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.
My experience has taught me that a man who has no vices has damned few virtues.
No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of spring.
Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise, for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.
One acts decisively only in the conviction that all the angels are on one side and all the devils on the other.
Common sense is as rare as genius.
We're constantly making choices about the way we spend our time. The issue is not between the good and the bad, but between the good and the best. So often, the enemy of the best is the good.
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