The Moment You Realize You’re Lying To Yourself…

Sometimes, it’s best to simply accept any and all feedback. So often, we feel we know the best way to do things, and turn a blind eye to alternate ideas.

I recently had two big reminders that sometimes it’s best if I just sit back and listen.

One was in my professional life.

When I first joined my role at VeeFriends two and a half months ago, I thought I had all the answers. I knew exactly what to change about the Instagram page, who should do it, and how I would be the one person to really lead the charge and make a big positive change at VeeFriends.

It turns out, I didn’t have all the answers.

My manager, May, went on an extended vacation. When she walked into the office for the first time in two weeks, I was so happy to talk to her and get some much needed direction. I can’t do it on my own. I needed help getting my priorities straightened out and to be honest, I just needed to be directed from somebody who has much more experience than me.

May is incredible at letting me run with ideas that make sense, and calling me out on my bullshit when my ambition departs from realistic and especially when my execution departs from my ambitions.

It was through her absence that I realized I had a lot more to learn about how to run the Instagram of a cartoon storytelling brand.

Soon after learning that I don’t know everything (and nobody expects me to know everything), I learned that I need to communicate more and assume less.

Sparing many of the details, I mistakenly assumed that I knew their intentions and waited too long to communicate that I thought we were misaligned on expectations.

It turns out, I was making it all up. I assumed I knew what she was thinking. That mistake almost cost the relationship progressing in a meaningful way.

Luckily, we were able to talk things through and come to an understanding of each others expectations. And honestly, it was painful because it was clear to me that I had made some mistakes. She calmly and EXACTLY pointed out where I went wrong, and just sat back and listened. A lot of what she was saying made a ton of sense. It’s then my choice to alter my actions to improve or reprint the same patterns.

These two scenarios happening within a few days of each other kinda shocked my system.

At one point I remember thinking “Damn, I’m taking a beating out here.”

To translate that thought, my perception of how I was handling personal and professional relationships was not aligned reality. I thought I was killing it, until the illusion I built eroded as two meaningful people gave me a reality check.

And that’s what growth feels like. It’s cliche, but you don’t grow in your comfort zone.

Have a great week :)