Know Your Table
by Michael Feeley
Before fighting for a seat at any table, ask yourself: whose table is this?
We spend so much energy dreaming, planning, and trying to get invited, to be included, to prove we belong. But we rarely stop to examine whether that particular table serves our goals, reflects our values, or respects our integrity.
Every table has rules – spoken and unspoken. Every table has a price of admission. Some require you to shrink. Some demand you perform. Some insist you stay silent about things that matter.
If you decide a table is worth pursuing, do the work. Learn what matters there. Develop the skills. Build genuine credibility. Show up prepared to contribute, not just consume. Be a player, not a placeholder.
But here’s what matters most: You always have a choice.
You can pursue that seat with full awareness and preparation. Or you can walk away and find – or build – a different table entirely. One where your integrity doesn’t require negotiation.
The most powerful question isn’t “How do I get there?” It’s “Do I actually want to be there once I understand what ‘there’ really means?”
Know the table. Know yourself. Choose accordingly.
Thanks – Michael (he, him)
Please share this Daily with others.
This is also important – Belonging – Inclusion.
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