Balance.

For me, having "fun" in a professional environment directly correspons to the people I surround myself with. The friendly atmosphere and laid back vibe of SHM make it easy to feel very comfortable very quickly. That being said, the biggest challenge can be differentiating between a work appropriate conversation and something that should be discussed sometime after 4:30 with a close friend instead of all of your co-workers. In most cases the distinction is relatively simple, but I've found it can be a little blurrier working at SHM. Being part of such a free-spirited, open-minded atmosphere is a blessing as well as a learning experience.

In these two short months, I have quickly realized that no matter how busy they may be, EVERYONE here likes to joke around and have a good time. In fact, on some days it feels like the S in our company's name should stand for sarcastic. People definitely respect one another’s opinions and values, but are far from hesitant to share their own. Though this is definitely a positive aspect of working here, there is also the added challenge of not crossing any lines. Everyone has different boundaries and different comfort levels, and being mindful of those is extremely important when working with such a diverse group of people. It's fine to tell stories, pull pranks, and even tease each other a little bit, just as long as no one is made to feel uncomfortable in the process. Making sure that your laugh of the day doesn't come at someone else's expense; to me that's what maintaining the balance is.

*Except for Susan, it's okay to laugh at her! (: