Be who you needed when you were younger
So, here we go. When I started my journey, I would have loved to have been able to jump forward in time, and have a sneak peek of what was going to happen.
If I could go back and have a chat with my younger self, there is no doubt that I would tell her to believe more in herself. In a profession such as bartending, you are dependent on learning from others, and gathering information from as many sources as possible. It is therefore very easy to get lost.
It's important to be open-minded when learning from others. Learning is a two-way street, and the ability to take in new information from your peers, and not just give them your own opinions, is essential. If you're new to the industry, or if you've been doing this for years but are still looking for more knowledge, there are plenty of ways to improve your skills.
Take courses: If there's something specific that you'd like to learn more about, look into taking classes on those topics.
Read books: There are tons of great books that cover a broad spectrum of topics related to bartending, so don’t limit yourself! It may seem daunting at first, but soon you will find that reading has become a natural and integral part of your own personal improvement. -Reading requires both concentration and focus -both elements needed when learning anything new.
You will learn more from others, but you will learn more from yourself. I realize now that I was always looking for things in others, that I really needed to find within myself. When I was growing up, I always looked to others for validation. I wanted someone to tell me that what I was doing was okay or that it was good enough—and then when that person didn't immediately say so, I would dwell on what could possibly be stopping them from saying so?
Maybe what I was doing wasn't okay after all?
As an adult now, I know the truth. My friends and family didn't have a magic wand they could use to make me feel better about myself—and neither do you. The best thing we can do is learn how to accept ourselves as we are right now (which is hard) and find ways of helping ourselves that don't rely on other people's approval (which can be even harder).
It took me years, and several failed attempts at self-improvement, before I finally realized that trusting myself meant having faith in the way my life would eventually turn out. Listening to myself meant hearing the voice inside my head, as it told me something new every day. Being my own best friend meant treating myself well because there was nobody else who cared about me as much as I did.
The key here is to not be too hard on yourself. This is a time of transition, and it's inevitable that you will make mistakes along the way. But if you can remember that it’s better to learn from those mistakes than repeat them, then you will be able to move forward in life with less baggage.
If you need help, don't be afraid to ask for it—and don't let pride get in the way of accepting help when it does come your way! If someone offers advice or suggestions about how they handle their own situation, consider listening carefully before dismissing what they say because “they wouldn’t understand” or “that would never work for me because…”. There are always exceptions. What might seem like bad advice could very well turn out differently when applied by someone else with different circumstances.
I would also tell myself to try and remain surrounded by honest people, who really care, not just those who value me for my physical appearance. That's what I'm doing now. I'm letting go of relationships with people that do not care about my well-being, or see me for the person I am inside. Being able to rest is something that many of us struggle with. Often, we want to achieve our goals so badly that we forget about the importance of resting. The truth is that when we relax and do what is best for us, everything else falls into place easily.
In order to achieve your goals, you need to surround yourself with people that will both support you, and help you stay focused. It’s important to choose wisely because they will influence your environment in a positive way, help you bring back your inner peace, and push you towards achieving your goal. Also, remember that success comes from within yourself!
You don’t have to work hard at all if everything happens naturally: just do the right things at the right times and surround yourself with good people who share similar values as yours.
Last but not least, trying to find a work-life balance in this profession is as important as it is difficult. This industry itself is stressful, but it can be balanced: no alcohol at work, a good amount of physical exercise, being outside and in contact with nature, and trying to have a normal day-night schedule…at least trying, it will make it easier day by day.
And now, looking ahead instead, I hope that the future generation of young professionals never let the fire that burns inside their souls die out.
I hope it returns to those who are starting their professional careers, not just as a trend but as a strong passion.
The goal is that you can give meaning to this profession and make everyone proud of it!
