There have been times in my career where I’ve chosen the wrong path.
What makes this crazy is that there have been times where I knew I was but still went ahead with it.
Nothing bad. Nothing illegal.
But, according to others, it was the wrong thing to do.
Now this is not because I have a death wish or want to cause trouble … it’s because a situation or certain circumstances occurred that just triggered something in me.
Good and bad.
And while – with hindsight – I know I could have handled ‘how’ I dealt with some of those situations differently, I absolutely don’t regret ‘why’ I did it … even if that led to some people labelling me as being ‘too emotional’.
Too emotional is a horrible phrase.
It aims to shame people for who they are and what they believe.
What is worse is that it is often expressed by people who have an inability to show any emotion towards anything, so act as if it is some sort of human flaw.
A fundamental weakness.
Let me be very clear, being able to express your emotions is a strength.
It’s healthy.
It’s positive.
It’s also a sign you give a fuck.
Whether that is about work, standards or other people.
Now I appreciate that doesn’t mean you can use it as an excuse to abuse others or act like you’re some sort of megalomaniac diva.
Nor do I think that just because something triggered your emotions, it means your perspective is automatically correct.
But expressing your emotions is important.
It should absolutely never be treated as doing something wrong.
Especially in the creative industry, where our goal is to literally make people feel something.
So if anyone ever say’s, “you’re too emotional”, don’t just take it.
It’s the sort of comment that – if allowed to fester – can chip away at your confidence.
Often uttered by senior figures in a company who want employees to think, act and behave exactly like them rather than embrace differences of opinion or brand new thinking … which is ironic, given that’s the main way companies can evolve and grow.
So if faced with that situation, ask them what they mean by their comment?
Put it back on them to explain.
Half the time you’ll find it is simply because they don’t like conflict.
Or an alternative perspective.
And that’s when you explain why the situation has made you feel the way it has.
Why you believe it shouldn’t just be brushed away.
Not because you’re an egomaniac who wants whatever they choose, but because you see implications that could have a terrible effect on the work or the company or the team at large.
And if the person you're talking to still doesn’t feel it or see it as being important, it's important to remember that doesn’t mean it isn’t … because regardless what some may claim, expressing your emotions is never a sign of weakness, only of giving a fuck.