Let your freak flag fly

Kanye’s not often right, but in this case? He’s spot on. As I start to write I wonder if the pressures of the sophomore album also apply to the second blog post? 

Well, the truth is, my words may not resonate, or even be read. But at the end of the day, that’s not exactly what all of this is about and, to be perfectly and painfully honest, there is a part of me that needs to detach from that desire for broader acceptance anyway.  So… on I write.

Owning it…

About a year ago, an old acquaintance of mine posted an image and in the caption he wrote “let your freak flag fly”. As soon as I read it, I was struck deep down. Those simple words celebrated a transformation I had been undergoing for a number of years and breezily celebrated the quirky uniqueness in us all. 

You see, in my early days working in leadership positions I really struggled to unveil my own style. I tried unsuccessfully force myself to fit molds that had been cast before me. Emulating something that seemed “right” which caused me to become formal and awkward. As a result, I was miserable. 

Finally, fed up with work and frustrating circumstances, I decided just be me. At this point there was nothing to lose. I had to throw my preconceived notions of leadership out the window, leverage my strengths, and be cognizant of my weaknesses and pitfalls. 

The result was a pure and genuine joy found in rebuilding business and myself as a leader. I was able to better see the opportunities that lay ahead and better utilize the strengths of the people around me. It was deeply rewarding and transformational leaving me feeling free and creative. 

So, what does this have to do with MAS?

Everything! This journey is about just that, exploring those hidden and quirky parts of ourselves, loving them, and sharing them with the community that surrounds us. It is about intentionally being surrounded with people who are striving to be better, traveling their own journey and sharing what they learn while taking chances and asking questions. For me, it is about becoming a more complete version of myself enabling me to have more authentic impact on the surrounding world. Oh yeah, and it’s about having a boat load of fun along the way!

Thank you

I am grateful for the public and private responses that I received from the first post and am encouraged that the concept of MAS resonates with so many. I have so much to learn from each of you as you navigate your own paths and truly hope that you will share your lessons with me. 

In the mean time, friends, let your freak flags fly and make the world a more colorful (and awesome) place! Thank you for the inspiration.