I realized I was more convincing to myself and to the people who were listening when I actually said what I thought, versus what I thought people wanted to hear me say.
Interpretation
Authenticity in communication fosters trust and clarity.
In this quote, Ursula Burns emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and expressing genuine thoughts instead of conforming to perceived expectations. This authenticity not only builds stronger connections with others but also enhances one's own sense of self-respect and conviction.
In practice
During a motivational speech to encourage others to embrace their true selves.
My mother was amazing. I guess, in our community, if you wanted to get by you had to work hard. So she cleaned offices. She did everything that you could imagine. We were really poor. But she would say, 'Where you are is not who you are.'
My perspective comes in part from being a New York black lady, in part from being an engineer. I know I'm smart and have opinions worth being heard.
I'm a black lady from the Lower East Side of New York. Not a lot intimidates me.
Fresh out of college, you tend to join a company because it's a job. But, you tend to stay because it becomes a career; you start to feel at home. In the beginning of your career, you're focused on you: 'I like this place because I'm doing rewarding work; they take good care of me; the people are nice; there's runway for me,' etc.
When you are unhappy, you are just coming in touch with your own boundaries. Turn the whole situation into a prayer & you will walk through it.
Never lie under any circumstances.
In idling, the motor's running, but you're letting your mind take in anything. Things pop into it. Those are the gifts of subterranean conscious.
He who laughs most, learns best.
Iron till it be thoroughly heated is incapable to be wrought; so God sees good to cast some men into the furnace of affliction, and then beats them on His anvil into what frame He desires.
If I wanted to doubt, then I could doubt endlessly, but at some point a person has to stop questioning and act, and at that point you have to trust something to be true. You have to act as if something is true, and so you choose the thing you have the most reason to believe in, you have to live in the world that you have the most hope in.
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