Tough Exteriors

Why do we do it? Why do we make it seem like we’ve got it all together? Why don't we want people to see we need their help? Why don't we want them to see that we’re a work in progress?

We do it though. We act tough, we make it work and we take on more than we should so we can be seen as “with it”.

Maybe the lesson is that we don't always have to be “with it”.  Sharing the vulnerability of our weakness can only make us stronger.  Whether in our personal or professional lives, whenever we take the time to talk about what overwhelms us, there is usually someone to willingly extend a hand.  

In my personal life, I might act like a “strong independent woman” to hide that I’m struggling with keeping it all together.  I might act strong and that “everything is fine” as a way to hide the mess of a life I’m working through.

In my professional life, I might act like I’ve got a plan for my long term brand strategy when I actually haven't thought past this quarter.  You might say, “I know who we are” when you actually haven't thought about tone and how you want to come to life for people. 

We don't have to fall victim to this bureaucratic bull shit of an idea that “everything is OK”. We don't have to act all southern and perfect about things.  We can be real, we can talk about what’s really going on, we can ask for help!!  We need to be OK with the fact that we’re all just working through it, figuring it out as we go.