I had a boss who said her team of major gifts (development) officers were the racehorses of the team. Organizational culture being what it was, it felt like we were those old sway back horses that walked in circles while hooked to a pole that operated like a spoke on a wheel…round and round, giving kids rides.  I won’t speak for other members of the team; that observation is mine. Round and round we went.

It’s not that I cared about being a racehorse. Racehorse or plow horse, it didn’t make a whit of difference to me. I just wanted to get stuff done. Attending meetings or waiting for approvals for next steps, no matter how small, is not getting stuff done; that is walking in circles at a steady pace while others ride. As I’ve reflected over that situation over the years, it has made me more patient and understanding of the environment that I’m in. The key lesson: be what you are, don’t believe what others tell you that you are.

The lesson applies to much of life, including work, relationships and pretty much all other aspects, too. The stakes can range from minimal to significant. A few key points:

1. Don’t tell people you see them as one thing and then treat them totally differently or put them in environments where they cannot be what you say they are or expect them to be. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you are saying.”
2. Don’t accept the title or role that someone places on you if it is not the right fit. Whether they place on you a crown or a yoke, one is no better than the other but be sure to have the right one for you.
3. Be adaptable. No matter how fast you are, there are others who are faster; no matter how strong you are, there are others who are stronger. In life, there are some days you might be a plow horse and other days a racehorse. And some days, you won’t be a horse at all!

About that wisdom I referred to: I no longer pay much attention to what others say about who I am or what I am. Socrates said, “Know thyself,” and saw that as the first step to true wisdom. Know thyself by not believing what others say about you.