Think back. Can you remember the details of your first job? I can, like it was yesterday. Actually, I remember the first couple of weeks. You see, it was two weeks before I was to go for my driver’s license, therefore, I had the embarrassing situation of having my parents drop off and pick me up from work. It was then that I realized that I had to take my first paycheck and my puny savings to buy transportation.

I learned two lessons in these first two weeks—honesty and integrity—two hard to find at times, yet admirable values in today’s business climate. Now back to the story. So I made it through the first two weeks of embarrassment as my coworkers left the men’s wear store and I quickly ducked into my parent’s Camaro. At least the Camaro was cool. I passed my driver’s test and then was ready for my own wheels. My paycheck was due in a few days when one of my co-workers, who knew I was looking for basic transportation, said he had a VW bug for sale and might I be interested? He wanted only $200, which I could afford after my paycheck arrived, and asked me if I wanted to take it for a test ride. I jumped at the opportunity. What he didn’t tell me was it was a manual transmission.

Lesson 1—I shouldn’t have told him that I knew how to drive a stick shift.

My first paycheck arrived. I was so excited, even though it was going right to buying that VW that I would have to learn how to drive. I did the basic hours to hourly rate calculation, and they overpaid me by $20.00. It doesn’t seem like much, but at that hourly rate, it was about 20%.

Lesson 2—Remember, sometimes mistakes are intentional.

We all remember our leaders and veteran workers who we looked up to. We hoped we could develop into leaders just like them. As current leaders in your company, division, department or anywhere in the workplace, remember you have responsibility, and an opportunity to help others develop. Do not take it lightly.

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