I’ll admit it. My best friend, before he became my best friend, irritated me; I disagreed with him, we didn’t see eye to eye. But soon, we found common ground and discovered there was more worthwhile commonality than trivial discord. A wise man once told me: “If you find more irritation among the vegetation than fruit, maybe you’re the poison in the ivy.” Step back, self-assess, and realize what you can do alone pales in comparison to what you can accomplish by collaborating. Find out what you have in common with your peers and celebrate your passion.

–Jim