I’d probably say I’m highly considerate when it comes to optics.
They say never judge a book by its cover, and yet we always do.
So I tend to overthink how an action might be perceived.
The downside of prioritising optics is that it can really limit your options.
Take starting a new job, for instance.
Everyone has an arbitrary idea of how long they “should” stay before considering another move, fearing how an “early” departure might be judged.
And I get it.
People will always be curious about why you’ve stayed or left a job.
But if you focus too much on the optics, you’ll end up shutting down opportunities that could be a better fit.
Worse, you might stay too long in a role that doesn’t satisfy you.
Optics matter.
But instead of overestimating the downside, it’s better to focus on creating more options for yourself.
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