I find myself asking the inevitable transition question: Will I be as happy there as I am here? When I realize that I don’t know concretely, the nerves kick in.

It’s easy to freak out at the mere thought of change, because change really means “stepping into the unknown”, and as humans, we are fundamentally uneasy about the unfamiliar.

However, there is a difference between good scary and bad scary.

Bad scary is turbulence on a plane, or falling down a well.

Good scary is starting a new relationship, or starting a new job.

I guess there’s also funny scary, like when a drunk homeless guy yelled and whipped a sandwich at my girlfriend Steph’s head the other day, but I’m getting off track (as usual.)

Anyway, my point is that starting a new job is scary. There are so many things to be learned, new co-workers to figure out, a new office to navigate, etc… It’s nerve-wracking, but it opens up a multitude of really positive possibilities as well.

So, this is clearly good-scary stuff. But dealing with it still requires some tricky emotional navigation, especially since I tend to deal with major life changes in one of two ways:

1. Freak out to the point where I become paralyzed and can’t do anything
2. Step it up and deal with the situation

While this is the beginning of another chapter in my life, it’s all the same book: I know the relevant life experiences – and people – that I’ve come to appreciate in this job will stay with me long after I’ve left this place. It is with that knowledge that I excitedly walk forward, eager to turn the page and see what comes next.

“Well,” he asked, “What exactly do you DO? I mean, I’ve taken classes and I know all the terminology, but once I’m alone in the office… What do I DO?”

The senior partner at the end of the long interview table smiled.

“You know, that’s a great question. On my first day twenty five years ago a secretary led me into my very own office. I was left alone at my desk, given a huge pile of papers, and she closed the door. Now I was thinking: What on earth do I DO with these documents???”

Well, that’s me right now. While I’m not a Lawyer, starting in any profession can be daunting. No matter how well educated you are, or how much experience you’ve had, nothing quite compares to that first day of work in a new environment.

So, what do you do? Just grin and go along with it. Smile and nod, even when you don’t know what the hell they’re talking about… quietly take note of any words or terminology that you’ll immediately Google search when they leave the room.

Just fake it, smile – even when you feel like crying because you just spilled coffee on your boss- because eventually, it’ll be fine.

And just remember. Even the big boss was once sitting alone in a room, asking himself, but- what do I really DO?!