Comments on: I’m Not Perfect, How About You? http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/im-not-perfect-how-about-you/ Innovation, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Personal Development Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:21:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kit Cooper http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/im-not-perfect-how-about-you/#comment-5823 Kit Cooper Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:30:13 +0000 http://jonathanfields.com/blog/?p=749#comment-5823 Terrific posting Jonathan. Very insightful and well written. I believe in the paradox concept. I think seeing paradoxes is a good sign of humanity. To be soft but hard. To not have a sense of entitlement but to feel you deserve it all. To be a great humanist but to also be a scoundrel every once in awhile. To give others the benefit of the doubt but to draw a line in the sand when you need to. Perhaps your biggest point is about being authentic and who you are. This Dr. Seuss quote is framed on my wall behind me as I type. "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Terrific posting Jonathan. Very insightful and well written. I believe in the paradox concept. I think seeing paradoxes is a good sign of humanity. To be soft but hard. To not have a sense of entitlement but to feel you deserve it all. To be a great humanist but to also be a scoundrel every once in awhile. To give others the benefit of the doubt but to draw a line in the sand when you need to.

Perhaps your biggest point is about being authentic and who you are. This Dr. Seuss quote is framed on my wall behind me as I type. “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

]]> By: Annie http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/im-not-perfect-how-about-you/#comment-5670 Annie Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:34:05 +0000 http://jonathanfields.com/blog/?p=749#comment-5670 What really hit home was your observation that we often don't want to see others succeed when we have failed to even try. Ouch too true. My only caution about relying too much on a "hey, it's who I am" attitude is if it stops you from becoming better than "who you are". We are all in process and striving to be better should be part of that process. I've been reading your blog for a while now and really enjoy your perspective. Thanks for putting yourself "out there". What really hit home was your observation that we often don’t want to see others succeed when we have failed to even try. Ouch too true.

My only caution about relying too much on a “hey, it’s who I am” attitude is if it stops you from becoming better than “who you are”. We are all in process and striving to be better should be part of that process.

I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and really enjoy your perspective. Thanks for putting yourself “out there”.

]]> By: starrlife http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/im-not-perfect-how-about-you/#comment-5658 starrlife Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:27:25 +0000 http://jonathanfields.com/blog/?p=749#comment-5658 I love this post. Authenticity is a rare commodity and I treasure it. I find it harder to feel comfortable with people who are overly "nice" since they feel out of balance and I have dificulty trusting them. Thus my hubbie's buying me a calendar labeled 'Getting in touch with your Inner B--ch' made me laugh like crazy! I love this post. Authenticity is a rare commodity and I treasure it. I find it harder to feel comfortable with people who are overly “nice” since they feel out of balance and I have dificulty trusting them. Thus my hubbie’s buying me a calendar labeled ‘Getting in touch with your Inner B–ch’ made me laugh like crazy!

]]> By: Jenny Fenig http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/im-not-perfect-how-about-you/#comment-5639 Jenny Fenig Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:04:08 +0000 http://jonathanfields.com/blog/?p=749#comment-5639 What an amazing post, Jonathan ... so true. As humans, we're all striving to be ourselves, to be kind, to be authentic, but there are days when we're not "our best." But aren't the imperfections part of us, too? The key is to be mindful of where we are, release whatever is holding us back from success, and to continue on our path. Oh, and perhaps the two most important things to remember: 1. No one is perfect 2. You can't please everyone Thanks for sharing a feeling that so many of us have ... the human condition. What an amazing post, Jonathan … so true. As humans, we’re all striving to be ourselves, to be kind, to be authentic, but there are days when we’re not “our best.” But aren’t the imperfections part of us, too?

The key is to be mindful of where we are, release whatever is holding us back from success, and to continue on our path. Oh, and perhaps the two most important things to remember:
1. No one is perfect
2. You can’t please everyone

Thanks for sharing a feeling that so many of us have … the human condition.

]]> By: John Haydon http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/im-not-perfect-how-about-you/#comment-5631 John Haydon Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:20:38 +0000 http://jonathanfields.com/blog/?p=749#comment-5631 Jonathon, Thanks for giving folks permission to screw up. I believe that when we make mistakes, and are honest and open about them, it gives those close to us permission to do the same. Making mistakes is crucial to learning - if folks feel like they "shouldn't" make mistakes, they're missing out. I know I've missed out on a lot of risk-required opportunities because I was afraid of making mistakes. The other day, my son was misbehaving at the dinner table (he's 5). I got mad and slammed a dish into the kitchen sink. A few minutes later I apologized about my behavior. He was happy to hear that my behavior had nothing to do with how I feel about him. He was also happy to learn that it's ok to make mistakes. That reminds me - Have you ever heard that Mean Joe Green song, "It's Alright To Cry"? John Jonathon,

Thanks for giving folks permission to screw up.

I believe that when we make mistakes, and are honest and open about them, it gives those close to us permission to do the same.

Making mistakes is crucial to learning – if folks feel like they “shouldn’t” make mistakes, they’re missing out. I know I’ve missed out on a lot of risk-required opportunities because I was afraid of making mistakes.

The other day, my son was misbehaving at the dinner table (he’s 5). I got mad and slammed a dish into the kitchen sink. A few minutes later I apologized about my behavior. He was happy to hear that my behavior had nothing to do with how I feel about him. He was also happy to learn that it’s ok to make mistakes.

That reminds me – Have you ever heard that Mean Joe Green song, “It’s Alright To Cry”?

John

]]> By: Kate Saltfleet http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/im-not-perfect-how-about-you/#comment-5624 Kate Saltfleet Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:33:03 +0000 http://jonathanfields.com/blog/?p=749#comment-5624 Perfectionism is like a disease, and I still succumb from time to time. None of us is perfect and in that lies our perfection. Paradoxical eh? ;) I liked the comment about life being a journey, a journey of discovery through all life's experiences, good and bad. None of us is the finished product, so it's ridiculous for people to expect there to be no room for improvement. @Matthew Scott - Are you really Dr Evil from Austin Powers? Perfectionism is like a disease, and I still succumb from time to time. None of us is perfect and in that lies our perfection. Paradoxical eh? ;)

I liked the comment about life being a journey, a journey of discovery through all life’s experiences, good and bad. None of us is the finished product, so it’s ridiculous for people to expect there to be no room for improvement.

@Matthew Scott – Are you really Dr Evil from Austin Powers?

]]> By: Stacey Shipman http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/im-not-perfect-how-about-you/#comment-5623 Stacey Shipman Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:59:10 +0000 http://jonathanfields.com/blog/?p=749#comment-5623 I wrote about this topic recently and like you I believe authenticity is critical. When I wasn't being true to myself I was uncomfortable. Once I realized "hey this is who I am" I became more comfortable with myself, my abilities and my purpose. Unfortunately people only see what they want to see, no matter how authentically we live our lives. I wrote about this topic recently and like you I believe authenticity is critical. When I wasn’t being true to myself I was uncomfortable. Once I realized “hey this is who I am” I became more comfortable with myself, my abilities and my purpose. Unfortunately people only see what they want to see, no matter how authentically we live our lives.

]]> By: Matthew Scott http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/im-not-perfect-how-about-you/#comment-5622 Matthew Scott Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:20:00 +0000 http://jonathanfields.com/blog/?p=749#comment-5622 Jonathan, My favorite word as a 44-year old who rarely curses is "fricken." Love that word! I love the concept of surrender, transparency, and authenticity. There is something about being truthful to ourself, but remaining open to uncovering our version of the truth. I respect how you enable people to get to know you by being open and even vulnerable. Jonathan,

My favorite word as a 44-year old who rarely curses is “fricken.” Love that word!

I love the concept of surrender, transparency, and authenticity. There is something about being truthful to ourself, but remaining open to uncovering our version of the truth.

I respect how you enable people to get to know you by being open and even vulnerable.

]]> By: charles faris http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/im-not-perfect-how-about-you/#comment-5618 charles faris Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:09:10 +0000 http://jonathanfields.com/blog/?p=749#comment-5618 yo jonathan tell it like it is! my motto (one of many i guess) is moderation in all things, including moderation. and when i run into those people who curse me for being human? i bless them for being human! (unless of course i am in a cursing mood...then i have to bless them *and* me!) thanks for sharing! yo jonathan

tell it like it is! my motto (one of many i guess) is moderation in all things, including moderation. and when i run into those people who curse me for being human? i bless them for being human! (unless of course i am in a cursing mood…then i have to bless them *and* me!)

thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Jonathan Fields http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/im-not-perfect-how-about-you/#comment-5617 Jonathan Fields Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:15:39 +0000 http://jonathanfields.com/blog/?p=749#comment-5617 @ Havi - Interesting questions, I get similar e-mails as, I'm sure anyone who holds themselves out publicly on a particular topic. What's funny for me, too, is that in a past life, as a securities/hedge fund lawyer, the rules were very different and pretty much all conjunctions and commas were replaced with curse words. So much depends on context. But, in the end, you just gotta be you. :) @ Havi – Interesting questions, I get similar e-mails as, I’m sure anyone who holds themselves out publicly on a particular topic. What’s funny for me, too, is that in a past life, as a securities/hedge fund lawyer, the rules were very different and pretty much all conjunctions and commas were replaced with curse words. So much depends on context. But, in the end, you just gotta be you. :)

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