Do you care about what people think about you? Do you care so much about what they think that it prevents you from actually being yourself? Does it prevent you from becoming what you’re supposed to be?
One reason why people expend so much effort conforming to social ‘norms’ is that they think that others are closely paying attention to what they are doing. They want to be in the ‘cool’ crowd so they do what the majority are doing. If you ever accidentally forgot that it was dress down day at school and you were the only one to turn up in your uniform, you felt like everyone was looking at you funny and wondering why you are such a geek. I know I did!
If I was to ask you who is the biggest artist on the planet right now, your answer would surely be Lady Gaga. Her ‘born this way’ attitude has propelled her into the realm of superstardom. Don’t get me wrong she is a fantastic talent but the reason she is reaping so much success is that she has never stopped for one minute to consider what everyone else is thinking about her. She works purely on gut instinct and stays true to what she believes. Imagine if you did that? How phenomenal would you be?
In the late 1990’s a team of psychologist did a survey at a university in Chicago asking which entertainer would be the ‘un-coolest’ to display on the front of a t-shirt. The answer, was singer Barry Manilow. They then asked one student (captain of the football team, one of the cool kids) to wear a t-shirt with Mr. Manilow on the front for the day in and around campus. At the end of the day the student involved in the experiment was asked to guess how many people that he had come into contact with throughout the day could identify who or what was on his t-shirt. He guessed at 80%. 4 people in every 5. The actual answer was 11% could. Just over half a person in every 5!
The moral is that people are paying less attention to you than you believe. They are only looking at you inside your head! This mind set is stopping us flourish.
As a child where you the one that raised your hand in class and went with the answer you created in your head or did you cower in your chair praying that someone else would be selected by the teacher to provide the information requested?
At work are you the one that sits in meetings nodding along to everything that you actually disagree with only to then bitch and moan in more familiar company that you feel confident with? (Eg, when you get home with your loved ones)
You will never make the changes you desire if you are constantly standing in the shadows. Its time to step up to the Spotlight!
2 Responses to Dont be afraid of the spotlight – 20/6/11
Impressive article, I must say i watch for fresh news of your stuff.
By adam, On July 11, 2011 at 5:21 pm
this blog should be printed out and installed on every restaurant in town
By adam, On July 12, 2011 at 6:45 pm