The Burger King Lesson: The Unquenchable Thirst for Better

Last Friday, a simple craving for a burger led me to an unexpected realisation. While waiting in line at Burger King, I watched as a young employee, clearly disengaged, kicked a dropped drink under the counter. On its own, it was a small act. But it spoke volumes about how much pride, or lack of it, shapes an experience.

It struck me that in any role, no matter how small the task, there's always an opportunity to leave things better than you found them. That instinct — to notice when something can be improved and to act on it — is what I've always tried to bring to my work.

From Kitchens to Code: A Consistent Commitment to Excellence

This isn't new for me; it's been a thread through my entire career. As a young chef in Devon, it wasn't enough just to cook — I wanted to run a kitchen that gave people the best possible experience, which eventually meant building my own food business.

In my first proper tech role, I remember quietly moving into my team leader's old desk space over a weekend. It wasn't about politics; it was a statement of intent. I wanted to signal that I was ready to take responsibility, to step up, and to help the team get better.

That drive has always been less about personal ambition and more about a belief: that whatever role I'm in, I should leave the product, the team, and the customer experience stronger than I found them.

The Shared Journey: Accelerating Everyone's 'Fast Lane'

Over time, I've learned that the real magic happens when improvement becomes a shared journey. It's not about being the fastest person in the "fast lane" — it's about helping others find their lane and accelerate too.

That's where the recent wave of AI tools has been so powerful. Introducing colleagues to new ways of working often starts with hesitation. But the moment they see how AI can take on the repetitive tasks, freeing them to focus on the creative and strategic parts of their role, you see a spark. They realise it's not about replacing their work, but about amplifying it.

Those moments — when someone's confidence and impact suddenly accelerate — are the true rewards of leadership.

A Collective Thirst for Better

My ambition isn't simply to achieve more myself, but to contribute to building the kind of teams and culture where everyone can thrive. The people I work alongside aren't just colleagues; they're fellow travellers on the same journey.

Excellence doesn't belong to one person. It happens when teams share the same thirst for better, and when leaders at every level create the space for it to flourish. My greatest satisfaction comes not from individual achievements, but from seeing others succeed — and knowing that, together, we've left things better than we found them.

Oh, and to add insult to injury, when I got home and unpacked the food order, they had left out the fries...