Lauren Berger - Welcome to the Real World: Finding Your Place, Perfecting Your Work, and Turning Your Job into Your Dream Career

Lauren is one of the brightest and most passionate and articulate young leaders out there today, inspiring a whole generation of young women to take their careers into their own hands. Girls, do whatever Lauren says! Immediately! You wont regret it!

Randi Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media

Lauren Berger has written the book we all wish we had when beginning our careers. Welcome to the Real World is a practical, funny, and inspiring crash course in tackling your first job, and proves its possible to kick butt right from the start.

Kate White, author of I Shouldnt Be Telling You This: How to Ask for the Money, Snag the Promotion, and Create the Career You Deserve

Lauren Berger is the big sister youve always dreamed of having. Welcome to the Real World offers concrete tips on how to turn your passion into your purpose. If youre at a turning point in your life or career, then this book is for you!

Gabrielle Bernstein, New York Times bestselling author of May Cause Miracles

Laurens book is practical and comprehensive... and so needed.

Nancy Lublin, CEO, DoSomething.org

Succeeding in this economy requires savvy, guts, and flexibility. Laurens advice is spot-on.

Jason Feifer, Fast Company

This book is dedicated in loving memory to Justin Syden. In December 2013, Justin would have graduated from my alma mater, the University of Central Florida, to embark on his own adventure into the real world. The way he lived his life inspires me every day.

Contents

In the acknowledgments section of my first book, I thanked all the people who told me no, as they made me prove myself day after day. Now Id like to thank the people who told me yes. Because of your belief in my brand and in my company, Ive been able to share my message with the world and encourage young people to be proactive and make things happen in their own lives.

This book represents the beginning of the next chapter in my journey. Im excited to face the challenges that come along with any new endeavor, to advocate for my ideas, and fight for what I believe in. I look forward to continuing to lead this army of inspirational young people who are entering the real world. They are quite a force, so get ready.

Mom and Dad

Someone recently asked me whats behind my success. The answer was simple: Failure wasnt an option. My parents made sure of that. They raised my brother and me to strive for success and because of their constant belief in us, regardless of the paths we chose, it worked. Thank you for instilling your confidence, work ethic, and love in both of us. We are great because of you.

Jonathan

My little brother has turned into quite the businessman. Although hes across the country living his New York City life, I try to insert myself into the equation, as much as possible. One day, Ill convince him to come and run my business. I couldnt be more proud of the young man hes become.

Mike

Behind the scenes theres a special guy who is the center of my real world. He helped out so much with this projectediting pages, fixing computers, and going on late night coffee runs. I cant wait to see what the future brings.

My Los Angeles Family

This book is about the real world and my real world started eight years ago with Lauren Gold, Shannon Howard, Lauren Tully, and Rob Forman, when we all moved to Los Angeles after graduating from college. Although we all do different things in our careers, weve had the privilege of growing up together, figuring things out together, and really becoming a family of our own. When your real families are across the country, close friends are even more important. Looking back, I cant imagine a real world without them.

My Friends

Im the kind of person who only has close friends. Ive known most of them for more than ten years. These people live all across the country and provide me with constant love and support on the daily. To all of you, thank you.

My Book Team

Years ago, I emailed fifty book agents looking for representation. Forty-nine of them said no. Katie Kotchman said yes. Now, Katie still supports me, even when I pitch her the craziest ideas. Im lucky to have her on my team.

You always hope that people see your work and it speaks to them. I want to thank Colleen Lawrie from HarperCollins for believing in my project right off the bat and working with me every step of the way.

My Intern Queen Team

I wouldnt have been able to carve out time to work on this project without the help of several people. I want to thank my agents, brand coordinator, interns, and ambassadors for all of their help with this process.

My #InternQueenFamily has been there with me since day one. I want to thank all of the young people who have been a part of our Intern Queen community throughout the years. Watching you all succeed inspired me to write this book. Im so happy to continue our conversation and talk with you about your first, second, and third jobs.

My First Boss

And lastly, I want to thank my very first boss (you know who you are) for showing me that you can have everythingyou just need to work hard every single day for it. You will always be the person who paved the way and showed me that I could do anything.

I think today is Tuesday...

Lately, the days seem to blend together. Do I sound wasted? Im not, I promise. Two weeks ago, I started my first job at the largest talent agency in the world. Im in my cubicle, sitting Indian style on my swivel chair. There are no windows. I stare at the white walls all day long. I drive to and from work in the dark. Each day, Im exposed to new processes and personalities. My capacity for new information expired days ago. People keep telling me they have high expectations for me, but what does that even mean? I feel like my life isnt mine.

On my first day, everyone was so nice. But overnight, it seems, those same people have turned short and snippy. My boss is clearly getting over her honeymoon stage with me, and has started to freely express her opinion of my workand its not so great. Its only been two weeks and my world has been completely flipped upside down. The girl who was supposed to train me started working for a managing partner within the company so she now has no time.

My daily tasks include scheduling my bosss meetings; planning a European vacation for her and her husband; sending her clients new movie scripts; keeping track of the call sheet; and answering the phone, which rings every two seconds. I just have too many things in front of me. I dont know where to start. Im lost in a paper zoo with to-do lists, highlighted scripts, half-written letters, crumpled receipts, and unused napkins everywhere. Beneath the papers are boxes of unopened gifts, designer handbags, food cartons, organizers that arent being used for organizing, and Sharpies in every color. Do I really need another to-do list? Before I can get to work, I hear my boss yelling my name from her office. And trust me, Im not the only one who can hear her. She sounds angry... but for some reason, I still havent moved. What did I do this time? Ive already dropped several phone calls, double-booked three meetings, e-mailed a script to the wrong client, and heated up my bosss frozen lunch in the plastic container it came in, which apparently means I gave her cancer. Or maybe she meant the microwaved container would give her cancer? Who knows.

Im glued to my seat. Finally, I take a deep breath and drag my feet into my bosss office. Lauren! Why dont you have a pen and paper? Do you not take your role here seriously? You should ALWAYS be taking notes!

My head is spinning. I dont say anything. I pivot, turn back to my desk, grab an old memo pad and pen, and circle back into her office. Hello, again, I say dryly, forcing a no-teeth smile. She rolls her eyes.