My Biggest Career Flaw Is That I’m Too Public & Honest

R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness · Jan 31, 2026 · 7m

I’m probably too open about my inner life.

What I’m thinking.

What I’m struggling with.

What I don’t understand yet.

I don’t know many people in academia who are that public. I do it because I hope it helps someone else feel normal. But I also know it comes with a cost.

Because I don’t like strategic behavior.

It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

And here’s the thing I’ve learned with age:

When something feels off in an interaction, it usually is.

I used to ignore that feeling.

I don’t anymore.

If I get that quiet “Spidey sense” now, I listen. Almost every time, it ends up being about…