Over the past 5 years, working in a fast paced, high stress level and intensity job has taught me a lot about the industry, the price of food and beverage fluctuation, the trends and even how the changing of weather affects business. The most important concept that I was able to grasp, and somewhat study, and the one that will stay with me for the rest of my life is the psychology of the people you serve, and the people that work with and for you. Being able to read people and understand where they may be coming from, even if they are unable to calmly explain it, being able to diffuse a situation where a customer may feel like they’re on the losing end of a deal, and being able to simply be on the same page as distributors or representatives has saved more time and money than any other actions that could have been taken would have.With that being said, I like to believe that anywhere you may find yourself employed, it would benefit you to have at least a slight understanding of how different humans act and react in different situations. That’s what I feel is the most important concept I’ve learned while in the food industry. It has helped me grow as a leader and a teammate, and has helped grow the customer base and has made them feel more welcomed and at home. I understand that not every job is as personal as cooking someone’s meal for their family, but I see no reason why a customer shouldn’t feel the same satisfaction from any service and company as they do when they stop in their favorite small town restaurant and receive an excellent product, along with exceptional service.