I wrote about Lance Armstrong in early October and later that same month for a couple of reasons that relate to the work we do.
When you make mistakes that affect your ability to continue working & your reputation, you need to “speak for yourself about what happened” if you hope to regain your productivity. First off, it’s looking in the mirror and owning your mistakes so that you have the chance to be trusted and have influence again.
Coming to this acceptance also involves seeking the counsel of wise people around you—if you’re fortunate enough to have them. It’s only after “the owning” and “the reflecting” that you tell those you’ve affected what you did, why you did it, what you’ve learned, and how you’re going to do things differently in the future.
Each step hard, but necessary.
While its taken 3 months (or at least as many years since the allegations against him started to build), on Thursday Armstrong is promising to come clean to Oprah Winfrey. In an intimate television kind of way, her backstory is joining with his. Afterwards, we’ll draw our own conclusions.
We care about all of this because we need role models in our work—people to show us how—and for many of us, Armstrong fit that bill. Disciplined. Motivated. Triumphing over hardship. We were fortified by his example.
We also care about this because we know that the moral training we have today often comes from such “teachable moments” (as the president once reminded us)—that is, as long as we take them.
So we’ve followed the arc of Lance’s story. It was hard to absorb the allegations about a doping conspiracy he masterminded, to see him fired as the spokesman for products we buy, and finally to watch him have to break ties with his LiveStrong foundation. We were saddened by his apparent betrayal and surprised by his retreat into silence. Was it embarrassment? Was it shame?
In recent weeks, there have been some odd, Armstrong-initiated pop-ups. A surreal picture of him reclining in his den below his victory jerseys with the remark “Back in Austin and just layin’ around.” Rumors that he was figuring out what he had to do to get back into the competitive sporting circuit, and how admissions he might make would impact the lawsuits & investigations still swirling around him.
The picture and its tag-line suggested denial. The rumors suggested the machinations of lawyers and media advisors instead of soul-seekers.
We’ll see.
Because what he’s looking for from Oprah is not merely a stage that’s big enough for him and his story, but also for a confessor who will help to change our perception of him. Facilitate our forgiveness. Lance Armstrong’s goes to Oprah’s mountaintop in order to be healed in our eyes.
When our turns come it won’t be about teams of advisors or media blitz, and maybe not even about a catch in the throat when you get to the hard parts. Because it’s not about orchestration. It’s just about telling the truth and being genuinely sorry.
Otherwise you shouldn’t bother.
Amen!
whoah this weblog is excellent i like studying your articles.
Keep up the good work! You know, a lot of persons are hunting round for
this information, you can aid them greatly.
Thanks Loura. Glad you found it helpful.
When someone writes an paragraph he/she keeps the image
of a user in his/her brain that how a user can understand
it. Thus that’s why this article is outstdanding.
Thanks!
I always aim to keep the reader in mind when I write a post. Thanks Denny, for your kind words.
Just desire to say your article is as astounding.
The clearness on your submit is just great and i can suppose you’re an expert in this subject.
Well along with your permission let me to clutch your feed to keep up to date with imminent post.
Thanks a million and please keep up the enjoyable work.
What’s up, this weekend is good in favor of me, since this time i am
reading this enormous informative piece of writing here at my home.
It’s genuinely very complicated in this busy life to listen news on Television, therefore I only use world wide web for that reason, and take the latest information.
An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a friend
who had been doing a little research on this.
And he in fact bought me dinner due to the fact that I stumbled upon it for him…
lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
But yeah, thanks for spending time to talk about this subject
here on your website.
Yours is one of my all-time-favorite comments. I couldn’t be happier that you got a dinner out of it. Hope you are enjoying some of the other posts as well!
There is certainly a lot to find out about this issue.
I like all the points you’ve made.
I’m gone to tell my little brother, that he should aldo go to see this
webpage on regular basis to obtain updated from most up-to-date news update.
Thanks a lot for sharing this with alll filks you actually
recognize what you’re speaking about! Bookmarked.
Please additionally consult wit my wewbsite =). We could have
a hyperlink exchange agreement among us
I have read so many content about the blogger lovers but this article is in fact a good article, keep it up.
Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme off this blog.
It’s simple, yet effective. A llot of timkes it’s veey difficult to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and appearance.
I must say you have done a amaazing job with this.
Additionally, the blog loads sper fast for mme on Firefox.
Outstanding Blog!
Thanks for your input on balance and load speed. I’m glad you liked this post and hope you have checked out some of the other posts too!
Interesting blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog shine.
Please let me know where you got your design. Thank you
I always used to read piece of writing in news papers but now as I am
a user of internet thus from now I am using net for articles or reviews, thanks to web.
It’s truly very complicated in thyis full of activity life too listen news on Television,
therefore I just use webb for that purpose, and obtain the hottest news.
Very good written story. It will be valuable to anyone who utilizes it, as well as me.
Keep doing what you are doing – can’t wait to read more posts.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts! I’ve been spending most of my writing time on the book and hope to get back to regular blog posts soon.
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all people you actually recognize what you are talking about!
Bookmarked. Kindly additionally consult with my web site =).
We may have a hyperlink trade arrangement among us
Can I simply just say what a relief to discover somebody that
genuinely understands what they’re talking about on the internet.
You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it
important. More and more people ought to look at this and understand this side of your story.
I was surprised that you aren’t more popular because
you definitely possess the gift.