Today’s Leadership Lessons From FRIENDS blog features guest writer Lauren Majkowski. Lauren graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a minor in English. Recently, Lauren moved back to Texas from New York. In her free time she enjoys traveling, reading, and visiting friends and family outside of her hometown of Grapevine, TX.

Learning leadership lessons from the show “Friends” was an interesting concept, but after thinking about it I really have learned a lot. I moved to New York about two and a half years ago when I decided to venture out on my own. I wanted to prove to others,  and myself,  that I could make it. However, I knew I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the confidence I received from the most important leaders in my life, my family and friends. I took a leap of faith and went for it. I don’t regret one single second of it. I moved to New York with no job lined up and only the money I had saved from my previous job in Texas. I moved in with my brother and quickly learned that the money I had wouldn’t last long. I knew I needed to get a job as soon as possible. The first episode of friends gave me some insight on what I needed to do to succeed.

In the pilot episode of Friends everyone can learn a great lesson. That lesson is, independence. In this episode Rachel has run out on her wedding day and finds refuge with her friend Monica from high school. She then goes on to tell her father she doesn’t need his money to survive and that she will be living with Monica from then on. Later in the episode she tries to get a job and finds out that she is not qualified for anything. But, by the end of the episode she learns the true meaning of independence by cutting up her fathers credit cards, and finally getting a waitressing job at the coffee shop “Central Perk”.

Another characters story in this episode is that of Ross Geller. He had to come to terms with the fact that his ex-wife is moving in with her partner; which leaves him with an empty apartment. During this episode he mopes around as usual being down about his life. He finds help and comfort through his friends Joey and Chandler. They both help him put his new furniture together in his apartment since he was left with nothing after the divorce. With his life in shambles he still surges ahead to move on as an independent man.

Sometimes it is scary to go out on your own and conquer your fears, but in the end it is all worth it. Being an independent person is a quality we all have, but remember that it is never a sign of weakness to look to your friends, parents, or other leaders in your life for help. That is what they are there for.

I want to leave you with this question: What fears will you conquer in 2013?

Please check back with us in two weeks as our “Leadership Lessons from FRIENDS” blog series continues! To view all of the blogs from the Leadership Lessons from FRIENDS series, click here!