I’m always down to read a great book. And one book I’ve read multiple times that I highly recommend checking out is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. The book falls under the self-help genre and has an incredible amount of wisdom and insights into life, how we are, and how we can better navigate life and interact with others. As I read and revisited it, I found myself reflecting on my life, my relationships, and how I relate and interact with others. This book spoke to me in some unique and special ways because it was very practical in its delivery along with timely advice on how we can all stand to be better and continue working on ourselves. I don’t want to reveal what the four agreements are in this post, especially if you’ve never read the book, but I do suggest checking it out so you can see and learn more about them for yourself. This book is a game changer worth diving into.
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...