Being liked. Being popular. Fitting in. It’s something we all crave—and those desires shape us, often more than we realize.

We conform to be accepted, to succeed. And once we’re rewarded for fitting in, it becomes even harder to step outside the mold. Bit by bit, we trade authenticity for approval.
Consider this
Prince refused to be boxed in, whether by genre, gender norms, record labels, or cultural expectations of Black masculinity.

He fused funk, rock, R&B, and psychedelia in ways that defied categorization and frustrated the industry but electrified fans.
When his label tried to control his music, he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol and performed with the word “slave” scrawled across his face.

He risked his reputation, fortune, and fame to stay true to his vision. Prince didn’t chase the industry. He made it follow him.
Putting it into Play

Being socially attuned matters. We need connection, collaboration, and community. But the line between adapting and erasing ourselves can be a thin one, and easy to cross.
We can’t all risk it all like Prince. But we can stay awake to where we’re bending too far to fit in.
Where might you be following a formula because it feels safe, familiar, or rewarded?
Saying yes to a project just because a senior leader asked, even if it derails your goals?

Holding back a dissenting opinion to avoid being seen as “difficult”?

Socializing with people who drain you, because they’re the “in” crowd?

Posting what gets likes, instead of what reflects how you actually feel?

Being social is a balancing act. Belonging matters. But when fitting in costs us our values, our voice, or our vision, the price is too high.
The power is in holding onto yourself. To be unboxable is to trust your own compass. It’s the courage to risk rejection in service of something deeper: staying aligned with who you are and what you’re here to do.