If I were really honest with you, I’d have to confess that I hate asking for help. I’m serious. I’m not a good receiver, and asking others for help has always been really hard on my pride. You see, my personal life has always paralleled my vocation. I’m an illusionist, and I have a tendency to live an illusion. I’ve struggled my entire life with maintaining and managing perceptions, doing my best to control and manipulate how others perceive me. If you’re good at that, it’s pretty simple to fake it, and leave others with whatever impression you want that person to have of you…humble, nice, kind, or even wealthy, popular, or successful. Let’s just say that traits like authenticity, and transparency, have never been strengths for me. Until… READ ALL
Posts Tagged ‘transparency’
Authenticity is Changing My Life (Part 2)
By Harris III | No CommentsThe following post was pulled from Harris’ previous blog. While the post may not be current, it was re-posted here based on the high amount of feedback and comments received.
There were about 30 men in the circle. I was already getting nervous…yet somehow excited at the same time. One by one, each guy began to state why he was there in 1-2 sentences. It was almost my turn. The man next to me said, “I’m here because I’m f***** up, and I feel like there are other men here who are f***** up with me.” He talked for maybe 15 more seconds. I wanted him to talk longer. Because I was next.
“I’m Harris,” I said. “Hi Harris,” the group responded. My knees were shaking. “Um…I’m here because I’m a professional Christian…and…uh…a professional liar. I’m having a hard time learning how to be real. I’m a friend of Nate’s, and I’m here because I heard this might be a place that I could learn to be who I really am, in an effort to become who I want to be.” The entire group responded again. “Thanks, Harris.” READ ALL
Authenticity is Changing My Life (Part 1)
By Harris III | No CommentsThe following post was pulled from Harris’ previous blog. While the post may not be current, it was re-posted here based on the high amount of feedback and comments received.
Most people don’t realize it, but my life tends to mirror my vocation. I live an illusion.
A couple of months ago, I was meeting with a friend/marketing consultant regarding blogs/social networking sites/web 2.0 stuff. I was explaining my struggle with the new form of “content-driven” marketing rooted in transparency, because in the past, my view of marketing has always been that it’s a “battle of perceptions.”
The goal has always been to create the perception of what I want to be – busy, in-demand, professional, respected, etc. So, all of my marketing and advertising contributes to the perception that I am those things, so that I can become those things. After all, don’t people want to hire people who are in-demand already? READ ALL
No More Saving Face.
By Harris III | 1 CommentThe following post was pulled from Harris’ previous blog. While the post may not be current, it was re-posted here based on the high amount of feedback and comments received.
As most of you know, Katie and I just returned from spending two weeks in China. (I actually have a good excuse for going two weeks without writing this time.)
While there is much I learned while experiencing Chinese culture, (like the fact that there are 1.2 Billion people who have never been told the truth), one of the most significant things that fascinated me was the acceptance of shallow relationships. What’s ironic is why their relationships are so shallow. It’s called “Saving Face.”
To “save face” means that you share nothing about yourself that would show weakness. That means that transparency is frowned upon. For example, someone from China could have had the worse disagreement and argument with their spouse that they’ve ever had, but the moment that person is in public, a smile is plastered on their face. Does any of this sound familiar?
They’re also obsessed with prosperity. That means that if you have lunch or dinner with someone in a restaurant, but don’t have any money, you still pay. In China, it’s incredibly difficult to get someone to allow you to buy their food. Everyone wants to be prosperous, and even if they aren’t, they want to appear that way. Anything sound familiar now? READ ALL
