Would You Stand In Line For Cafeteria Food?

By James Santagata
Principal Consultant, Career OverDrive!
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Would you stand in line for cafeteria food?

Some do.

Begrudgingly.

Few do it because they want to.
They do it when their choices are limited.

Does anyone really dream of cafeteria food at night?
Does anyone really pine for it when they are hungry?
Is anyone really willing to die for it?

Probably not.

But why is that?

Well, cafeteria food is bland.
Tasteless pablum.

However, given the sterile, tasteless, politically correct environment and culture we live in today, you might think bland is "good" since no one is offended.

Blandness offends no one -- on that we can probably all agree.

So you would think that it would be the most in demand.

But it isn't.

Why? Because it is bland and unappealing.

Instead we often want our taste buds and gustatory senses overloaded with unique and bursting flavors and layers of textures.

Thai food is unique.
Indian food is unique.
Sushi is unique.

And people queue for those "unique" foods. 

And they dream of them.

That cannot be said for cafeteria food.

So be unique. Be spicy. Be different. Be anything but bland.
And never, ever be afraid to "offend".