The idea of chatting with people I don’t know and being open with people has always been something that scares me.

As I grow older, I know that this fear is something I need to overcome. It wasn’t until I got my first serving job did I start to finally outgrow this fear. I was so scared to start a job in a new field where the job was to talk to people and make them happy. I didn’t think I was made for waiting tables, but I decided to give it a shot nonetheless. After even a couple of shifts, I learned that there is so much more to waiting tables than most people realize.

I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons in the short nine months I’ve been at my current serving job.

1. Be comfortable with yourself

I’m inherently a shy and awkward person. I stumble over words and sentences every time I talk. However, with some practice, I grew more and more comfortable with myself. I was always afraid of making a fool of myself or completely embarrassing myself. As soon as I would walk up to a table I would feel my cheeks get red and warm and my mind starts swarming with everything I needed to say. My heart would start beating fast, and my palms would start sweating. I’m not 100% sure when I started to get comfortable with talking to people, but when I did, a flip switched and all this was gone. I would instead greet a table with a wide smile and a casual greeting, ready to take care of whichever situation the customers decided to throw at me. I’ve built my confidence up just from having conversations with my customers each shift. Even if I do stumble over my words and embarrass myself, I just brush it off and joke around to make myself more comfortable with the people I’m around. Now, I can go up and talk to just about anyone anywhere with no fear of seeming awkward.

2. Attitude is EVERYTHING

People always say that a positive outlook can shape everything in the world around you. I always thought this was kind of cheesy and overplayed. However, the longer I adjusted to the life of a waitress, the more I realized how true that statement really is. Positivity and smiles really go a long way when you’re wearing an apron and walking from table to table making sure your customers are happy. As soon as I walk through the doors of the restaurant where I work, I automatically smile and greet everyone. One bad attitude on the staff can affect the entire shift. It honestly surprises me every time it happens; if one server has a negative aura during a shift, it really rubs off on everything and everyone. I’ve taken this into consideration not only at work but everywhere I am. It even flows over into my personal life as well. Even on my bad days, I can usually muster up a smile during most situations just because I know how much a positive attitude can truly influence everything.

3. Breathe!

At the end of the day, waiting tables is not a difficult job. However, in the middle of dinner rush, there is so much going on in my head that I feel I could explode. Get drinks for table 203, get table 204’s order, check on table 205, greet the people at the front, breathe, run food from the back, get the glass of wine from the bar, breathe, smile, don’t talk too fast, don’t drop anything, keep breathing, keep smiling, listen for your name, greet your new table at 201…. It never really ends. The most important part is to keep breathing. However, it’s also the one I forget the most. While in the middle of a rush, I know I cannot get flustered. It’s so important to keep calm and keep pushing forward to keep from slowing down or messing myself up.

4. Good relationships with your coworkers are vital

I honestly spend more time with my coworkers than my own family. Because of this, the entire restaurant feels like a crazy, dysfunctional family every time we work together. We all go through the tough shifts, the fun shifts, the disagreements, the laughs, the tears… all of it. Luckily, I’m blessed with great coworkers and managers that make work fun and enjoyable. I’ve seen how a bad relationship with coworkers can affect everything, though. It’s shocking to me that not getting along with one person can affect an entire work shift and everyone.

5. Hard work really pays off

Most people depend on an hourly wage to get by, but not servers. Our $2.13 hourly wage really doesn’t amount to more than $10 or $20 every week. Working for tips has taught me that the harder you work, the more money you make. If I’m standing around on the clock, I feel like I’m wasting my time. Every minute I’m at work, I’m striving to make my customers happy and keep the restaurant clean; it’s the only way I can ensure making at least enough money to equal minimum wage. I leave every shift knowing I earned all the cash in my pocket because I was working hard for it.

At the end of the day, I don’t want to be a server forever. But, I know that these lessons I’ve learned working at the small restaurant in my hometown will follow me forever.