinks is the one whose crew sticks together no matter the weather.  In stormy seas, we all pitch in like you would for any friend and keep the ship afloat, so when the storm passes we enjoy the ride together.