Your potential VS Your insecurity

I spoke with a founder today who was having a hard time with some of their key stakeholders.

These stakeholders struggled with being defensive and offended when accountability came up.

Insecurity takes many forms. Especially in teams that produce important work.

Both Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus wrestled with this in their own ways. Epictetus said, “If you are tempted to look outside yourself for approval, you have compromised your integrity. If you need a witness, be your own.”

If you can’t be your own witness and you can’t receive gifts of feedback that will make you better, you will not reach your potential.

But if you don’t live for the approval of others, and you routinely receive those gifts as gifts, your full potential is what we will all remember you by when you’re gone.

Your potential and your insecurity are linked.

Do you receive these gifts gladly?