You're an acquired taste
Kinda like cilantro
I have a confession to make.
Every week, after this newsletter goes out, I hold my breath.
Inevitably, no matter how many new folks sign up to be part of our Illuminate Me tribe (thank you and welcome, newbies!), there’s always at least one (and often more than one) person who decides to say buh-bye.
I know this because I get an email notification letting me know they’ve unsubscribed. And it stings a bit.
Though no one has ever emailed or commented to say things like, “You suck, Amy!” or “Your content is crappy!” it doesn’t stop me from assuming the worst.
But after taking a beat to digest it, I allow the logical part of my brain to take over. It knows that an unsubscribe simply means that there was something about Illuminate Me that just wasn’t doing it for them.
You see, I’d never want to force someone to like me or my newsletter. Or follow me on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Or tell them they have to work with me.
I know I’m not for everyone. And neither are you.
Much like cilantro, you’re an acquired taste. And that’s okay.
But sometimes, you need reassurance. Here’s something I heard decades ago that has stuck with me to this day:
You are something specific to a special few.
That brilliant insight came from Sasha Strauss, whose words resonated so much with me that I literally sketched him saying them. This now yellowing drawing is taped to my office wall in plain sight:
It’s a reminder that you don’t need—nor should you try—to please everyone and instead focus on being 100% you so your intended audience, your tribe, or your slice of the interwebs can find and appreciate you.
It also means that anyone who doesn’t will probably unsubscribe or unfollow you.
And when that happens, it keeps you humble, for sure, but I’ve learned that it’s also a major blessing in disguise.
I hope you’ll see it that way too, friends.
And speaking of humility…
When was the last time you were wrong?
Did you freely admit it? And were you willing to accept it?
In my recent Forbes article, I share why intellectual humility has become increasingly rare and four questions to gauge yours.
(With a tip of the hat 🎩 to Shane Snow for his work on the topic!)
🚨BONUS CONTENT ALERT!🚨*
As we head into the final month of the year, you’re probably thinking about how you can get a head start on 2022.
Don’t worry, boo; I gotchu.
In my latest Forbes article, I share 22 ideas you can implement immediately to boost your career and make 2022 your best year yet.
Shine on,
Amy
P.S. Now that we’re inbox-exclusive, you might want to follow my musings across the interwebs on Forbes, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
P.P.S. When I’m not writing this newsletter or busy being an acquired taste, I’m a social media ghostwriter. (Yep, that’s a thing). I help founders, entrepreneurs, and CXOs craft their stories to communicate and connect better by magnifying their reach and impact. (Think personal branding and thought leadership.) Learn more here.
P.P.P.S. You, my coruscant friend, have great taste in newsletters—thanks for subscribing! You are subscribed, right? If not, let’s fix that; click the blue button.
And while you’re at it, be sure to check out the archives to catch up on previous issues, and feel free to share this one with your friends. Or better yet, invite them to join our Illuminate Me tribe!
*Do you like bonuses? Of course you do!
Later this month, get ready for something new: THE 12 DAYS OF ILLUMINATION. It’s been quite a year, so I thought, why not use the last days of 2021 to give you a quick boost of inspiration and easy-to-incorporate insights? This means that ✨Illuminate Me✨ will deviate from its regular weekly Sunday morning schedule to deliver short daily doses beginning Monday, December 20 and running through the end of the year.
If you think your friends might enjoy this, please encourage them to join us by subscribing! And if you’re here just visiting, why not make it official by clicking the button below?
