This hits home. I’d always thought of myself as an outsider, different than others and anti-establishment/ anti- authority. (And TBH, I guess I still do in a different way.)

But I had a crazy experience that helped me see things a bit differently.

I was at a Tony Robbins event many years ago where thousands of people were grouped into maybe 10 or 12 people for a certain exercise. We were formed in a circle and asked to close our eyes. The initial instruction was to keep our eyes shut and point towards the leader of the group.

When I opened my eyes, all of my group were pointing at me. That surprised the fuck out of me! But shortly after, i remembered and realized how often others had seen me that same way. Being a team captain when I actively disdained it, reluctant chief resident, or any other number of situations where people thought of me as a leader, but I either refused or only reluctantly took on that role.

This realization went a long way toward me finally embracing my inherent leadership. And ultimately recognizing that the best way to change any system is to throw vicious elbows from a leadership position within it.

Fuck imposter syndrome. It’s an excuse to avoid doing what you know is right, in hopes that no one finds out so you can keep your job. Fuck that too.

Be who you are. And be here now.