Lessons from My First Job: A World Pizza Makers Day Reflection

First jobs shape us in ways that often last a lifetime. For me, working in a small, family-owned pizza shop in my hometown wasn’t just about making pizza; it was about learning valuable lessons that continue to guide my work and life today. On World Pizza Makers Day, I’m reflecting on some of those lessons, including a brief detour to the corporate pizza world that taught me to always trust my gut.

1. Don’t Be Too Rigid—Embrace Creativity and Uniqueness

At the family-owned pizza shop, I rarely got a simple order like “one large pepperoni pizza.” Instead, I’d get requests like “extra crispy crust,” “light on the cheese,” or “peppers only on three slices.” It taught me early on to embrace surprises and quirks, to be patient with people, and to enjoy the creativity that comes with the job.

For a short time, I left to work for a big, corporate fast-food pizza chain. Everything there was by the book, down to diagrams showing exactly where each pepperoni had to be placed. It quickly became clear that this wasn’t for me. I realized then that if something doesn’t feel like a good fit from the start, it likely won’t get better. That gut instinct to walk away from a bad fit has served me well in my career.

2. Get to Know the People You’re Working With

Like most teenagers, I was filled with the typical combination of self-doubt and self-righteousness that comes with being a teenager. I wasn’t sure if I would fit in or make friends. But working closely with a small team in that pizza shop taught me to open up, listen more, and judge less. That’s a skill I’ve carried into every workplace since, helping me build stronger, more collaborative teams. Getting to know my coworkers and respecting them made me the kind of person people want to collaborate with and, eventually, the kind of person they want leading teams.

3. Ask for Help When You Need It

There were days when I was left alone in the kitchen, trying to juggle orders because of bad weather or someone calling out sick. At first, I thought I could handle everything myself. I quickly learned otherwise. Asking for help was a lesson that didn’t come naturally, but it’s one of the most valuable things I learned in that job. Knowing when to reach out and involve others has been key to my development as a worker and leader. Understanding my own reluctance to ask for help also made me more aware of when others might need support but don't know how to ask. That awareness has been crucial in helping me lead teams more effectively.

A Cheesy Metaphor to Finish (Because, it's me, after all)

When I think back on that first job, I can’t help but see my professional life like a pizza. The dough is the foundation—solid and simple, like the core values that guide us. The toppings? Those are the lessons we pick up along the way. Flexibility, collaboration, and knowing when to ask for help—these are the toppings that make my pizza, and my career, unique. And just like a pizza, it’s the combination of all these elements that makes it truly satisfying.

So, as we celebrate pizza makers today, I encourage everyone to reflect on their own "pizza"—the foundation of their career and the toppings they’ve added through the lessons learned in those early jobs.