It was like chewing through plastic. I wanted to spit it out of my mouth but there was nowhere to hide. I had already popped the thing in my mouth and started eating it whole. Is my co-worker looking down on me?
Yes, because she was 6' tall and I am 5'2"... But it felt like she was looking down on me because I was exposed. At 29 years old, it was my first time being invited to a work-thing at a colleague's home. Everything was unfamiliar. What to wear... Who would be there... The whole situation was a stretch for me. What the heck is small talk anyway?!
The Unfamiliar
Navigating corporate dynamics includes more than work assignments. It's figuring out the people, politics, and sometimes the beans.
Super awkward moments for me have manifested in the following ways...
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My first job interview over lunch, what do I order?
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First happy hour, what do I drink?
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$562 to pay for a client dinner meeting, not knowing the privilege goes to the highest-ranked manager - While hoping I have the money available on a credit card.
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Getting a $255 cash advance loan the first time I traveled for work.
I got through it. I learned how to eat edamame by observing the host. Apparently, you put one in your mouth and slide out the beans with your teeth, discarding the pod. I now LOVE edamame, warmed with salt and pepper. I also like green beans.
The Green Bean
"Why are all the Black Kids sitting together in the cafeteria?" by Beverly Tatum is a great book on the psychology of race.
Doing the familiar can be a coping strategy. We all have them.
Lesson: If you are sticking to green beans, to stay in your comfort zone, you are not taking the risk and navigating the unfamiliar.
