I was a shy girl, so looking back, it is awfully strange to me that I could get up in front of large groups of people, and be comfortable. I guess it is easier, sometimes, to be someone other than yourself. The director of those plays was always the same man, he was actually a friend of my grandmother. For my very last summer play, I had the lead in Midsummer Night's Dream. Big deal, right? Well, this director, friend of the family, Mr. H., the director I had worked with for SIX years; didn't even recall my name! He called me "Lori" the WHOLE summer. And guess who didn't correct him...ever? ME! Sometimes I forgot and didn't answer him. It was hard keeping up, but sometimes it's easier being someone other than yourself. Fun fact: I even took this acting thing so far as to be in a real movie! That's me..... My assignment is to write an essay to get me through a "paper screening" for a job interview. Basically, sell myself in about one page. No problem...I can BS pretty well in writing. I know exactly what they are looking for. I can just write my "character" to fit neatly into their little box. I could also choose to "act" my way through the interview. Again, play the role of whoever they are looking for. I could probably even "play" my way through the first few months of the job. I have seen others do this, it doesn't end well. When someone shows up that is completely different than who was interviewed...not good. Jekyll and Hyde. *Disclaimer: I would NEVER do that. Here is why: So say I get the "job", that was easy...I would live happily ever after....right? NOT. Why would I want to be in a position, where I have to act like someone other than myself? That would make a difficult job, even more difficult. Just like I forgot to answer to "Lori", I would get mixed up and not remember who I was supposed to be. Doesn't work for me. I haven't seen it work for anyone. So, rather than write up a fake "character", I will just write about the real me. Well, what if the real me isn't "good enough"? What if I'm not what they are looking for? Fear kicks in. Well, this is the time when my own words come back and bite me. A good friend reminds me .... "Take risks, dare greatly!" Yikes! Yeah, I've said those words...those words have come out of my mouth, many times! I even went so far as to make plaques and pass them out. Time to walk the talk!
So, I have decided to take my own advice and "dare greatly". "It is not the critic that counts...the credit goes to the man that is actually in the arena."-From one of my favorite quotes by Theodore Roosevelt. Time for me to enter into the arena. Me: not a version of me, not a fictitious me. Not me in a mask or even a red feather. Just me! If I am me, and me isn't what they want, then I don't want them. So, I have chosen to write about myself, wholeheartedly: MY leadership values, MY leadership style...ME. And if I don't get past square one, I will take it as an experience and learn from it. Fail Forward and Onward! So my advice: 1) Get to know the true you. 2) Be you, and only you! 3) Remember that words have power...they come back to you. 4) Take Risks. 5) Dare Greatly. 6) Learn from experience.
4 Comments
Elissa
6/1/2016 09:03:54 pm
You were in Troop Beverly Hills? I LOVED that movie as a kid!
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Cori
6/1/2016 09:07:11 pm
Guilty! It cracks me up how many people know that movie...and it's on ALL the time.
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Cheryl
2/10/2017 10:22:38 pm
I love your top six! Ever consider writing a book??
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Lisa
2/11/2017 02:52:00 am
So glad you are going to be you. You are the best you there is. Great reminder for all of us. Good luck on your essay.
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