I will drop this into the Cafe for a couple reasons. First it's not strictly related to business. Second, there probably isn't any answer. So I guess it's a vent/rant/ramble.
I'm kind of at a crossroads with work. My present position has some pluses and minuses as all jobs do I suppose. I'm the chef of a 100 seat bistro/bar-and-grill and have been for a couple years. I have almost complete control over the food, save for a few things the owner does as set promos (think burger nite, etc). I have a pretty strong reputation locally and am kind of BMOC in this small town. The locals love having me here and they're really nice folks. Part of the job involves getting some face time in FOH informally to hobnob with the regulars. Overall I like putting a face to the guest check but obviously sometimes it's hard work to put on my smiley-face at the end of a hard nite./img/vbsmilies/smilies/redface.gif The pay is okay but less than I would make for the group I used to work for.
And that's the next part. I recently took a road trip to meet with the president of the company I used to work for. Lots of years with them, basically all good ones and my stock with them is pretty high. They're offering me the Exec job as a much larger property than I presently manage (but not as big as the others I have run in the past). The money would be better but it's a little bit more formal/corporate in structure. I would still drive the food but not to the degree I do now.
The present job I have has some frustrations that I won't go deeply into now. Some are part and parcel to being in a small sole proprietorship (limited budget for upkeep and new toys, etc) and others are unique to this particular place. The new job would require a relocation to place I don't love, but I really don't care much for the town I'm in now and head back to my home town whenever I have a couple days off.
The kicker is that I really don't want either job! I love cooking and being a chef but this isn't the part of the country I want to live in. I'm getting close to fifty now I'm getting the itch. Part of me is genuinely thinking of taking any kitchen job I can in the part of the country I want to be in, then figuring out as I go. On some level that's idiotic, or at least it seems that way. Here I have a strong reputation, there I'd be unknown. Here I make pretty fair money but I can't say for certain what I can make there. I have some money in the bank so it wouldn't be a big hardship but I'd be leaving a pretty secure life for something uncertain.
I guess I'm not even asking for advice since there probably isn't a perfect answer. Just venting I guess. The shadows are getting longer though and if I am going to relocate I want to do while I'm still young enough to take advantage of the things I'm moving for.
I'm kind of at a crossroads with work. My present position has some pluses and minuses as all jobs do I suppose. I'm the chef of a 100 seat bistro/bar-and-grill and have been for a couple years. I have almost complete control over the food, save for a few things the owner does as set promos (think burger nite, etc). I have a pretty strong reputation locally and am kind of BMOC in this small town. The locals love having me here and they're really nice folks. Part of the job involves getting some face time in FOH informally to hobnob with the regulars. Overall I like putting a face to the guest check but obviously sometimes it's hard work to put on my smiley-face at the end of a hard nite./img/vbsmilies/smilies/redface.gif The pay is okay but less than I would make for the group I used to work for.
And that's the next part. I recently took a road trip to meet with the president of the company I used to work for. Lots of years with them, basically all good ones and my stock with them is pretty high. They're offering me the Exec job as a much larger property than I presently manage (but not as big as the others I have run in the past). The money would be better but it's a little bit more formal/corporate in structure. I would still drive the food but not to the degree I do now.
The present job I have has some frustrations that I won't go deeply into now. Some are part and parcel to being in a small sole proprietorship (limited budget for upkeep and new toys, etc) and others are unique to this particular place. The new job would require a relocation to place I don't love, but I really don't care much for the town I'm in now and head back to my home town whenever I have a couple days off.
The kicker is that I really don't want either job! I love cooking and being a chef but this isn't the part of the country I want to live in. I'm getting close to fifty now I'm getting the itch. Part of me is genuinely thinking of taking any kitchen job I can in the part of the country I want to be in, then figuring out as I go. On some level that's idiotic, or at least it seems that way. Here I have a strong reputation, there I'd be unknown. Here I make pretty fair money but I can't say for certain what I can make there. I have some money in the bank so it wouldn't be a big hardship but I'd be leaving a pretty secure life for something uncertain.
I guess I'm not even asking for advice since there probably isn't a perfect answer. Just venting I guess. The shadows are getting longer though and if I am going to relocate I want to do while I'm still young enough to take advantage of the things I'm moving for.