Six miles to the other side of the world.
That’s how it felt before I stepped foot in Brooklyn. Hailing from Hoboken, on the Jersey side of NYC, there is nothing that seems further away than the deep-v neck, pashmina scarf, plaid flannel; skinny jean uniform of the hipster crowd I assumed inhabits Brooklyn.
Conveniently, one of my friends moved to Brooklyn at roughly the same time her frustration with my ignorance on what lies east of Manhattan was bubbling over.
After a (cautious) stroll through Brooklyn Heights and a glimpse of the fanfare of Brooklyn Bridge Park, I chuckled to myself.
It was the same as Hoboken. The aesthetics, the vibe, the demeanor of the population – it was eerily similar.
And why shouldn’t it be?
Both places are each one river away from the lifeblood that gives them reason for being, New York. Each place has its own atmosphere that borrows heavily from the city in between.
We often mentally put distance in between things that are so close to us. It might be a self-defense mechanism, or mentally categorizing things makes them black and white enough to manage. Whatever the reason is, it makes no sense. We do this in relationships, interests and at work.
How different can you and the accountant be? You’re colleagues, are part of the same culture, probably around the same age and live in virtually the same area.
It’s horizontal, inter-departmental relationships that usually produce the most amazing ideas. At Apple, a new hire interviews with the head of each department (marketing, engineering, sales, etc.) before being hired. Those who don’t work in your department know enough about the company to offer insight, but their viewpoints are different enough that it’s an alternative perspective.
Being the catalyst of this type of working relationship could give your company a better product, your team better projects, and you more recognition.
Try the water cooler a floor up from you tomorrow; you might find it’s similar to the one right by your desk.
To all Brooklynites reading this, I’m happy to give you a tour of Hoboken. You can even wear your skinny jeans.
