Love this post, Dallas, and it's so great to see that the DiSC reflection helped you to see the person you had become and the person you had yet to be. Really excited to see how that journey continues into 2026 and beyond. Thank you once again for writing with such clarity and honesty. FWIW I can always tell if someone's been sat at my desk 😉
Right, Sam?! It just looks wrong - many micro differences that some brains spot instantly!
Thank you so much for your words, your encouragement and support means so very much. I was SO mad at the DiSC results - even when writing this piece just looking at them had me riled up all over again 😂
“I’m not going to apologise any more for where I am, my voice in this space or diminish myself so others don’t have to – there I said it, that took guts for this Kiwi!”
Thank you sharing such an honest reflection, Dallas! I feel like we might have started at different places but somehow ended up in very similar situations.
I was very much opinionated and outspoken when I started a corporate job. But it turned out people (especially more senior ones) don’t actually like to be challenged (even though they say they do). So I had to learn how to zip it and average myself out.
And before I knew it, I was doing and saying “all the right things” but for “all the wrong reasons”. I’ve completely lost my voice; every sentence was coming with 20+ ifs, buts, potentiallys, and disclaimers, so I essentially had no opinions on anything at that point.
I’m now also on the journey to rediscover and reclaim my voice and thoughts back through writing, so your piece really hit home for me. Don’t apologise for saying what you think and being true yourself ❤️
Hi Alena! Thank you for your words - I love hearing that we are on similar journeys to reclaiming who we really are. I've personally found writing here such a freeing act and I'm so glad that you are also here doing the same.
Dearest Dallas! You have such an inspiring story to tell and I am so grateful you tell it with honesty and a little humor.
It's funny, I had a similar encounter with DiSC. I did the test 7 years apart and the results showed I'd turned into a different person, someone who is great for the role, but far from the person I actually am.
So happy to see you creating, playing now. I count myself lucky to be on this journey with you🩷🦩
I wasn’t surprised. I kind if aspired for that change profesionally. But as a private individual it’s not my lane. It’s incredibly challenging to balance thise two and now I'm looking for the in-between that works well in both areas of my life
It's amazing when we can see where we've given ourselves away - whether in relationships or work. When I took DiSC, I was a high D/I - and at the time, I absolutely was (probably a little innately too). I'd be curious to see where I land today - I'm such a different person.
I love that you're creating your space here to let it flow and evolve - and that you're having so much fun! Your brand looks fantastic, and as always, when I read your work, I feel like I'm on your journey with you.
I was totally skeptical of the whole DiSC process but it actually turned out to be pretty insightful as an analysis tool!
Definitely a lot of flow and evolving but learning to roll with it and see where it all takes me because this new journey is so FUN! (We really should tally up how much we've said that word to each other this past week 😂)
Thank you, Kim, for your lovely words - appreciate your support so very much! x
HAHA… well, considering the state of the world (i.e., my psychotic administration), I’ll take fun anywhere I can get it, lol… but we have said it A LOT!
I wanted to think of a smart word to describe this feeling you had, and since I've felt this before, I decided to go with "architect myself into a cage". Not a single word, but still portrays what I wanted to say very well :D
We think we’re building excellence, but really we’re just building a rigid system with zero tolerance for variance.. Real scale needs some wiggle room or the system just snaps! This was a great reflection piece and I gotta say I'm enjoying your journey and growth SO MUCH. My robots and I are rooting for you every day ❤️
Mia, thank you so much friend! That phrase does a marvellous job - "architect myself into a cage" is exactly it! It looks great but it isn't. The rigid system also teaches others how to treat you, and the starts going sideways too after a while!
I'm over here intentionally breaking all the rules now, sometimes I look at what I'm up to and have a "who is this?!" moment 😂
Here's to building in even more wriggle room ahead! 🩷
What a beautiful, reflection, Dallas about what happens when performance becomes prison. I lived that for 20 years too. Being where you are now and discovering life again on YOUR terms, is the best that could have happened to you from that DiSC assignment. I smiled when you mentioned you were upset with the results - I'd be too, at myself, but would have "blamed" the assignment back then... of course!
I see so many similarities in how we think, operate, and what resonates with us. It makes a lot of sense reading your stories. Sending a big hug and thank you for the tag. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you, Anna. It marked a definite turn for me that I just couldn’t ignore. I had such a bad attitude going into that workshop but in the chat with the facilitator a week later I was barely holding back the “so, should I quit?” in our conversation. It took me four more months to find the courage.
Love that we’ve met on the same path! It’s hard to walk until you hit that moment, or series of them, that spark life into the patterns and make you realise there is so much more than you can possibly imagine.
Love this post, Dallas, and it's so great to see that the DiSC reflection helped you to see the person you had become and the person you had yet to be. Really excited to see how that journey continues into 2026 and beyond. Thank you once again for writing with such clarity and honesty. FWIW I can always tell if someone's been sat at my desk 😉
Right, Sam?! It just looks wrong - many micro differences that some brains spot instantly!
Thank you so much for your words, your encouragement and support means so very much. I was SO mad at the DiSC results - even when writing this piece just looking at them had me riled up all over again 😂
“I’m not going to apologise any more for where I am, my voice in this space or diminish myself so others don’t have to – there I said it, that took guts for this Kiwi!”
Yes, yes & yes!! 🙌🏼 🤍
Thanks Janelle!! It’s something that is hard won for us, hey! I almost cut that line 😅
Definitely… 😌
Thank you sharing such an honest reflection, Dallas! I feel like we might have started at different places but somehow ended up in very similar situations.
I was very much opinionated and outspoken when I started a corporate job. But it turned out people (especially more senior ones) don’t actually like to be challenged (even though they say they do). So I had to learn how to zip it and average myself out.
And before I knew it, I was doing and saying “all the right things” but for “all the wrong reasons”. I’ve completely lost my voice; every sentence was coming with 20+ ifs, buts, potentiallys, and disclaimers, so I essentially had no opinions on anything at that point.
I’m now also on the journey to rediscover and reclaim my voice and thoughts back through writing, so your piece really hit home for me. Don’t apologise for saying what you think and being true yourself ❤️
Hi Alena! Thank you for your words - I love hearing that we are on similar journeys to reclaiming who we really are. I've personally found writing here such a freeing act and I'm so glad that you are also here doing the same.
Here's to finding our voices again! 🩷
Dearest Dallas! You have such an inspiring story to tell and I am so grateful you tell it with honesty and a little humor.
It's funny, I had a similar encounter with DiSC. I did the test 7 years apart and the results showed I'd turned into a different person, someone who is great for the role, but far from the person I actually am.
So happy to see you creating, playing now. I count myself lucky to be on this journey with you🩷🦩
Oh Pinkie, thank you! That is really fascinating that DiSC gave you such different results the second time around - did you expect to see that?
Thank you for being in my corner, cheering me on. Your support is always so appreciated! 🩷
I wasn’t surprised. I kind if aspired for that change profesionally. But as a private individual it’s not my lane. It’s incredibly challenging to balance thise two and now I'm looking for the in-between that works well in both areas of my life
Wow, what a journey! Love that you are now focusing on finding a balance that is sustainable.
I love this, Dallas,
It's amazing when we can see where we've given ourselves away - whether in relationships or work. When I took DiSC, I was a high D/I - and at the time, I absolutely was (probably a little innately too). I'd be curious to see where I land today - I'm such a different person.
I love that you're creating your space here to let it flow and evolve - and that you're having so much fun! Your brand looks fantastic, and as always, when I read your work, I feel like I'm on your journey with you.
I was totally skeptical of the whole DiSC process but it actually turned out to be pretty insightful as an analysis tool!
Definitely a lot of flow and evolving but learning to roll with it and see where it all takes me because this new journey is so FUN! (We really should tally up how much we've said that word to each other this past week 😂)
Thank you, Kim, for your lovely words - appreciate your support so very much! x
You’re always welcome. 😊
HAHA… well, considering the state of the world (i.e., my psychotic administration), I’ll take fun anywhere I can get it, lol… but we have said it A LOT!
I wanted to think of a smart word to describe this feeling you had, and since I've felt this before, I decided to go with "architect myself into a cage". Not a single word, but still portrays what I wanted to say very well :D
We think we’re building excellence, but really we’re just building a rigid system with zero tolerance for variance.. Real scale needs some wiggle room or the system just snaps! This was a great reflection piece and I gotta say I'm enjoying your journey and growth SO MUCH. My robots and I are rooting for you every day ❤️
Mia, thank you so much friend! That phrase does a marvellous job - "architect myself into a cage" is exactly it! It looks great but it isn't. The rigid system also teaches others how to treat you, and the starts going sideways too after a while!
I'm over here intentionally breaking all the rules now, sometimes I look at what I'm up to and have a "who is this?!" moment 😂
Here's to building in even more wriggle room ahead! 🩷
What a beautiful, reflection, Dallas about what happens when performance becomes prison. I lived that for 20 years too. Being where you are now and discovering life again on YOUR terms, is the best that could have happened to you from that DiSC assignment. I smiled when you mentioned you were upset with the results - I'd be too, at myself, but would have "blamed" the assignment back then... of course!
I see so many similarities in how we think, operate, and what resonates with us. It makes a lot of sense reading your stories. Sending a big hug and thank you for the tag. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you, Anna. It marked a definite turn for me that I just couldn’t ignore. I had such a bad attitude going into that workshop but in the chat with the facilitator a week later I was barely holding back the “so, should I quit?” in our conversation. It took me four more months to find the courage.
Love that we’ve met on the same path! It’s hard to walk until you hit that moment, or series of them, that spark life into the patterns and make you realise there is so much more than you can possibly imagine.
Here’s to 2026 and doing it on our own terms!! 🩷