In Every House There are Gems and Then There are Just Stones

 

There is a real gem at the Cracker Barrel where I work now, and I can say that with confidence because I’ve been studying this company since the very first store opened in Seymour, Indiana. I discovered Cracker Barrel by accident one Sunday while trying to escape the stress of my state job, and from that day forward it became a place of comfort, peace, and familiarity in my life.

The “gem” I’m talking about today is the retail manager at my current location. She’s young, energetic, alert, and genuinely valuable to the store. She’s humble, professional, and tries her best to be fair. In many ways, she’s the captain of a ship that some employees seem determined to sink.

I do everything I can to help keep this place afloat. I don’t charge them for the training I take to improve myself, even though I earn a little extra from it. For me, it’s more about investing my time because I truly believe in what Cracker Barrel can be — a hub of comfort, peace, relaxation, and unique gifts.

What troubles me is the toxic behavior from certain workers. Not all of them — and certainly not the store I first worked in back in the 1990s — but right now, yes, there are some employees who bring a poisonous attitude into the building. Many of them stay because they have nowhere else to go, and that creates a “bottom of the barrel” mentality instead of a team striving for excellence. They take from the company without giving anything back, and they don’t care how their behavior affects the environment.

I work tirelessly to counter that. Because once a workplace becomes poisoned beyond repair, everyone loses. A place like Cracker Barrel — charming, nostalgic, and comforting — can be destroyed from the inside if the wrong attitudes take root.

So I help where I can. I offer creative ideas when inspiration strikes. I support the retail manager because she’s trying to steer the ship through rough waters. Meanwhile, others drain the life out of the place with negativity — like little puffs of fire instead of joy.

But as long as the Lord allows me to be there, I will continue doing my part. I’ll keep looking around, staying aware, and working toward improvement. Because I still believe in what Cracker Barrel can be, and I’m not giving up on it.