WOWCast Ep4 "Play for the Team" (Devin Junot)

The speaker discusses the concept of playing for the team in the context of working at a restaurant called Walk-ons. They mention moments where they feel like they are part of a strong team working together. The speaker introduces a guest named Mr. Devon who has been with Walk-ons for five years and works as a buster and a cook. They discuss how Mr. Devon goes above and beyond to help others and how this reflects the guiding principle of playing for the team. The speaker highlights an incident where Mr. Devon helped people during a flood and served crawfish out of a canoe. They emphasize how this exemplifies Mr. Devon's dedication to playing for the team and how it aligns with Walk-ons' brand values. The speaker also mentions the importance of teamwork in a busy restaurant, where everyone supports each other to provide a great experience for guests. They discuss the positive impact of teamwork and how it can be taught to new team members. The speaker acknowledges the influence of a per I've been in a few restaurants, but when it comes to walk-ons, the word team, it doesn't mean a metaphor. It's the actual team. I've had those moments where you step back and you're like, wow, we're killing it, we're working hard, and sometimes you feel like if you're working, hard to put it, it is a team. It's just the best way to say it, because over there, when you feel like you're going down or having a lot to do, that means a lot of other people or institutions are all supporting each other in some kind of way. All right, welcome back, walk-ons, to episode number four. My name is Chris Williams, I'm joined here, Charlie Kelly is back from the abyss, he's ready to join us back here on episode four. As always, we have Lexi Gibbs, and then we've got a special guest here today. Mr. Devon is going to be joining us, and we're going to be talking about Play for the Team. So how's everybody doing today? Fantastic. Good day. Love the woo's, love the woo's. All right, Mr. Devon, so welcome in, my friend. It's going great, man, it's going great. So before we dive into some mining questions here that are really going to be drilling into you, I would like to know first is a little bit about you, introduce yourself to our audience here, tell them a little bit about yourself personally, and then how long you've been with walk-ons, what do you do for walk-ons. So with that being said, go right ahead, my friend, introduce yourself. I'm Devon Juneau, I've been working at walk-ons for like, coming on five years now. Really, basically what I do over there is just a combination of a lot of things. Simple answer is I'm a buster and a cook. Long answer, I do a lot. I do all the crawfish and stock things up behind the scenes. A lot of behind the scenes stuff. Game day catering. Oh, catering. You are the utility man, that is for sure. And I'm sure we're going to get into some of the other extraordinary things that you've done over there, but just so the audience knows, Mr. Devon was our walk-on of the year last year and joined us. That was a good time, getting that award. Big dog, that's right. We've got a celebrity in our presence here today. Okay, so we're talking play for the team today. So with that being said, I'm going to slide over to Lexi Gibbs and we're going to talk a little bit about our guiding principle, play for the team. Yeah. So obviously, super excited to have you on our podcast or wowcast, as we like to call it. Devon, you honestly are such an inspiration to so many people, guest-wise and then this office-wise. You really do just about every little thing. You touch every aspect of the walk-on business to some degree. You're in this office just as much as you're in the restaurant. You're helping save lives from flooding. You're really touching generally. Yeah, exactly. So when we were thinking about our play for the team guiding principle, I immediately was like, Devon, that is what Devon does. He plays for this team, for this walk-on team in every aspect. So what kind of motivates you to just go the extra mile for everybody around you? Because that's really what it stems from is you might have a title for whatever at some point, but you really do just go the extra mile for whoever asks you for something that you help with or whatever it may be. What kind of inspires you to do that? Oh, anything in between job security, just being built in my character, the way I was raised a little bit, but also just when you help someone, usually it comes back without you asking. So that sentiment just kept carrying. And the more work I get, the more recognition. And I got walk-on of the year, playing for the team. That's honestly, and that's really, I like that you said when you give that, you kind of end up receiving it back. So it's a two-way street. And that's kind of what we preach, especially walk-on youth, is what our brand is, what we give these things. And that's really what our teammate promise is. We give these things and we give them in return. So I think that's really awesome that you have that vision when playing for the team. Honestly, kind of want to pinpoint especially the most recent aspect that we've seen you play for the team is we had a flood right in front of the restaurant. You selflessly just found a, what was it, a pirot? Yeah, like a little canoe. Yeah. We served crawfish out of it. Can you tell us a little bit, kind of a little summary of how that even happened and what you did? Yeah, we was just, at first we was just kind of looking at the people stuck at first. And really it was initially, Jim at the time, Dustin Loveless, he went to go grab them in the boat and I was just right behind him. That's usually how I end up in most things, you know. And we was on our way to it. We was just questioning. I was like, I don't even know if it'll float. And he was like, I was like, it says on it, it has a 200-pound rating. So when we got to the water, we was like, okay, maybe one of us should go. If it was the only reason that I went by myself, he would have went with me, I'm pretty sure. You know, he was in the boat for a second. That's so, I mean, that's amazing. You know, seeing that and I even think like the news caught it as well. It was just, but it really exemplifies you as a person and just kind of how you do go the extra mile. You do play the team, even if it isn't your immediate teammates. You know, those are strangers and you're like, I'm going to, I'm going to do this. I'm going to help these people however I can. And I think that's so inspirational and really like shows who you are as a person. But also that, you know, you are meant to be with this brand. And that's kind of what this brand stands for is we're going to go the extra mile for our guests or for a stranger, for another teammate. You know, and I think that's, that's really, really cool. You know, a really good example of what playing for the team is. You know, in a teammate that we have. Charlie, you have anything to add on that? I think, you know, that's awesome. Yeah, I think it's fantastic. And again, it goes back to the credibility of your character and upbringing and, you know, the environment that you're in. You know, you create an environment while you're with us. And then hopefully we create an environment for you while, you know, you're here with us as well. So, you know, back to the two-way street. I love it. My question and thought here is it's very easy for people on the outside. Like we're looking at Burbank. We're looking at you. And we can clearly see a teammate who's playing for the team. Now, in a restaurant business, we all know it's very busy, and then sales happen, and then you're going to wait, and then you're, you know, you're hustling everywhere. When it's you, the teammate that we're looking at playing for the team, and you're in the ship, and it's a free $4,000 hour, and everybody's moving everywhere, are there ever moments when you stop and you go, man, look at the team. Look at the team playing the game. And just kind of have one of those at-all moments where you go, man, not only am I playing for the team, but look at the team playing for each other. I know you got to see it. What does that feel like when you see the whole team come together and create that game-day excitement and experience for the guests? How does that feel? I've been in a few restaurants, but when it comes to walk-ons, they're like the word team, like really, like it doesn't mean like a metaphor. It's like the actual team, you know? So like, yeah, I've had those moments where it's like you step back and you're like, wow, we're killing it. We're working hard. And if you feel like you, you know, sometimes you feel like if you're working, hard to put it, it is a team. It's just the best way to say it because over there, when you feel like you're going down or having a lot to do, that means a lot of other people are too because we're all supporting each other in some kind of way. It's not, you know, the buster doesn't just clear the table. You know, the girl's trying to get to the table, too. You know, the more money she makes, the more money you make. You know, the kitchen, you know, bride's got to get something for salad. You know, it's just, it's all somebody's counting on somebody to come through for them, and so it's just 100% team. Let me ask you this just to follow up to that question. So clearly you can see team, clearly you know what it is to be an awesome teammate, and you like the feeling of having the team surround you. If it were me and I was brand new to the team, right, in any form, a manager, a server, a bartender, a host, a sponsor, doesn't matter, my first day, what are your thoughts on how to teach team to a new person that shows up? Just from the start, introduce them to it. Drill into them from the start. But show them in like the positive way. Don't like, you know, you do this because. It's not so much tell, it's more like let's go do it together. Example. So you're showing teamwork by being the teammate from day one, minute one. Definitely. And that also goes in line with what you said in the beginning. It's a two-way street, right? You're going to show this new, whatever, whoever they may be, you're going to show them kind of what you want to get in return from them eventually. You know, like form that relationship. And that is how you build a relationship. And then you're playing for the team together, and you're kind of representing a Walton's name as a unit, not just a self-serving type of mindset. And I think that's such a good way to look at it. I kind of want to also touch on, because I know you said, you mentioned Dustin. And I know, you know, he's probably been a guiding light for you at Walton. There's a lot of things. And, you know, what kind of, what have you learned from him from a playing for the team perspective? What kind of things have you taken from him that you're like, wow, I'm going to give this to the next person. And this is kind of what I want to give to people I've come in contact with. Well, I guess what I learned from him, like no matter where you head on the totem pole, you're going to put your hands on some stuff, you know, stuff like that. But other than that, I mean, just playing for the team, he just, he shows me like the word, like a word, networking in it. Like, you know, people play for your team, if you will. If it's a personal thing you're looking for, they play for your team when you give it to them. I learned that from him mostly. Yeah. Yeah, it is great to hear that. Let me ask you this just as a follow-up to all that. We've got, you know, good, better, best days. On a good day, man feels good. On a better day, feels even better. Man, on the best day, like it's just completely electric. You know, the environment, the guests, all the teammates. Like you literally can feel the energy. Let's talk about the worst day. Because we're going to have them, right? So good, better, best, awesome. And we're all, again, from management on down, we're going to have them. What keeps you motivated, right? What keeps your head high, chin up, marching forward as the play for the team, awesome teammates that you are? Give us the wisdom. Honestly, just simply knowing that I've got to get up and do it again. So why worry about it now? Just, you know, it's going to happen again. Can you tell us, like, you know, when you are having those worst moments? Because we all have them. Like I said, it's like, all right, I'm in this right now, but I'm going to come back here tomorrow. So let me try to make this moment and this a little better. Let me like look at it from a better lens, you know? And I think that's kind of where having that teammate camaraderie and being able to lean on the next person because you are, you know, you play for the team for them. They're going to be playing for the team for you when you need it. And those are the moments where you probably do need it. Those are the worst days, yeah. Like, just to bring back how you were saying, how to show them, like when they get a new buster and I'm training them, I'm like, oh, the girls are bringing their, they have to pre-bust, pick up their plates and stuff, bring them to the back. If we're not doing that, because most of the time we've got to wait for the cooks to cook the food, girls have finished their table, then we get to start working. So while they're doing that, start grabbing plates from them, help them while they're doing that. Now when you're busy, they feel bad if they didn't pre-bust, you know, stuff like that. They want to help you because you was already helping them and you did it in your free time. Yeah, that's dope. Okay, so not to be a microphone hog, but I got to ask because this is so real and it's so good, you know, the quintessential, you know, the dogs in the kitchens and the cats in the front, right? Like, this divine wall that you see in so many restaurants and often the kitchen and them out there, you know, in service. You are someone who goes between the front and the heart of house, not only in skill set, but, you know, by need. They could say, hey, I need you to jump over here and you've got no problem, you know, taking off the, you know, the cape, the Superman cape and, you know, putting on the chef coat and getting in there. It's phenomenal. What kind of advice would you give to maybe, let's say, a restaurant that is a house divided? If you went into a restaurant that clearly had that, you know, us in the kitchen, you know, the servers, you know, that just can't bring it in right or, you know, they can't pre-bust, you know, get, like, how do you bring those people down and reunite a team? That's hard. I find mostly don't blame one person, but blame the lack of team if you, best way to put it. Yeah. No, that's very true because it's also kind of, we're all a puzzle. You know, we're all connected. That is what it is. We're connected. So it's not, it's not just the one person aspect. Like I said, you know, if we are falling in one area or it is that house divided, it's not, it's not just the one person aspect. Like I said, you know, if we are falling in one area or it is that house divided, it's not, it's not just the one person aspect. If we are falling in one area or it is that house divided, it's because we're not figuring out that team, teammate and team, you know, mentality. And I think, you know, just like you just said about, you know, doing those things when you're not supposed to, like pre-bust or helping to bust. Like those are the little things that do make the house not divided, you know, and those are where those little moments, you know, really shine and come into play. I think that's a great way to look at it. Kurt, do you have anything over there? Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. I know. We're like, dude, there's nothing going on in Bagroot over here. I know. Y'all are getting after it. No, it's great stuff. It's great stuff. And honestly, you guys are covering a lot of the questions that I would have. The one thing I want to ask in relation to the description here. So, playing for the team is recognizing that you're part of something bigger than yourself and working for the team. So, obviously, we've given a lot of great context as to like what that looks like but what would you consider that bigger part to be? So, you're part of something bigger. What is that bigger to you? Because I think that's where probably the heart of the motive really lives. You mean like what I'm trying to get to or? Well, not necessarily aspiration as far as like career or anything like that. I'm sure you have those aspirations but what I'm trying to get to is what is the bigger part or anything like that. I'm sure you have those aspirations. I'm saying like when you feel like you're part of something more than yourself. So, to draw a contrast here. So, like the opposite of play for the team would be somebody that's selfish, right? Because they only have themselves in mind. But when you say that you're part of something bigger and work for the team, what would you say that bigger thing is? Hard to say what I would call it. It's just being part of something I guess would be the bigger thing. Having something to get up and do in the morning. Stuff like what we all want. Stability for it all. We're all producing for something, right? So, if you look at any given team let's say we're talking football. The team is together to try to succeed and to win the day. What would you consider that win at the restaurant? Oh, I mean, everybody goes home feeling a little better about the day being ended but that they got through it not because it was ended. Stuff like that. And I think it's also like yeah, and it's like you end the day and you want to feel like motivated and that you accomplished something. So, I think that's like that bigger aspect is like, all right, I want to go home and feel like, man, I really did that today. And that's that bigger mentality. And kind of tying it back to our brand and just who we are, we want to preach and teach the walk-on way to everyone. And touch lives in those types of ways and that's kind of what that bigger mindset is. It's like, yeah, we're in this small moment. We might be in this one shift right now but we have this big message to give and to put on display and really live and value that. It is a lifestyle. And I think that's where that big mentality comes in. It's like, yeah, we have a job to do but we're trying to change the industry. We're trying to change people's lives, essentially. Yeah, there's a lot of people out there that will especially in the restaurant industry, and I'm not talking just walk-ons. I'm talking about restaurants in general. A lot of people will get these jobs because it's a good bit of money. You can make a good living. You can bring home cash if you're a server, busser, anybody in a tip position. And there's a lot of money to be made there. But if that's the sole motive, then you don't go that extra mile. You don't jump in the P-Row and go help somebody out. That requires another level of motivation. It comes from togetherness. It comes from caring about the person alongside of you. Approaching the day, my goal is, how can I help benefit the people that I have the pleasure and opportunity to work alongside every single day? It's a lot of those things. A question about the P-Row, you've got to be honest here. Dustin Loveless sent you out into that flooded water and did not join you because he thought that boat might sink. No, I've got to give up. I had to actually talk him out of it because I wasn't sure it was going to fit. We weren't going to make it with two of them. I was just thinking, I didn't take a break. Rolling out in the crawfish vessel. I need a picture of that in the newsletter so people can see exactly what the situation was. I think it was in the newspaper. My paddle was the thing I cook with. It's a 100% cookware. Chefs at a restaurant. No doubt about it. For those listening that do not know how a crawfish is cooked, you do use a paddle as an instrument of cooking in that process. That's how that worked out. Devin, a question for you and then I'm going to take it back to you. I'm going to take it back to you. Thank you. Thank you. A question for you and then I'm going to take it back around the table here to kind of wrap up. As a teammate and obviously somebody that has been such a great member of that team over there in that wild restaurant, what would you say to people out there, what encouragement would you offer people who, let's say somebody doesn't work for walk-ons, what would be your selling point to somebody to tell them that walk-ons is a great place to work? What would you tell people? If somebody asked you, like, hey, should I come get a job there? What would you tell them? I've actually told some of my friends before, I find the recognition goes around here, not just for myself, but my teammates and people from corporate to the dishwasher. I've seen someone get some type of recognition for the hard work that they do. Even if it's little things like the wild cards that they do, that builds up into, hey, I noticed you got a bunch of wild cards. Maybe it's time for a raise or something, little stuff like that. They got a lot of little things that add up that keeps me around to be honest with you. I really appreciate it every day to be honest with you. Sorry. I was just going to say, it's such a great point because appreciation really is reciprocal. To offer appreciation, you're creating a culture in which you're most likely going to get that same appreciation. It's so important, especially in such a crazy work life that we live on a daily basis. Being in the restaurant, it's controlled madness. You got to control it the best that you can. If you don't approach the work in an appreciative setting, it makes life very difficult. It's a very important thing to be aware that everybody's in the right mindset. A great way to approach that is through appreciation. That's a great, great point. I appreciate you offering that for sure. Sorry, Lexi. Go ahead. My final thought is very, Devin, you really are an example, like we've been saying, of that person that really is selfless and plays for the team in every aspect that they can. That's what brings the family aspect to what you do. You're not just going to a job, but you're going to a second house. You develop those relationships with everybody you're working with because you are giving to them in a selfless matter. You are playing for the team and playing for them in every aspect that you can. That's how you get it back. That's where that teammate promise comes in that we have. This is what I'm going to give to you and to this restaurant, to this brand. That's what you're going to get in return. Awesome. Appreciate it. My closing thoughts and last question. I'm a big on faith. I have a theory about being the reflection. Clearly, you've seen yourself in a very positive way and you've seen what Walk Ons is and you like what it reflects. When you look at yourself versus Walk Ons and Walk Ons looks at you versus us, there's a very good and beautiful reflection. Likewise, you look at Dustin and you see something great in Dustin. Dustin looks at you, he sees something great in you. Keep that level of faith going. My question is if we were to interview the next person, who do you reflect into? Who do you see like Dustin looks at you and you go, you know what, I want to put more time and energy into that person because I can see the reflection of goodness in the Walk Ons way. Who's that person to you? Honestly, there's a handful in the kitchen. The ones that have been around. You can pick any one of the prep ladies. You know the ones I'm talking about. Damian. She works hard. She's leaving this job and going to the next Walk Ons. If I had to pick one, I guess Damian. She's good to know. That's more or less, I don't know, she's more like motivation because she works my opinion harder than me. She's good inspiration. It's really easy to look at y'all and go, man, look at the work. Hopefully, again, you guys can look at us and go, man, look at them doing the work. It goes for the next day. We have the opportunity to get up and work hard and be great teammates the next day because we can. Not because we have to but because we choose to when we can. Final thoughts, man. Thank you for being here. It's been wonderful to have you. On being the 2022 Walk On of the Year. Man, it's great to have you here today. Thank you. First, I wish you were here in person with us. Great little meeting we've got going on. High-fiving and hugging over here, man. High-fives and hugs. I'm giving you a virtual hug right now. Yeah. All right. I think that's going to wrap it up. We are completing episode number four, Play for the Team. Devin Juno, thank you so much for joining us, man. Keep on doing what you're doing. Everything that you do adds value to all of us, brother, and we truly do appreciate you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you so much. On behalf of Charlie Kelly, let's begin with Devin Juno. That's episode four. Thank you all so much. We'll talk to you next month. We'll talk to you next month. ... ... ...