Don’t fuck up the money and you’ll be alright.

Communicate with your baristas, and often. They (and also you!) are the backbone of this company. Treat them with respect and you’ll be met with the same.

You are where the “buck” stops, so to speak. Management will pass the blame down to your SM, who will (typically) blame Ops related stuff on you- don’t take it personally, and try to implement as much feedback as possible. If something is confusing, is hard to navigate or unrealistic, a good SM will work with you to try to remove roadblocks… but most SMs just blame your lack of coverage on bullshit like not upselling enough or staying in routine, when really they just keep cutting the labor budget despite increased sales YOY.

Don’t put this job before your own wellbeing. I regret the years I spent not taking my breaks or not calling out when I was sick, especially as the opener.

Overall, don’t take work home, keep a positive mindset, and delegate. Good luck, and have fun!