This has been on my mind all week. I’ve spent a lot of time scrolling through my Facebook news feed checking in on friends. I don’t typically spend a lot of time on FB. I usually go on, wish folks happy birthday, scroll a bit, visit some groups that I’ve been in for a long time and then log off.
For whatever reason, this week I got sucked into the vortex by something and noticed a lot of posts from friends who are all complaining about seeing too many ads on FB! Curiously, I had noticed the same thing in my news feed. Lots of ads, lots of online webinars etc… One thing I surmise from reading the ads is that many of these folks must be studying with the same teacher/mentor/expert because they all say the same thing, they all have the same photos, they all, for the most part, use the same language and have the same personality!
It reminds me of a few years ago being on the production staff of a local musical when all of the young ingenues came in dressed alike, with the same hair cut, same make up, and singing in the same broken style of a too heavy pop low register and a lyrical head voice. No blend, and worse, no real emotion, no real relationship to the material or the others in the room. Perhaps it’s being on so many auditions where the production staff barely looks at the talent, but I don’t think so, I think we are becoming a cookie cutter world and it saddens me.
I’m not the girl next door. Yes, I love jeans, t-shirts and yoga pants but I also love gowns, sparkly jewelry and bright lipstick. I’m known for it. I’ve been described by it. The tall woman with the bold lipstick wearing the red trenchcoat. Like Paloma Picasso, like Carolina Herrera, like others you can think of that have a signature look or element… that’s me.
I can be dramatic in looks, voice and personality. It’s why I have a list of evil queens as favorite roles I’ve played. Yet, one of the most surprising things people discover is how much of a down to earth regular person I am. How real.
We have enough cookie cutter folks in the news feed. Don’t be one of them. Be yourself, however quirky you are, because we need REAL Voices now more than ever!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this!! I remember back when I was a teenager I used to say that… I never liked living in a cookie cutter world! It’s still that way. In some regards I see it as better but to get that point out there is important. Be yourself. Your TRUE self. We can all have similarities but use your own voice and be proud of that.
Thank you, Heather!
The world we live in is ever changing. So it is strange to me that we do have cookie cutter people. It is almost as if a person a sleeping, like a princess in a story.
My very literal sense of humor kicked in and this ran through my head. I like cookies and ginger bread men, which are cookies that are people, but I do not like cookie cutter people. 😛
Thank you for your words of individuality Kathleen!
I love your sense of humor, Marie! So true! Some people are still sleeping, they are more influenced by trying to fit in. Thank you!
Oh yes, this speaks to me so much. In my industry, we are a dime a dozen, and to rise above the noise, you must NOT be the cookie cutter. Wonderful post!
Hi Jill! Yes, it’s true in my industry as well. The pressure to conform is great especially when it comes from an “authority” but I’m a firm believer in being yourself. Thank you!!! 🙂
This blog speaks the truth! In order to stand out, we truly have to be our own, authentic self! It’s just too noisy out there to be anything but genuine and to be of service to those who need our gifts. Thanks for sharing, Kathleen.
Hi Susan! Thank you so much! You are so right. We can only truly be of service when we give of ourselves. That can’t happen if we are trying to conform to another’s vision of what they think we should be. 🙂
Thanks, Kathleen. When I first started on social media I worked very hard to be neutral — maybe “user-friendly” and approachable. It felt like work. With some encouragement, I started to share my true voice — just like in real life. I don’t deliberately try to offend anyone (except maybe the occasional politician) but people either like me or they don’t. Just like real life. And I’m good with that. Thanks for a thought-provoking post. (And I owe you a pic of Pippi’s house.)
Thanks, Andrea. I can relate. I experienced the same thing I was even advised to be neutral and much less myself than I wanted. Now, I’m just me and this is it. Can’t wait to see the pic of Pippi’s house and share with Mom!
It’s not the loudest voice that gets heard, it’s the one that stands out from the others.
Wise words, Barb. Some of the best advice one could ever be given.
That is really unfortunate that you would have so many dressed and make-up the same in the theater biz…I would think that their own individuality would have stood out-it is a living art! How sad that they thought or believed they had to be in conformity rather than standing out…Yes, we are all people, so I suppose we all have THAT, and some of us are male dominant and some female dominant, so we have THAT, but we get to dress and BE our own unique imprint. So I say, YEs we are humans on this planet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t act like butterflies!!!
Yeah, I thought so. It was so strange to me and I had the same question, why? then again theater like anything has its trends, I hope this one is on it’s way out. 🙂
Great Message Kathleen! It is so true that in business we often follow others’ approaches. What I know to be true from my own life and coaching others, is that it is when we take the time to be quiet by being in nature, meditating and/or journalling we can then connect with our inner voice. She will help us get clear on on our “essence”,the real “us” and the message we are meant to share with the world. This essence then shines through when we speak, facilitate, and interact with others. I find Gail Larsen’s book on “Transformational Speaking” a great resource for speakers.
Thank you, Pamela! I loved “Transformational Speaking”! Such an insightful book. As a young teacher I was taught to “steal” from others. Not verbatim, but to notice the great ideas and what worked and incorporate those things with my own spin and I was blessed to have that guidance. I totally agree, it is our essence that touches the audience, be it in a business meeting or a concert hall. 🙂
Great reminder to embrace our unique gifts, and not hide them away out of fear of being different!
Thanks, Kris! I used to get a lot of “too” as in, “You’re too ______.” It took a while but I finally realized it was the other person’s problem not mine. 🙂