🎙️ From Army Veteran Delivering Pizzas During Recession to Leading Creative Dining Services: Dr. Sandra Lee's Journey

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Sandra Lee, CEO of Creative Dining Services, shares her remarkable journey from five years active duty Army learning perseverance in basic training running three miles before breakfast where drill sergeants taught beneath toughness was tenderness and caring, leaving military during recession being overqualified for positions only finding pizza delivery job because "have to put food on table and survive," then stepping down from Olive Garden general manager to server when mother became ill and later father became ill because "parents sacrificed so much for us they needed me there."

✨ Key Insights You'll Learn:

• Army basic training perseverance: running three miles every morning before breakfast taught not giving up, drill sergeants beneath toughness had tenderness wanting you succeed potentially life and death situations

• Recession pizza delivery: left military overqualified for positions being leadership instructor HR precursor only job delivering pizzas food service flexible enough go back school

• Stepping down for parents: general manager to server when mother ill area director to server father ill "parents sacrificed so much our parents made sure had everything needed they needed me there"

• Bachelor's degree promise: father drafted before finishing high school hospital last weeks "promise me you'll finish education" framing decisions "who will I be proud of year from now"

• Being downsized Aubom Pan: first time cut from team first instinct "not good enough why didn't team embrace me why didn't somebody fight harder I'm failure" get over self-induced pity party

• Financial belt tightening two years: overextended gave up everything moved smaller place cut cable special coffee clipping coupons food became fuel paying down things short term pain long term gain came out stronger

• Hungry humble smart hiring: Patrick Lencioni Ideal Team Player plus extreme ownership Jaco empowering best people get out their way do what they're great at building winning teams

🌟 Dr. Sandra Lee's Key Mentors:

• Father (Army Veteran): Drafted military before finishing high school hospital last weeks "promise me you'll finish education" influenced law school decision framing decisions "who will I be proud of year from now"

• Army Drill Sergeants: Beneath toughness was tenderness caring wanting you succeed teaching perseverance potentially life death survival situations basic training three miles before breakfast

• Lisa McEwen (Chartwells CEO): When Sandra raised hand "I have no clue how do this need help promise great student" assigned mentor taught "be brilliant be brief" respecting time

• Nadim Safar (Chartwells Mentor): Now COO taught lot about contracts patience explaining contract food services different from food services Sandra understood had resources

• Patrick Lencioni: Ideal Team Player book Hungry Humble Smart guides hiring everyone dishwasher to C-level executives building winning teams Creative Dining Services

👉 Don't miss this powerful conversation about drill sergeants teaching perseverance beneath toughness, stepping down general manager to server caring for sick parents, being downsized learning "if door closes find another door walk through it," and two tough years financial belt tightening cutting cable special coffee food became fuel coming out stronger.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Sandra Lee:

• Website: creativedining.com

• Company: Creative Dining Services

📄 Transcript Available: Dr. Sandra Lee on Being Downsized, Networking Like Crazy, and "Be Brilliant Be Brief" Lesson

📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast

🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast

📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com