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> Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. Is this really t
by dorkwood 6y ago
> Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
Is this really true? I've always felt that people are more likely to open up and be themselves if I demonstrate that I'm a bit unsure of myself, too.
Don't get me wrong, I _hate_ when someone presents their work by saying "here's my poor attempt at X, it isn't very good" (which is especially enraging if their work is, in fact, good). But helping to bring more quiet members of the team out of their shell by sharing a bit of my own humanity, a bit of my own weakness? That seems like it does serve the world to me.
- ChrisMarshallNY 6y agoI like your mindset. I think that we forget that we're all humans on this voyage. Like I said, I have seen both extremes. I feel it's best when we are confident, but not cocksure. There's always someone better. No matter how good I get, there's probably some kid in a Hanoi Internet café that can totally smoke my best. But I won't hold back from doing my best, anyway.
- munchbunny 6y agoIs this really true? I've always felt that people are more likely to open up and be themselves if I demonstrate that I'm a bit unsure of myself, too. I think the key is that you shouldn't need to shrink. You can be competent and still have weaknesses that you openly acknowledge. And you can play with how you present those weaknesses, but that shouldn't require you to think less of yourself or to present yourself as less than what you are capable of.
- dorkwood 6y agoI think my interpretation was a little bit different on the first read. But looking back at the original quote, it does say "playing small" -- as in, pretending to be smaller than you are. I agree with you that that shouldn't be necessary.