Ryan Leak

They did not need a perfectly polished executive who pretended to have it all together.

No, no, no.

They needed someone who was willing to tell the truth about how she felt.

And if she could be honest about that moment, she could be honest about a whole bunch of other moments where it really matters.

And here's the deal.

And I don't think we talk about this enough, but honesty builds trust faster than perfection ever will.

Like, I think we've got this, like, I got to have myself put together because that's what's building trust with my colleagues.

And that's what's building trust with our clients and our customers and friends and family.

But I think we respect somebody that is refreshingly honest.

Vulnerability.

It doesn't weaken our credibility.

I think it humanizes it.

And maybe, just maybe, for you, a better you this year starts with maybe a very simple question.

Are you okay?

Are you okay?

And here's the hard part.

What if you actually answered it honestly, not dramatically?

Not with a five-minute trauma dump in a grocery store checkout line.

No, no, no.

Just honestly.