When I wrote my post yesterday, I didn’t think I’d be writing a part 2, but after today, I feel it necessary to expound once again on this idea. Though, with a different premise. Yesterday, I talked about my struggles in learning a new program called MailChimp. This was much more about my own research in something and something I was mainly using for personal gain.

Today, I had my first shift as a food expo at a very popular restaurant in the Lake of the Ozark area. Previously, I have had zero experience in the restaurant and food industry. Everything was new to me. I had been to this restaurant a couple times before, but I didn’t know every item on the menu (Over 100), I didn’t know where things were, I didn’t know what to add to different plates as they came out.

Long story short, I was once again overwhelmed. There was so much information. But in a different way from yesterday. After a while, my brain was full, causing everything else I heard to go in one ear and out the other. I was annoyed. I wanted to do a really good job. I wanted to create value. I wanted to show them that I could come in and blow them away right away.

Here’s the problem: I couldn’t. I simply didn’t have the skill to be really good at it right away. I had no experience in a position like this. I didn’t even know what to expect.

So, what can you do when you’re in a position like this? Something that is completely new to you. When you’re working with other people who are depending on you to do a good job.

Three things to focus on when you’re in over your head:

  • The things you can do and know how to do, do with all your heart.

For me, this meant that when I got a tray of food to take to guests, I put on a great big smile and I made sure that these people knew I was excited to see them at the restaurant. If there was anything I could do for them, I was ready to help! Sure, I didn’t necessarily know what the food was called that I was talking to them, but I was prepared to make up for that with the sheer friendliness factor.

If you only focus on the thing you can’t do well, not only will you continue to suck at that, you won’t have any energy left over to do a great job at the things you can do well.

  • Research what you can before you get there.

This one was on me. I’ve been studying so much on sales, people in sales, podcasts, and tech startups recently, that I put off studying about working in the restaurant industry. I did this some because I thought, “surely it must not be that complicated.”

Even if that is true, that gives you even less of a reason not to research. With how much information, tutorials, and tips that are on the web these days, you have no excuse to walk into a job knowing nothing. Of course, there will always be things that you simply can’t know until you walk in, but once again, this gives all the more reason to research what you can before you get there.

  • Ask a lot of questions, and be okay with looking stupid.

You won’t learn very quickly if you don’t ask questions. I have found that questions not only serve the purpose of getting answers (Duh) but they also help solidify the things you have learned. If you can ask a clarifying question on something, you will often remember that thing much better. The longer you let one person talk, the more things will start to fly over your head (Remind you of something? *cough*college*cough*). Also, if you’re brand new to this thing, you are going to have to ask some questions that will make you look like an idiot. It’s okay. Usually, people understand, but even if they don’t, you’ve still learned something that might have set you back a long way otherwise. If you can figure something out on your own, great! Of course do that. If you can’t, don’t waste time pretending like you can. Suck it up, and ask for help.

Remember, if you tense up and panic, you’re only hurting yourself. Take a breath, retain what you can, and keep on going.