I often get asked by interviewers and industry professionals alike
about what secrets I have for them. Sometimes, these questions are
pointed, entailing that I have something to hide. At other times, these
questions are more positive, attempting to elicit a response that
details how I attained the success that I have attained. The truth is,
however, that I am an open book, and at times, this can be both a
benefit and a negative.
Why I Consider Myself an Open Book
Before I get into the pros and cons of being an open book, both personally and professionally, I want to explain why I feel the need to be an open book. Honesty and truthfulness are the keys to success in any type of relationship. Keeping secrets is a path that can only lead to a bad ending. Even if you don’t catch up in a lie when you tell it, you’ll eventually find yourself lying to keep track of the lies. It’s a house of cards that will eventually crumble under its own weight in time.
In business, as in personal interactions, many people feel that they can “get one over on you” by lying. What these people fail to realize is that most individuals are intelligent enough to know when someone is trying to play a game, even if they are trying to play the same game with you. In daily interactions, however, most people are either too polite to call someone out on perceived deceit or they are simply planning their own counter-deceit. None of this works out for anyone in the end as someone is eventually going to receive the raw end of the deal, and in some cases, everyone gets stuck in the end.
The Cons of Being an Open Book
When it comes to being an open book, I first want to discuss the negative consequences. Being open and honest with people, as mentioned above, can leave you vulnerable to attacks, criticisms and deceit. People often try to take advantage of an honest person, especially in the world of business. The key to countering this type of behavior is to be honest across the board. Instead of just being honest about who you are, you also need to be honest about how you feel about how you’re treated. Too often, honest people will receive unfair treatment, but that’s where their honesty ends. Instead, you need to be honest with others about yourself, and this includes being honest when you recognize that you’re being taken advantage of in terms of how you are treated as a result. If you’re only honest about the positives in a relationship, you’re doing everyone involved a disservice.
The Benefits of Being an Open Book
Although people may try to take advantage of someone who is open and honest, I’ve found that standing your ground and proving these people wrong is the best policy. I refuse, both in my personal and professional lives, to be someone who hides from the truth, however hard that truth may be. It often takes guts and a true belief in yourself and your cause in order to lead a life that is honest and open. The easy way out is to hide and lie, but I simply cannot do that, not just because it’s wrong, but also because I’ve been instilled with values and morals by my family that go completely against lying and hiding from the truth.
Criticism Will Always Be There
No matter what you do, you will always face criticism, so living a lie won’t help. People will always find a way to get to you, and they will always find something to knock you about. This means that closing yourself off won’t truly amount to anything, but it will require you to continue lying and then compounding upon those lies. This is another reason why I choose to remain open and honest. I don’t want to have to find myself trying so hard to remember what I said to one person and what I said to another. I don’t want to be caught up in that kind of negative spiral.
Instead, I’d rather rest easy at night, knowing that I have treated all people fairly and with dignity. If you’re tired of living a closed-book life, I highly recommend opening yourself up to a higher level of living and thinking. When you lead from your heart instead of what the world expects of you, you can have peace of mind, and that self-offered gift is priceless. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Al Bhakta
Why I Consider Myself an Open Book
Before I get into the pros and cons of being an open book, both personally and professionally, I want to explain why I feel the need to be an open book. Honesty and truthfulness are the keys to success in any type of relationship. Keeping secrets is a path that can only lead to a bad ending. Even if you don’t catch up in a lie when you tell it, you’ll eventually find yourself lying to keep track of the lies. It’s a house of cards that will eventually crumble under its own weight in time.
In business, as in personal interactions, many people feel that they can “get one over on you” by lying. What these people fail to realize is that most individuals are intelligent enough to know when someone is trying to play a game, even if they are trying to play the same game with you. In daily interactions, however, most people are either too polite to call someone out on perceived deceit or they are simply planning their own counter-deceit. None of this works out for anyone in the end as someone is eventually going to receive the raw end of the deal, and in some cases, everyone gets stuck in the end.
The Cons of Being an Open Book
When it comes to being an open book, I first want to discuss the negative consequences. Being open and honest with people, as mentioned above, can leave you vulnerable to attacks, criticisms and deceit. People often try to take advantage of an honest person, especially in the world of business. The key to countering this type of behavior is to be honest across the board. Instead of just being honest about who you are, you also need to be honest about how you feel about how you’re treated. Too often, honest people will receive unfair treatment, but that’s where their honesty ends. Instead, you need to be honest with others about yourself, and this includes being honest when you recognize that you’re being taken advantage of in terms of how you are treated as a result. If you’re only honest about the positives in a relationship, you’re doing everyone involved a disservice.
The Benefits of Being an Open Book
Although people may try to take advantage of someone who is open and honest, I’ve found that standing your ground and proving these people wrong is the best policy. I refuse, both in my personal and professional lives, to be someone who hides from the truth, however hard that truth may be. It often takes guts and a true belief in yourself and your cause in order to lead a life that is honest and open. The easy way out is to hide and lie, but I simply cannot do that, not just because it’s wrong, but also because I’ve been instilled with values and morals by my family that go completely against lying and hiding from the truth.
Criticism Will Always Be There
No matter what you do, you will always face criticism, so living a lie won’t help. People will always find a way to get to you, and they will always find something to knock you about. This means that closing yourself off won’t truly amount to anything, but it will require you to continue lying and then compounding upon those lies. This is another reason why I choose to remain open and honest. I don’t want to have to find myself trying so hard to remember what I said to one person and what I said to another. I don’t want to be caught up in that kind of negative spiral.
Instead, I’d rather rest easy at night, knowing that I have treated all people fairly and with dignity. If you’re tired of living a closed-book life, I highly recommend opening yourself up to a higher level of living and thinking. When you lead from your heart instead of what the world expects of you, you can have peace of mind, and that self-offered gift is priceless. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Al Bhakta
