"Why are you making us pay the bill?" I ask, genuinely confused.

"Because didn’t you ask for the bill?" the trainee waitress shoots back, sounding annoyed as if I’m backtracking on something I requested.

We’d already had our appetisers, but our main course was taking forever. This back-and-forth went on for a couple more exchanges before she finally understood what I was trying to say:

“No, listen,” I say slowly, for what feels like the hundredth time. “We don’t want the bill. We just want to know where our order is. We ordered the Texas Trio, and it hasn’t arrived yet. Can you check with the kitchen?”

The trainee’s face shifts, and she quickly scurries off to get an answer.

“I knew they messed something up,” Rhea says from across the table.

Sure enough, the trainee returns a few moments later, this time looking apologetic. “Sorry, we forgot to place your order. Do you still want it…?” she asks nervously.

“You mean you forgot to place the order,” I thought, but I bit my tongue. No point in making it personal.

“Well, how long will it take?” I ask.

“Uhh, let me check,” she says before disappearing back to the kitchen again.

Honestly, we could have left and eaten somewhere else at that point. But the mall was already filling up with dinner crowds so it seemed easier to wait it out. Plus, it was our anniversary dinner and leaving felt more like an inconvenience than a solution.

From a work perspective, mistakes happen, and we were just unlucky that this trainee was having an off night. Still, if she were working for me, she’d be getting a serious sounding for her careless mistake.

“Hi guys, I’m really sorry about the mix-up,” a cheerful voice interrupts my thoughts. The manager shows up at our table.

“We’ve put your Texas Trio order into the kitchen, and it’ll be out in the next ten minutes. Is there anything else I can get you?”

We both shake our heads, and she scurries off, probably relieved we aren’t about to cause a scene.

“She’s got until 7:46 before I get really upset,” Rhea says skeptically.

To be fair, I was skeptical too. Ten minutes seemed ambitious for a mixed plate of ribs, chicken breast, and salmon. But you know what? At least the manager handled the situation well. It was a good example for the trainee, who hopefully learned something from all this.

Honestly, the way she handled the situation is almost similar to how I’d coach someone to stay accountable to their own habits:

• Own the mistake, even if it’s just to yourself. She apologized for the missed order, even though the trainee was at fault.
• Default to action to make up for lost time. She moved our order to the front of the queue, knowing we’d already waited long enough.
• Set clear accountability. She promised our order would arrive in ten minutes and ensured we knew she was handling it.

None of this is rocket science, and you don’t need to be a manager to master these skills. Owning your mistakes, taking quick action, and setting accountability are simple yet effective ways to stay on top of your productivity and habits.

Apply the same principles to your exercise routine, and you’ll stay healthy. Stick with it consistently and your mental health will benefit too because you’ll build more confidence in yourself.

Oh, and the food? It came back in six minutes, which interrupted me just as I was scrolling through my phone.

Needless to say, we were pleasantly surprised by how quickly it all turned out.

Something I wish would come as quickly is the end of the week because a project I’ve been planning for months is finally taking shape, and I’m excited to share more about it soon. Stay tuned!

Nicholas Ng