When Being Unseen Becomes Your Greatest Risk
I grew up in a large family in Cuba, where being noticed felt like winning the lottery.
At just four years old, I devised what seemed like the perfect attention-getting plan:
I would jump in front of the neighborhood bread delivery truck, quickly lie down so it would pass harmlessly over me, and then pop back up to the amazement of everyone watching.
The neighborhood kids and I were always seeking adventure, but this was to be my solo masterpiece.
When the day came and the truck approached, I leapt from the sidewalk with absolute conviction.
Then, I froze.
Instead of executing my carefully imagined plan, I stood paralyzed in the street, staring blankly as 4,000 pounds of metal barreled toward me.
The driver's horn blared as he slammed on the brakes, stopping just feet away from where I stood.
The visibility paradox
This moment created a powerful, contradictory imprint: I desperately wanted to be seen, yet I came to associate visibility with danger and fear. Being seen meant vulnerability. Being seen meant risk.
Sound familiar?
Many of us high-achievers operate with this same paradox today.
We build careers around exceptional performance—ostensibly to be recognized—while simultaneously armoring ourselves against true visibility.
We perfect our LinkedIn profiles while hiding our authentic struggles.
We deliver flawless presentations while concealing our self-doubt.
We network strategically while keeping relationships at arm's length.
Being seen isn't the problem
Here's what took me decades to understand: The real danger was never in being seen.
It was in remaining invisible.
When we hide our authentic selves:
- Innovation suffers because truly groundbreaking ideas require vulnerability
- Leadership plateaus because people follow human beings, not carefully constructed egoic personas
- Burnout accelerates because maintaining a facade requires immense energy
- Opportunities vanish because meaningful connections form around authenticity, not perfection
The day I jumped in front of that bread truck taught me that being seen isn't dangerous—it's not being seen that's dangerous.
The most influential leaders I've worked with don't hide behind perfection.
They lead with their full selves, acknowledging both strengths and struggles.
Their vulnerability creates psychological safety for innovation.
Their authenticity forms the foundation for meaningful connections.
Consider this
Where you might be hiding in plain sight:
- What could become possible if you stepped fully into view?
- Which relationships would transform if you allowed yourself to be truly seen?
Remember: The truck only stops if the driver sees you. Your greatest contributions—and connections—will depend on your willingness to be visible.
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