So I have worked at Chick-fil-A for about a year now and in that time I've been at two separate stores. I've noticed there are a lot of things that people can do to make the whole process go a lot faster and smoother. So let's discuss them.

Yes, we are here to serve you, but help us help you. It's a give and take.

1. Don't order things at the window.

Anything that you add on at the window means that much longer that we aren't moving the line. Chick fil A is always busy, regardless of location or time of day and if we have to stop and get you something that you should have said back when you ordered, it throws everything off. The kitchen has to prioritize your food when they should be working on the next five orders already on their screen.

2. Don't sit at the window.

Once I have given you everything, move along. I know you want to make sure you've got everything, but please do it quickly. For pete's sake don't sit there and put your money away or start eating your fries. That's just rude. There's a line behind you and we have other people to help.

3. Don't be grabby.

This seems obvious, but it happens more than you think. I'll hand someone their bag and they'll just snatch it from me. This happens regardless of wait time and I can't seem to figure it out. Yes, you're hungry and yes, you want to make sure you have everything, but this really achieves nothing.

4. Get off your phone.

This is just as obvious as the last one, but I have to say it. I always read back the order at the window to verify it. If you're too busy talking on your phone to correct me, then it's your fault when the order is wrong.

5. Sauces.

When I give people sauces, the rule of thumb is two for each entree and three for each meal. This isn't an exact science and the number tends to rise exponentially. So if you want more than that, you have to specify. I know that there are people out there who want ten Chick fil A sauces (that's a different point entirely) and I respect them more when they say "I want 10" versus saying "I want a lot." What does "a lot" mean? You've clearly eaten it before, you know how much you use. Don't feel bad for asking for five or ten, just do it so I can get you your sauces and you can move along.

6. Sauces Pt. 2

This is just a question I want to ask; why do you need ten Chick fil A/ranch/barbeque sauces? That I have yet to understand and if someone would like to explain it to me I'd greatly appreciate that.

7. Up-charges.

Yes, things are upcharges. Capitalism is alive and well and if you want to vary from the original meal, it's going to cost you. The biggest things that get people are going from medium to a large or going from a fountain beverage to a lemonade. Fries are obviously an up-charge. No, I can't just "give it to you." Pay up. As for lemonade, we really do have a person that freshly squeezes those lemons. It really is just lemons, sugar, and water. I swear. All that extra effort gives us the right to up-charge it. It's like 24 cents, so deal with it.

8. Speaking of lemonade...

If you have already paid and you go, "Oh can I get a Coke instead of a Dr. Pepper?" yeah, sure, that's no problem. Because they're both fountain beverages. But if you say, "Oh, can I get a lemonade instead of a Sprite?" no can do. Lemonade is an up-charge. Most people I tell that to respect that, but others struggle with it. I don't know what to tell you, but I can't do it.

9. More about the lemonade...

This isn't really a tip, just more of a PSA. But the Diet Lemonade that we have still has sugar in it. Many people seem to think that diet lemonade means no sugar. How gross would that taste? Just lemon juice and water. Ugh, it makes me cringe every time. Diet lemonade is made with splenda. That's the only difference.

10. Lunch during breakfast time (spoiler alert: it's a bad idea).

The first Chick fil A store I worked at would make you lunch during breakfast time, but would warn customers that it would be about 10 extra minutes of wait time. The Chick fil A I work at now doesn't even allow you to order lunch during breakfast (there is an exception for the grilled chicken due to gluten allergies). Most people don't know this, but the breakfast chicken filets and the lunch chicken filets are two different things. They're sized differently to fit on the biscuit versus the bun. If the Chick fil A you go to won't do lunch but you're really craving it, you can request a breakfast filet on a bun. That's something that we can do very easily. Heck, add pickles while you're at it.

11. Oh, and speaking of breakfast...

Breakfast ends at 10:30.

I don't know how many times I have to say it for people to understand that. It's one thing if you walk in at 10:32 and ask for breakfast. I'll forgive you for that. But if you walk in at 2:00 p.m. and as for a chicken biscuit, I don't know what to tell you. Breakfast ends at 10:30. End of story.

12. Chick fil A is individually owned and operated.

I don't want to hear about how "the other Chick fil A I go to does XYZ why can't you do it?" I can't. Whatever it is, we don't do it at this location. Go back to the other Chick fil A. Chick fil A is individually owned and operated which means each store does things a little differently. Whether that means serving certain things (my new store is often a "test store" for new products) or whether they keep sauces out at the condiment table versus behind the counter. They're all Chick fil A, but they have some wiggle room to do what they want with certain things.

13. Complicated orders.

I understand that everyone has preferences. Whether that's "well done fries" or "no blue cheese on the Market salad" or even more complicated than that, you have to understand that those require a little extra time to prepare. And since they require more time, we ask that you be patient. Most people are good about it. They recognize their own situation. But, as always, there are always those people who have to complain that their "Cobb salad with no bacon and no corn but add blue cheese" is taking too long. I don't know what to tell you.

14. Large orders.

This goes along the lines of complicated orders. If you're trying to be the office hero and get everyone lunch today or if you have six kids, I'm begging you, I'm on my hands and knees, please do not go through the drive through. We'll either have to pull you (have you park somewhere in a designated spot) or buy time at the window however we can. Just please come inside so we can help you much more easily.

15. Long Lines.

This is probably the biggest thing that gets me. When our line inside is full and curving around in all sorts of different ways because it's past the ropes, and you walk up to the register and look me in the eyes and say "I don't know what I want", you can see a part of my soul die when you say that to me. You just waited how long in how long of a line and you still aren't ready? I'm sorry but do not pass Go, do not collect $200, and go directly to jail and the back of the line. If you can't see the menu, we have both an app and a website that lists all of our items for you near sighted folks like me. If you have questions about what is in something (usually the salads), please see the above mentioned website or app. Yes I know what's in everything, but don't take an extra five minutes at the register to debate which one to get after I tell them all to you.

16. Speaking of the app...

Chick fil A is currently in the process of updating their app to become the Chick fil A One app. Lots of cool new stuff is coming, so if you don't have the app, go download it. If you already have it, make sure it's the most recent update. Keep an eye on it in the coming days.

I hope that all of you were able to learn something from this and trust me, if you follow all of these points, your time (and my time) at Chick fil A is going to be much more enjoyable.