The Devil Wears Khakis

Inevitably in life, you’ll eventually work with people you don’t like. It happens. Different personalities are bound to clash, however, if you intend to make the most of your time and be a non-irritated professional, being cordial is a must.

At work I’m really quiet, unless I’m consulting with someone. I’m also a great listener and observer, which means I tend to catch things that most people overlook or miss, because they’re not paying close attention. I notice who’s well liked and who’s not, who shares too much about their personal life and those who are more reserved, and I can easily identify who can be trusted and who can’t.

One of the best tips I got from a seasoned co-worker was: It’s best to just keep people on a need to know basis. And that was something I immediately grasped about a month on the job.

In any work setting the culture and people combined, help set the tone. Accessing the environment, culture (the rules), people (those who are liked or not well liked) and figuring out how you should approach challenging situations, while working with people you may not take a liking to or vice versa, will serve you well.

I often reflect on T.D. Jakes tips on how to carry one’s self in the workplace (see the list below.) I hope you find them as resourceful as I have. Be blessed.

1. Understand that God anoints you for trouble.
2. Don't expect to be appreciated.
3. Do your job well, but remember your mission.
4. Seek opportunities to change the atmosphere without commenting on the problems.
5. Don't let your environment get inside of you.
6. Increase your capacity to work with different personalities.
7. Remember where you are does not define where you are going.
8. Get the optimum results with minimal confusion.
9. Don't be associated with one group or clique.
10. Always keep your song near you.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work – 1 Thessalonians 4:11

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

Dear Young Black Professionals

As you embark on your career, I want you to know some things and stay woke about what you’ll be up against. Please understand that no matter what, you have value, and you matter. Always remember that. As progressive as this world and different workplaces may seem, every workplace has a culture. You’ll be in different places where a lot of people who don’t look like you will be in the room. But know that you belong in those rooms too. Spend some time observing and studying those spaces and learn as much as you can. There will be people you work with who will make presumptions about your competence, education, and ability to fulfill your job duties. There will be more who will think less of you because of the color of your skin and try to disqualify you the moment you make an error, mistake, or ask questions about things you may not understand. This will all feel uncomfortable and you may get insecure, feel like you’re all by yourself, and think you don’t belong there, but ride it out...

Black Male Athletes And Their Dating Preferences

In the 2017 horror film Get Out , there’s an unforgettable scene when one of the film’s villainous characters, Rose, a young white woman, is seen eating Fruit Loops and drinking a bottle of milk through a straw as she searches the internet for “Top NCAA prospects.” This moment in the film is frightening because the purpose of Rose’s search is to ultimately lure young and unsuspecting Black men to a deadly fate after she begins dating them. If you’ve seen the film, you know how everything ultimately turns out, but if you haven’t, you’ll have a better understanding of the bigger picture. Recently, college football superstar and future NFL prospect, Travis Hunter, became a source of media scrutiny and controversy regarding his relationship with his fiancée, Leanna Lenee. Much of the criticism was around his fiancée and comments she shared about how she wasn’t initially interested in Travis before they started dating. Additionally, she received backlash regarding the couple’s interact...

Making Waves