After finishing her undergraduate degree in English, the author's first employment was in an academic department at her alma mater. At a large public state institution, the salary scale for non-academic appointees was--and remains--woefully low. Knowing that monetary compensation wasn't the source of staff satisfaction, her chairman made a dedicated effort to create the best work environment possible within the constraints of university regulations. Initially promising a two-year commitment, the author ended up staying 11 years and earning a master's degree in higher education/student affairs. Her ability to manage was a given for her chairman, and he empowered her to do so with confidence by providing a general sense of parameters as well as clearly communicated policies. He also acknowledged their intelligence, trusted their judgment, and supported and guided them through mistakes as well as the murky waters of administrative minutiae. And they succeeded, without fear of reprisals or reprimands, because they knew it was safe to make mistakes--especially as they learned from them. In this article, the author shares her five lessons for successful management: (1) Lead from the heart; (2) It is critical to communicate; (3) Define policy boundaries as clearly as possible; (4) Make fun acceptable in the office; and (5) The best successes result from team effort.