April 1, 2001, around 8:00 PM
That's when Regan was born just down the street at Durham Regional Hospital (now Duke Regional). It was a Sunday. It was also End of the Month.
In our business there are some important tasks that must occur at the end of the month and before the next month begins. When I first decided to pursue being an owner, month-end was actually a significant deterrent. My birthday and Kaylyn's are both on the first of a month. Same time Month-End occurs. And back then, the amount of work at month end was significantly more time consuming due to the lack of technology back then. A few of those tasks do still remain today, though. One of those tasks is counting inventory. These days, you'll see Tebo counting inventory the morning of the last day of the month. Back then, I was the one doing inventory, and most of the Month End process.
I don't know why I hadn't done inventory on that Saturday but I hadn't. So, it's Sunday night, the next day we'd be opening and it would be too late to get an accurate inventory to calculate food cost for March's P&L. So, it still needed to be done.
Around midnight, the nurses took Regan to the nursery to do whatever they do with newborns. It had been a long day. At the hospital all day, experiencing her birth was incredible and draining. And inventory still needed to be done...
My parents had come up when they heard we were heading to the hospital that morning. So, at midnight, my dad and I headed up to the store to count all the inventory. I don't remember how long it took. I just remember being up at the store in the middle of the night, counting boxes, because I was the owner and if I didn't do it, it wouldn't get done.
When you own something you are the one that must ensure it is taken care of. Truett would remind operators all the time, "If it's got to be, it's up to me."
If you want opportunities, you've got to own them. "If it's got to be, it's up to me."
P.S.- There is a part II to this story. What about leadership? Delegation? Why was I the only one that could/would do inventory? Great questions. I was a good "owner" but still learning to lead.
