Benjamin Lawrence

Background

About Benjamin Lawrence

An anthropology professor once told me that civilization did not begin when we built cities and towns, but when we took care of each other. These words moved me and affirmed my belief that the success of the human experience relies on teamwork. I have carried this forward into my work life and pivoted myself to be a valuable member of any team I am a part of. When working as an editor of the 10th Inkwell I got to play a key role in a writing community. I worked daily with a small team of writers to turn other writer’s pieces into masterpieces, it was a riveting experience. I watched as fellow writers grew and helped shape their submissions—especially with the help of my cohort. Sharing ideas, arguing over grammar, and the care we expressed towards each other could not have happened in a bubble. Our team work made sure that the 10th edition of Inkwell happened and that its best to face was put forward. Teamwork is essential to my writing practice. There is a fantasy that writing can be done in solitude, but from my experience being an editor, I have learned that the feedback and constructive criticism that comes from a community of writers will take your work to the next level. So I meet with my writing partner weekly and we share our ideas, give each other feedback, and collaborate to see our dreams become reality. My strong belief in the value of teamwork has even been recognized by my past employers. At Whole Foods, I was promoted to the team trainer position so that I assist with onboarding new team members. I made sure they were set up for success and even after their onboarding was complete I remained a friendly and reliable face they could turn to. I had a similar experience at the Apothecarium where I was a part of their training program for new staff. I helped the consultants in training by expanding their cannabis knowledge and assisting them with the daily operations. There are many things we can do on our own, but not everything. I want my next work experience to value teamwork and collaboration as much as I do. My best work is done as a part of a community and any community I am a part of gets the best out of me.