The Art of the Hustle

by Edward Mullen

  ***

  I started out just working some night shifts and weekends. The pay was minimum wage, but I received a small percentage of the tips every night, usually around ten bucks a night.

  As usual, I worked really hard trying to impress everyone. I went beyond what was expected of me. I did everything before the manager even thought to ask me. I swept and mopped the floors, restocked all the dishes for the kitchen staff, helped the dishwasher load and unload, cleaned the bathrooms, watered the plants, changed lights, you name it. From the moment I started, until the end of my shift, I wanted to make it very obvious no one would outwork me.

  “Trevor, I just want to let you know we appreciate all your hard work,” Kim said to me one day.

  “Thanks. You know, Kim, my real talent is in sales. I would really like the opportunity to become a server.”

  “Alright, just keep doing what you’re doing and we’ll talk about it.”