There’s something about the “firsts” that stays with you. Whether it’s your first time at a new school, your first day at a new job, or even the first week in a new role—you never forget how those moments made you feel.
For many, that feeling is excitement, but for others, it’s pure anxiety. And let’s be honest—it’s often a blend of both.
I still remember my first day at my first “real” job after college. I walked into the office after the Memorial Day holiday and felt nothing. Nothing new or nothing old; just more of the same.
Now, for me: I had interned at O'Brien & Gere for about 2-3 summers and had a job offer when I graduated so the dress code, people, location, lunch menu... was all the same.
My biggest revelation was that I didn't go back to school. Summer had come and gone, and the work was still there, and so was I. It was a wake-up call that it was going to be all the same from here on out. Get up and go to work, day in and day out. So I'd better be sure I liked it.
So, in my latest letter to you: the first-timers, the ones navigating the unknown. I'm sharing some wisdom I can impart from my first job nearly 20 years ago.