The Leadership Lesson Hidden in Your Imperfections - Balancing Life's Issues
Back to Blog

The Leadership Lesson Hidden in Your Imperfections

EMPLOYERS & HR

Written by
Published on
October 27, 2026
Reading time
2 min read

Fun — or not so fun — fact about me: I never do anything perfectly.

My kids will confirm this. Especially my daughter.

Take my hair. I have done everything to it. For decades that meant money, time, and salon appointments I dreaded making. And then I’d obsess over the color, the style, whether it looked right. It was, if I’m honest, a stress I didn’t need.

I’ve thought about going grey for years. I’m not there yet. But then I discovered vegetable dyes — and something clicked. Good enough. And my greys? They’re not a flaw. They’re a record. A tribute to the journey.

Which brings me to Kintsugi.

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken things with gold. The crack isn’t hidden — it’s honored. The break becomes the most beautiful part of the piece. (We even teach a class on it at BLI.)

So yes. My roots are showing. And I’ve decided they’re golden.

I also don’t iron. I know.

I do my best to look polished — but the wrinkles mean I got a run in that morning, or a phone call with my kids, or a long conversation with my mom. Worth it every single time.

And sometimes my emails have a typo. (I’m working on this one. Slowly.)

Here’s the truth: I am good with all of it.

Because I’ve learned — slowly, imperfectly — that the cracks don’t need to be hidden. They need to be filled with gold.

So I’ll ask you:

What cracks are you trying to hide?

And what would it look like to see them as the most beautiful part of who you are?

— Wendy

Related Articles

Blaming the Youth: The 2,600-Year-Old Mistake Leaders Still Make
EMPLOYERS & HR

Blaming the Youth: The 2,600-Year-Old Mistake Leaders Still Make

The Question That Saves Lives (and the Songs That Say It Out Loud)
COMMUNITY

The Question That Saves Lives (and the Songs That Say It Out Loud)

Dear Client: Should I Tell You Who I’m Voting For?
EMPLOYERS & HR

Dear Client: Should I Tell You Who I’m Voting For?