One thing I love about being a meat cutter is it can be a 100 degrees outside but i don't notice. its nice and cool on the job. Had to do some yard work and knocked over a bees nest got stung four times. didn't want to do anymore yard work after that. i am glad i cut meat for a living its nice and safe in there. LOL
I love looking at my full meatcase and the pride that comes in that after a long day. Not every job has that little satisfaction you get in seeing your work. I too love my controlled temp no matter what the weather.
After being a chef for all them years and sweating my butt off year round I do have to say I LOVE BEING IN THE MEAT COOLER!!! Of course I have no problems with all the eye candy in the store too
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Joe Parajecki
Operations Manager/ Partner
Kettle Range Meat Company, Milwaukee WI
Member Meat Cutter Hall of Fame and The Butcher's Guild
Plenty of 100+ degree days here in Arkansas....yet, I never complain about my days in the cutting room. I even enjoy that initial walk out the door as my core body temp adjust to the outside. Actually feels good. Then sleeping at night because I did an honest days' work...Love that too. And I don't work near as hard as the hangin' meat boys and girls do! I used to not respect my profession. It was just a means to an end, but it feeds my wife and I, and someday my children. I am proud of what I do.
'Specially when you're 21, single, and working at store right next to the U of A campus dorms.....Not to sound sexist, but that big window let us check out plenty of good looking college girls. The ladies in our market had local firemen come and buy groceries for their firehouse all the time...so the window came in handy for everyone.
Totally married now, so no window shopping for me anymore! Lol
........... And I don't work near as hard as the hangin' meat boys and girls do!
I bet you do work as hard as them.
Breaking one beef once in while isn't that hard. Breaking all day every day is hard work.
OTOH, it isn't easy to do 20 easy things all at once all by yourself. That's what a lot of meat cutters with easy jobs find themselves doing. I think some retail meat jobs are very stressful and it's hard to make everyone happy and follow all the stupid rules/policies.
At this time and for the last 8 years, my job has been stress free. I'm lucky. The place I came from was super high stress. It was very difficult to do all that easy work.
Much Appreciation CarniceroLarry....I've worked with many in the hanging industry and many on the retail side. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. I currently work retail, cutting boxed beef. It is hard to please customers sometimes, but I actually take pleasure in serving the public. 'Specially when they consider me *Their Butcher* even though, technically, I'm just a meatcutter extraordinair Lol. Return customers just means you're doing something right. Even though it does get stressful when it's crazy busy...I'm quite stressfree, as well. The market I work in is very efficient, and all of us work hard. It makes for a very nice environment to come to everyday!
........... And I don't work near as hard as the hangin' meat boys and girls do!
I bet you do work as hard as them.
Breaking one beef once in while isn't that hard. Breaking all day every day is hard work.
OTOH, it isn't easy to do 20 easy things all at once all by yourself. That's what a lot of meat cutters with easy jobs find themselves doing. I think some retail meat jobs are very stressful and it's hard to make everyone happy and follow all the stupid rules/policies.
At this time and for the last 8 years, my job has been stress free. I'm lucky. The place I came from was super high stress. It was very difficult to do all that easy work.
stress is starting to get to me .........i had a few other job offers lately that is a bit less money but no stress.......im at a cross road not sure which way to go.......u must have an awsome job 8 years stress free i want that
I love the smell of the meat. The feel of the knife. Chattin' it up with the customers. The bond with the cutters. Training the new ones, if they're trainable lol. And having first dibs on really nice product. I really enjoy leaning anything about the business and using it daily.
stress is starting to get to me .........i had a few other job offers lately that is a bit less money but no stress.......im at a cross road not sure which way to go.......u must have an awsome job 8 years stress free i want that
I was one that had to have stress to work my butt off, no stress, no hustle, I was ready to go home or go chase a lady customer or a meat wrapper, guess that is why I married four wrappers lol
actually stress has been getting to me too lately. Been finding myself feeling a little overwhelmed and snapping at co workers. but its just one of those weeks with alot of big sales items then alot of big special orders on top of that.
Sometimes when my alarm goes of at 3:15 in the morning I'm not loving it too much.
Except for that, I pretty much love everything about the meat biz. Even things I didn't like when I first started I seem to enjoy now.
One benefit is that I always have good meat at my house.
I know what you mean by No stress no hustle, Leon....but I think I'll replace the phrase No stress with *nothing to do*. I love having a busy day because it makes the day go by faster and you always have something to do! The moment we get it all done and I've still got about an hour or two in my day left...I get antzy! You can only fill the counter so much after the rush crowd is gone! So lookout meat wrappers and checkers Lol That's the old single me, though....I found a cake decorator in the bakery a couple years ago, and never looked back! Now I just cut it, play a few harmless jokes/pranks here and there...then go to the house! It's a good life....
And Butcher29.....lower pay and no stress is the way to go. I went that direction a couple years ago, and I applaud my decision everyday. My home life is good, and my work life is right there with it. I can always do without a couple things in order to sleep well at night.
there isn't much I didn't like about cutting meat, it has help me raise two familys. met a lot of friends over the years, some very good cutters, would do it over again.