From the moment you decide to enter the world of produce, you are being evaluated by someone. The boss, client, company and the customer all have a stake in your performance.

What is that individual’s opinion of you? Perhaps you are one of the brazen souls who believe it does not matter what others think of you. Nothing could be further from the truth. The future of the organization you represent hangs on the spirit you bring to it.

Each day businesses across the globe close their doors because other people besides you had that same thought: “It does not matter what people think.” It does matter and, in fact, it matters a great deal.

In the competitive produce industry, your performance determines the outcome of the company you work for or the sustainability of the business you represent. How important is that income sustainability to your family?

Business respect and integrity is not made in the big deals. It is made in the smaller deals made on a day-to-day basis. The delivery of a quality service by a consultant or a supervisor is what sets you apart in competition.

Also, administering your responsibility well determines if your company can reach its success quotient. What role will you play in the success or failure of your organization?

Many people who leave the produce industry think they got a raw deal, when in reality they were the raw deal. Their attitude determined their outcome.

People need two qualities to reach a level of excellence in any business: They need to be approachable and they need to be teachable. If they are neither, they remain running a marathon but their feet never go forward. They stay in the spot they started and wonder why.

Consultants must master themselves before mastering their trade. Every supervisor must master his or her own performance before he or she should expect others to master theirs. The team you lead looks at how you perform far more than what you say.

It is refreshing to meet consultants and supervisors who are forthright about their strengths and weaknesses. Develop that honesty in yourself and be positive. You don’t have to be the fix, you have to find the fix.

What are the deal breakers that make consultants get turned down by clients? Why does upper management pass you over for a supervisory role? Here are some key reasons:

Are you approachable?

Will you allow another individual to talk to you about improving your performance or do you take an immediate defensive position? Clients and supervisors need to communicate and improve outcomes. You are being paid to listen and be approachable. If you can’t swallow your ego and hear what they are saying without a defensive spirit, then dooms day is coming and it’s just around the corner.

Are you attentive to details?

Do you delude yourself into thinking you can keep all the facts in your head and not write anything down?

Most individuals who are not good at details don’t even know it. The truth is all people need to utilize a system for reminders to ensure they can remember the details that are important to others.

The reason most people fail at this is they don’t know they have a problem, since the details they forgot were not important to them. This is a make-or-break issue for your business, whether a consultant or supervisor. Be responsible for what others ask of you.

Are you dedicated?

The world of a produce industry consultant or supervisor can be cutthroat since there is a lot of competition. He who meets the needs of the client or company wins, and that may take working more than someone else every so often.

Very few people are interested in the nickel-and-dime guy who counts every minute on the clock and complains continuously. Clients and companies are looking for the person who gets the job done without all the reminders.

In today’s economy, there are countless people looking for jobs. That attitude will only land you out there with them. Think bigger if you want to succeed. Be different on purpose.

Are you a person of your word?

Are you trustworthy? Take that word apart for a minute — trust and worthy. Are you worthy of being trusted? If you make casual statements like “I will take care of it,” and then you do nothing, you have become untrustworthy.

Trust is built on being a person of your word. If you make a commitment, keep it. Write it down so you don’t forget when committing to return a call. If you can’t be trusted to deliver on the small matters, no one will trust you on the big dealings. Keep your word. Your reputation and advancement depend on it.

Are you teachable?

Every good supervisor can spot potential in the people they oversee. Sometimes that potential is so good the supervisor knows an individual may eventually pass them by. But if you burn one supervisor thinking you know more, the supervisor above him knows it can happen again.

Potential tends to run in certain pockets, so teamwork and learning in new areas are crucial to company success. You might be great in one area and weak in another. Deliver instead of complain and learn instead of lag. Be a student in every situation by truly listening and learning.

Individuals are free to perform correctly or not. Be the person that others are eager to see walk in a room because you are approachable, attentive, dedicated, trustworthy and a positive team player. You will be noticed and you will succeed! The world awaits.