I remember when I graduated from college, and got my first “real job.” It was quite a wake-up call. I went from a world of support, assistance, and plenty of hand-holding, to a world of a "you must produce, or you're out" verity. Hello, real world! Not so nice to meet you :)

Since that first job, I've had entry-level positions, managerial positions, and everything in between. Over the years, I've tried to learn and grow from my work experiences and observations. Here are some thoughts and suggestions that I hope you will find helpful.

Managers and supervisors: Your job is not easy. Hopefully, you have a strong support system in place, or are building one.


Interview hard, and manage easy. Interview and hire people that are not like you. To be the best, you must surround yourself with people who are the best. This means building a diverse team, with varying strengths and weaknesses. We all have weaknesses. They help keep us humble, and not overly self-reliant.

Build a healthy, balanced, functional team: black, white, male, female, youth, elders, physically mobile, and those with physical or mental challenges. 

Hire people who are able to work independently. Too much emphasis is put on multitasking and teamwork. People need time and space to think through ideas and concepts independently of others. This is where creativity, innovation, and strong work ethics are born and cultivated. If you promote this type of atmosphere, people will bring great things to the teamwork table, instead of just taking up space in a conference room.

What are you bringing to the table?

Everyone: Step out of your comfort zone. Learn from others who may not look or think just like you. Open your work-world mind. The world is full of unique and amazing people. Embrace them and all of their quirks and imperfections.