Every now and then, there are a couple of things I check. One, what’s going on with a couple of friends from my past and, the other, a colleague I used to work with in my longest-term job.
We’re all aware that ‘online’ is curated, the highlight reel, the very best possible description we can apply. You know the type of thing, people who write about themselves in the third person. Website dedicated to Joe Blogs, written by Joe Blogs, “Joe Blogs is a dedicated and competent, blah, blah, blah.”
But I got a genuine laugh a couple of days ago when I read the blah-blah of aforementioned colleague’s blurb. Eight and a half years I worked with this, uhm, woman (definitely NOT a lady!). Per her bio, she’s now worked at the company for just shy of a quarter century, 24 years. Here’s the kicker.
“My daily goal is simple: to lead with kindness.” I audibly laughed out loud! Now, this woman is perhaps the very worst person I ever worked with, it’s no exaggeration. Rude, obnoxious, I make no joke. The incredible thing is, I worked with her for approaching a decade, every day and I’m amazed I managed that long. Awful. And I don’t say this about many people.
I also remember, in a different vein, googling my father’s name. He’s a well-reputed architect and I found his bio of the company he retired from. In said bio, there was a ‘quote’. When I read it, I thought my dad didn’t say that, sounds absolutely nothing like him. He confirmed this for me.
Appearances, always concerned with appearances and not genuine detail. Even the picture of my former colleague is shit. The one of my dad, too, is unrepresentative.
Be genuine.
Be authentic.
Don’t try to lie your way through.