There's a lot of talk these days about knowing yourself. Self-reflection. Journaling. Self-awareness. And it's true—looking inward is essential for growth. But there's a catch:

If the only person you're getting feedback from is you, you're working from a dangerously limited dataset.

Just one perspective. One interpretation. One lens—flawed, biased, and emotionally invested.

The Problem With a Sample Size of One

Imagine trying to make a major life or career decision using just one data point. You'd never do it. You wouldn't launch a product based on one customer's opinion. You wouldn't trust a scientific theory tested just once. You wouldn't take financial advice from one stranger on the internet.

And yet, when it comes to our personalities, habits, communication styles, or leadership impact—we often do just that. We rely solely on our experience, our assumptions, our self-perception.

And that means we miss:

• Strengths we're undervaluing

• Patterns we don't see

• Behaviors that affect others more than we realize

• Opportunities to grow, refine, and lead more effectively

It's Not About Pleasing People—It's About Gathering Good Data

Let's be clear: This isn't about becoming obsessed with what others think. It's not about bending yourself to win approval or fit into someone else's mold.

It's about being smart.

Just like any good strategist, scientist, or designer—you need feedback from the outside world to inform your decisions. Not to dictate them. To inform them.

When you gather real input from people who've worked with you, studied with you, lived with you, coached you—you're not losing your voice. You're gaining perspective.

Choiceful Growth Requires Perspective

The InnerVue philosophy is simple: You can't change what you can't see. And you can't see it all on your own.

Inviting feedback is how you upgrade your lens. It's how you grow on purpose—not just based on hunches or hopes, but real, actionable insight.

You don't need to agree with everything people say. But you do need to listen, reflect, and decide: What will I do with what I've learned?

The Takeaway

Self-awareness starts with you—but it doesn't end there. The most powerful, transformative growth happens when you blend internal reflection with external feedback.

Don't settle for a sample size of one. You're too complex, too capable, and too important to stay stuck in your own head.

Be brave enough to ask. Be wise enough to listen. Be intentional enough to grow.

Mini #1: "Your Blind Spot Isn't a Flaw—It's a Missing Mirror"

You might think you know yourself better than anyone else—and in some ways, you do. But there are parts of you that only others can see. That joke that didn't land. The habit that subtly undermines your leadership. The moment you lit up a room and didn't even realize it.

Blind spots aren't weaknesses. They're just areas without a mirror. Want to grow? Ask someone to hold one up for you.

Mini #2: "Don't Outsource Your Self-Worth—But Don't Isolate It Either"

What other people think of you should never define your value. But it can inform your growth. Real feedback doesn't make you weaker—it makes you wiser.

When you blend self-reflection with external insight, you're not giving away your power. You're expanding your perspective.

It's not about people-pleasing. It's about people-learning.