I am a tinkerer who loves to spot interesting things in the world… and change them, just a bit. Like this silly example:
(I didn’t draw the mouse on this brick wall, but I did add “Seek Awe” to his calendar.)
Many years ago, when I attended graduate school at the Wharton School, I was the features editor of the school newspaper and wrote a weekly humor column. That column gave me the opportunity to look at the complicated, often serious world of business and twist it a bit.
If an article or social media post doesn’t meet my expectations, I often change it… or replace it with another try.
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Are you being the “true” you?
In my opening, I started answering this question. I’m a tinkerer who loves being creative AND who loves having deep deep conversations with others; that’s why I’m an executive coach and social media ghostwriter, because both roles lead me to deep deep conversations.
For many years, I couldn’t have answered the “true you” question accurately. I incorrectly thought I was:
An entrepreneur
A business guy
A highly capable manager
Highly efficient
A speaker who could give the same speech 50 times a year
Someone who avoided time-consuming (i.e. deep) conversations
So the odds are pretty good that you may not yet have an accurate answer when I ask, “Are you being the true you?”
For example:
Are you fully using your best skills?
Are you getting paid well to use these skills?
Do you get to be yourself at work?
Do you feel 100% comfortable with the people with whom you spend the most time (and vice-versa)?
Do you show the world who you really are, or do you create a persona that’s not really you?
I’d like to suggest that the closer you are to being the true you, the easier and more productive your live will be. By productive, I don’t mean you will be efficient; I mean you will spend more time on the things that really matter to you.
In the coming months, I’ll be writing more on this theme. But first, I’d love to hear your thoughts, either in the comments section of this newsletter or in an email (I’m bkasanoff at gmail.)
Am I being the True Me? Definitely, at times... It can be hard to always be the "true you". In general, I love being an artist and am usually involved in some type of art. I have been a professional henna artist for 17 years, not including most of 2020 and 2021. I'm also a musical artist, a coach, a leader, a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a friend.
But that is not all I am. I'm also a product of my environment, a product of my childhood experiences, and am fortunate to be able to adapt to the changes in life.
I believe we all create a facade, or alternate persona, that we use to protect ourselves in unfamiliar scenarios.
I would say that I spend a lot of time doing things that I need to do for my business, my family, and my health. But doing the things that matter for myself are not as consistent in practice as the thought of needing to do so is.
Thank you Bruce for posing this question!
I'm looking forward to hearing more.
Thank you Bruce - this resonates greatly! (unsurprised you are). And echo your thought that being our true selves helps us live with greater ease and meaning. ⭐️