14 Comments

Great read! I like the expansion reframing. It's awesome you were able to succeed despite being asked to tone down your voice.

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This was a great read! Definitely resonate with managers telling me something similar to the part that I need to be more "outgoing", when in reality, all I cared about is just getting things done.

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I love this reframing!

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Thanks for sharing the perspective Ami. Removing layers of personality and being uncomfortable with that change for fitting in is a challenge. Reframing that as the hard part of growth ( apt for the newsletter series as well! ) and addition to "who I AM" put things into perspective. Thanks for sharing it! Have a great year ahead!

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Loved this piece and resonate strongly with it - thank you for sharing and happy new year 🙌

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I love this reframing! But also, I like you and your calm, confident directness :)

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Love this idea! Thank you!!!

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I really love your article. This is the serious issue or perception caused by many others who THINK about CULTURE. Thank you for sharing this.

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I love this :) so apt about reframing and expanding one's range vs making one's self small to please others

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Love it!

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Excellent articulation to not losing the voice in the process of being acceptable and a friendly leader.

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I’m in the position you were at the beginning of this piece. Feeling like I need to change to fit and succeed. I don’t understand how it’s at all productive to tip-toe around, but apparently that’s preferred.

As a creative, it was drilled in to me to be able to take harsh critique without flinching, but the rest of the world does not operate that way and it’s been really hard to adapt.

And honestly, I don’t know if I want to for the exact reasons you mention here. I don’t want to lose myself. Not to mention watering myself down will result in mediocre compromised work that doesn’t perform. So I become nicer to work with, but then the next performance review is all about how my work isn’t up to snuff...

I think the lesson should be about finding a place that appreciates you for who you are and aligns with your own values.

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Happy New Year, Ami! That was a great read.

Do you remember how/when you realized “expanding your range” was the way forward?

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Bruck, so great to hear from you!! Happy new year! Great question -- I honestly can't recall a single moment when this crystallized. I have to believe that it was inspired by conversations with my exec coach at the time (the wonderful Katia Verresen), who is all about embracing abundance and expansion rather than scarcity and contraction.

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