Somewhere along the way, most of us learn which parts of ourselves are acceptable. And which ones are a little too much.

Too direct. Too fast. Too intense. Too curious. Too emotional. Too impatient. Too ambitious.

So we adjust.

Some of that is part of growing up and becoming a better leader. We learn to read the room, make space for other people, and understand that not everyone thinks or moves the way we do.

That's a good thing.

When adjusting becomes editing

But there's a difference between learning how to use a strength well and learning not to use it at all.

That's the line I keep watching people cross.

Because some of the qualities people spend years trying to tone down are the same qualities that helped them build businesses, lead teams, solve problems, take risks, and create things that didn't exist before.

Knowing when that part of you belongs in the room is the whole game.

Recognize what's already there

That's part of why I wrote Get Sold on Yourself!

Not to tell you how to become someone else.

But to help you recognize more of what's already there and use it well.

Sometimes the part you've been editing out is exactly the part you need.

What's one part of yourself you stopped bringing into the room?

Ready for your next step? It is waiting for you at the top of the page.