My former neighbor had a literal sign in his front yard I’ll never forget. It was the first thing you saw when you approached his home. The sign had a stick figure illustration of a dog squatting – mid-poop – with a big red circle around it and a line through it. No missing the point there. He absolutely, positively did NOT want a dog to do his business in his grass.
So give him an “A” for clear communication, right? Actually just the opposite. The thing the man hated most was the exact image he pictured in his yard 24/7. In fact, that’s the only thing I remember about this neighbor ten years later.
That’s what happens to you if you allow yourself to be consumed by what you’re against. Your identity needs to be what you stand for – not against. It’s easy to complain about what drives you crazy. But far better to be known for what drives you forward. Superman was mostly known for “Truth, Justice and the American Way.” Not his dislike of Lex Luthor.
Whether in your work or personal life – don’t be most known for what you least like.
