This was deliberate, and there is a lesson in it.

Firstly, it was deliberate for two reasons:

1. To loosen up. Facebook has typically been a serious space for me. It's good to show the lighter side of Lee.

2. To demonstrate something for a 1:1 client who is struggling with fear of man, criticism, rejection, and being true to themselves.

The peg post was more fascinating than I anticipated, but the responses and reactions were exactly what I expected.

Here are some of them:

• The majority jumped in on the humor and light-heartedness. It was epic to learn that there are many others who appreciate steel pegs the way I do, lol

• Some were literally thinking or talking about pegs yesterday – one person was even in a store buying steel pegs when she read this post and shared a photo. Crazy!

• Some take their pegs and washing very seriously. Some are pro-steel, some are anti-steel. Some are pro-plastic, some are anti-plastic. Stay safe out there fam

• Some diverted to a “gender role” conversation that wasn’t even here. Gotta squash those conversations quick

• Some got very technical about pegs

• Some presented their dad jokes skills

• Some (my wife) laughed at my post

• Some resonated with my post

And all are allowed.

Now…

If a lighthearted post about pegs can stir as many different reactions as it did, what do you think a more serious post would do? Here's the lesson You can say something one way, and it can be heard in seven different ways. But if you try to appease all seven, you’ll never reach one.

You’ve got to let the chips fall wherever they fall.

Look, I wish I could please everyone, that I could speak my heart and not get criticised or offend anyone, but that’s not reality. You buy a red shirt, and people will say you should’ve bought a blue one. You start a business, and people will say you should’ve got a job. You talk about your faith, and people say, “Be quiet!” Then you be quiet, and people say, “Why aren’t you speaking up!” We’ve got to stop letting our ability to impact and serve others be dependent on the responses and opinions of others. Because the moment we get so fearful about criticism is the moment we lose. Aristotle once said: “If you want to avoid criticism: say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” I believe that what you and I have to offer the world is not nothing but EVERYTHING. So get a backbone. Yes, stay compassionate. But have some courage. Have some conviction. You can't impress them all. But you can impact some. So don't disqualify the possibility of impacting some, at the expense of the impossibility of trying to impress them all. Final words Many of you are called to the public space, to be a voice, and to walk a certain and unique path – like my 1:1 client who is watching and learning from this lesson in real-time. And you will say and do things that will be polarising no matter what, simply because we humans are complex and different. One of the reasons why I’ve been able to continuously be a voice and stay true is because I am aware and okay with the fact that I cannot please them all – and I have forfeited any obligation or expectation that says I have to. I know who I am. I know Whose I am. I know the message I bring. I’m not for everyone. I’m not called to everyone. I know the consequences. And I’m at peace with it. And you need to be too. The quicker you can accept this, the more impact you will begin to have, and it will all be from a place of being true and being free to be you. And that’s when the journey becomes fun.  “You will pay a price for everything you do, and everything you don’t do. You don’t get to choose not to pay a price. You only get to choose what poison you’re going to take. That’s it.” – J. Peterson

Questions for reflection

1. What resonates with me most from this message?

2. Where am I not being true to myself, God or others?

3. What is one thing I know God has called me to do but I have been holding back on? Is this your sign to go for it?

Bless you,

Lee