In the word "conform" is the word "con." It's a simple truth, but it points to a deeper problem. We're surrounded by cultural peer pressure, a constant force that pushes us to form into an image that isn't our own. An image that says, "If you don't do this, you won't be successful." But what if that armor you're wearing was never designed for you?
I recently sat down with Avik on the Mind Meets Machine podcast to talk about the choice between victimhood and leadership. What started as a conversation about mindset turned into something deeper, a look at the intersection where cultural constructs meet our individual destiny. We explored why it's so easy to get on the bandwagon and follow the crowd, and the hidden cost of letting others define our identity. The truth is, learning from influential people isn't a bad thing. But when we let their path become our own, we lose our way.
They have armor that's customized for them. You do for you, me for me. This is the core of your DNA of Design.
Your journey begins with the words you speak over yourself. Signals begin with self-talk. If the majority of your conversation is, "That person is getting all the breaks, but I'm not," you are cursing yourself and stepping out of your own inheritance. What you declare will be established, whether positively or negatively.
This is why a great calling demands a great separation—internally and externally. We look across history and see that anyone who changed the world, from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali, always had a great separation. They couldn't do things the same way 99% of people did them. This means stepping away from the "cult of comfort."
One of my late mentors used to say there's "tickle time" and then there is "protocol time." If we get into too much tickle time, we'll never fulfill our purpose. The return on investment for victimhood is digging your grave deeper.
The ROI for leadership is the mountaintop, but to get there, you have to be willing to walk through the valley.
Most people are wearing borrowed armor.
Here's how to take it off.
Know the difference between modeling and conforming. Learning from others is a gift; letting them define your identity is a trap.
Treat your self-talk like a command. The words you speak to your subconscious are creating neurological pathways, for better or for worse.
Accept that your calling requires separation. The path to your purpose will likely look different from everyone else's, and that's by design.
Where in your life are you wearing armor that was never designed for you?
I'd love to hear your answer.
Hit reply and tell me, I read every response.
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Keep seeking the links,
Caleb