Weekly Reflections: Don’t assume, Don't be afraid of pain, Always seek opportunity in crisis.
Seeing “default assumptions” through the lens of fractured workplace relationships / Finding “growth” in the pain of tough work experiences / Discovering “opportunity in crisis” from PR disaster
Full text: 1,400 words, estimated reading time: 5 mins 30 secs.
There are only two ways to truly internalize knowledge:
Making mistakes (to discover what you don’t know)
Digesting then outputting (explaining it in your own words).
I’m documenting what I learn or recall each week in bullet points and summaries. This is to organize my thoughts and force myself to grow regularly.
This week, you’ll get
Don’t gossip, don’t assume, don’t take things personally
Discomfort is often just “growing pains”
Every crisis holds a turning point
1. Don’t gossip, don’t assume, don’t take things personally
I once heard a departing colleague accuse a supervisor in public and private, painting them as a workplace villain. Influenced by the supervisor’s poor reputation, I started to believe it.
Months later, another senior colleague told a different story:
The employee often skipped work, broke major company rules, and was actually dismissed, not resigned.
The supervisor struggled with the decision, showing pain and hesitation.
When stories merge, neither party is purely innocent or evil.
The Four Agreements remind us:
Speak only what is true and kind
Words shape our world and our relationships.
Good words foster peace and clarity.
Reflection: Did I let someone’s words bias my view of others?
Don’t take others’ actions personally
My feelings are mine; their actions are theirs.
Believing otherwise invites unnecessary conflict and pain.
Reflection: Have I ever made things worse by caring too much about others’ behavior?
Don’t make assumptions
when in doubt, ask questions and state your needs.
Assumptions breed pain and misunderstanding.
Reflection: Did I ever suffer more because I didn’t ask directly?
Always do your best
no more, no less.
Overextending drains you; underperforming leads to regret.
Let go of unrealistic expectations
Reflection: Am I holding onto expectations that only add pressure?
My reflections
Don’t judge too quickly; seek the full story.
Don’t gossip, don’t assume, don’t take things personally.
Do your best, but release unrealistic expectations.
2. Discomfort is often just “growing pains”
In past jobs, I often had to interact with “grey area” industries due to company direction and the environment. I was deeply uncomfortable because I’m:
Poor at socializing
Wanting meaningful work
Hating the smoke, alcohol, and parties.
I complained to two mentors, who gave me advice:
“When I was young, I pushed myself to the limit, and I still benefit from it today. Don’t shy away from difficult situations—let them stretch you.”
- Well-known telecom VP
“I’ve had similar experiences. I insisted on not getting too involved, not going deep into what I wasn’t comfortable with, but I never stopped observing and learning from the sidelines.”
- General manager across several business units
Over time, these experiences made me more :
Optimistic (“If things are this bad, there must be opportunities”)
Composed (“What can we do now, given what’s happened?”)
Better at emotional management (“Set aside feelings—what’s the real issue?”).
My reflections
Pain can mean growth, not just suffering.
Hardship pays off later, often in unexpected ways.
But always distinguish between “abuse” and “experience”—don’t confuse the two.
3. Every crisis holds a turning point
Recently, one of the most talked-about memes was the “Coldplay Cheating Scandal.”
At a Coldplay concert, the CEO and Chief HR Officer of U.S. startup unicorn Astronomer were unexpectedly caught by the Kiss Cam, embracing each other.
Their panicked reaction went viral worldwide, not only sparking imitations but also drawing playful ridicule from brands like TESLA, IKEA, and RyanAir, all eager to ride the wave.
This incident could easily have become a PR disaster for Astronomer. But the company unexpectedly invited Coldplay’s ex-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, to serve as a temporary spokesperson.
She answered two tough questions with finesse:
“What the actual F…?”
She pivoted to introduce what Astronomer does.
“How is your social media team holding up?”
She used the opportunity to promote company activities.
This was a masterstroke. Without this creative response, Astronomer would have remained just another gossip headline. Now, as an outsider, I’d gladly fly over and buy a drink for whoever came up with this idea, and I’m genuinely interested in getting to know the company.
My reflections
In crisis, how do you face panic? (Review: emotional freedom.)
Where in a crisis can you find a chance to “flip” the narrative?
Remember to use humor to counter setbacks and stress.
That’s what I’ve learned this week—if this helps you, all the better!
All images in this article were generated by Microsoft Copilot
All image prompts were created in collaboration with DIA Browser.