I put myself through college as the general manager for a fancy Chinese restaurant. Dishes were served on super nice trays carried elegantly over the shoulder and part of server training was making it look smooth and graceful.

One day I was training a new guy, who was doing pretty well. But when he swung the order down and around, I could see that he had the angle way wrong and waited in horror for the upcoming cleaning bill for the guests.

Sure enough, the two dishes shot off the tray, flew out onto the middle of the table, and landed with a bit of a bang … but still covered, serving spoons in place and not a single drop spilled.

Totally startled the two guests, but then they looked in awe at the server and clapped. They were so impressed.

He kept it together and came back to the kitchen for a review from me. I grasped his shoulder and said, “That was amazing. Do it every time and you’ll get fantastic tips!”

Two hollowed holes of anguish looked at me, “B … I almost crapped my pants out there!”

He practiced, a LOT, and made sure he never did it again. I was right though, he got a terrific tip from the only guests to ever see that stunt.