Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?

We have had the good fortunate of connecting with Nobel Laureates, titans of industry, rockstars and rising stars across dozens of industries and we have always found their stories about who they were early on to be most fascinating. Below, you’ll find members of the community sharing their responses to this key aspect of their stories.

Nicole Jeffries

Before the world told me who to be, I was the quiet listener and the dreamer. Even as a child, people seemed to feel safe opening up to me. I could pick up on the things they didn’t say out loud—the shift in their tone, the glance they tried to hide, the energy they carried with them. Read more>>

Chase Granberry

Since childhood, I’ve often moved between my mom’s and dad’s houses. On weekends, I would alternate between their homes. I was a sad kid, honestly, but I hid it well. From the outside, you would have never known since I tended to smile and joke around a lot. My friends thought I was happy. Read more>> 

Shawn Poe

“Before the world tried to tell me who I had to be, I was just a kid with big dreams and a wild imagination. I didn’t see limits — I saw possibilities. I was the one drawing designs in the margins of my notebooks, making up stories in my head, and hearing music in everyday life. Read more>>