Selective Sharing
The tensions in moving from the hidden to visible world.
Always interesting writing something about someone who will read this.
I have a friend. I would also call him a mentor and someone I look up to. He’s led an interesting life professionally and carries himself with a sense of assurance, and at the same time, compassion for others. He’s also an executive coach.
So when we meet for coffee, he is quite generous with his attention, curiosity and exploration.
Even though we just chat as normal, ask great questions, tell stories and maybe challenge each other from time to time in pursuit of further development, it mostly always stays within those boundaries.
It’s been great to not confuse or blur things; but this spring when he sensed something being off on my end; he asked if I would like some help working through it.
I said yes, please.
I had felt I was banging my head against the wall with an integrated set of needs - my own positioning, conviction for it and ultimately how I would bring it to market, and with what voice and confidence. The irony here is that’s exactly what I help my clients do!
A classic shoe cobbler’s son moment for me, and suspect many of you reading this, have also come across similar moments in your career at some point.
In one of our meetings; he brought up a post on Linkedin from someone that inhabits our shared professional world.
I had seen the post earlier that week and it triggered me.
There’s no grudge or awareness of anything done wrong; clearly a great storyteller and business builder. But it just doesn’t land for me. It hits a little too close to home like “why am I not communicating that!?”
We discussed further in that moment. I don’t recall coming to a conclusion at the time buut it was great to put a name to it and share how I was reacting.
Fast forward a couple months to day, a few things happened the past week that are bringing it all together.
First, a post from someone else I admire (but struggle with their content) and in this case, it felt like I had written the post.
“That’s my thesis!” I said in my head.
Screen grabbing the post to send another friend. But I stopped and said, “No Jamie. That’s not it. Many people share similar thoughts. There are just a few willing enough to put it out there.”
Second, seeing this electric (pun intended) Twitter account post about Jung’s Golden Shadow, I realized I had been hiding from a part of myself and keeping myself busy with faux tasks and activities that feel like they are moving the needle towards the future, but as I type recognize they were more “avoidance” than “supporting” my development and growth of my business.
