The Blue-Collar Journey to a White-Collar World

An area some of us grapple with is being a blue-collar person who, through sheer perseverance, transitions into the white-collar corporate world. Many of us have worked hard to earn undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and sometimes even a JD, PhD, or Doctorate, despite starting our careers in fields that required getting our hands dirty.

There are many ways to arrive at the same destination, and I believe the journey matters just as much as the final achievement. Let me be clear: no matter the path, earning a degree is an accomplishment, and it requires hard work from anyone who pursues it.

But here's a question worth considering: Does facing more adversity along the way—working full-time, attending school in the evenings, balancing parenthood, or overcoming life’s challenges—impact how you view the corporate world and those who transitioned straight from academia to a white-collar job?

The answer, in my view, is a resounding yes. The experiences we go through shape us, and when you’ve struggled, you may view things differently than someone whose journey was more linear. For many who juggled multiple responsibilities—whether it's working their way through school, facing financial instability, or dealing with personal hardships—their perseverance speaks volumes. These individuals tend to have a tenacity that can’t be taught in a classroom.

When the door to a corporate position opens for them, they walk through with pride, as they should. Many of my peers come from diverse backgrounds: PhD psychiatrists, master’s degrees in business management, human resources, history, bachelor’s degrees in engineering, aviation safety, international relations. Some are retired military, disabled veterans, or have entrepreneurial ventures. They might be truck drivers, cleaners, or immigrants who worked tirelessly to build something better for themselves. Some are from Caucasian backgrounds, others Hispanic, Black, and beyond. What unites us? The value of hard work.

Here’s the reality: When you've spent your earlier years working with your hands, getting dirty, or working hourly jobs, you tend to gravitate toward others who share similar experiences, no matter their education or occupation. We share a bond rooted in effort, perseverance, and physical labor.

However, this blue-collar background can sometimes make fitting into the white-collar world a challenge. Some of us might tell too many jokes, be perceived as too aggressive, or make decisions quickly without consultation. We set boundaries that aren’t up for negotiation and often treat our subordinates better than we do our higher-ups because we’ve been in their shoes. This can make us feel like outsiders in corporate settings. But there's a silver lining: those of us from blue-collar backgrounds are often willing to say the hard truths, take personal accountability for our actions, and accept the consequences.

So, the next time you interact with a janitor, retail salesperson, landscaper, construction worker, police officer, or any hourly worker, I ask you to consider two things:

1. Be grateful for their work. They make things happen that we often take for granted.
2. Ask yourself, could this person be your future coworker or leader?

I challenge everyone to step into a blue-collar world for a bit. Get your hands dirty. You’ll find yourself appreciating your comfortable office, your remote work, or that climate-controlled environment a lot more.

?-Be Good!