Seeing Clearly (ish): A Lesson in Vision, Vanity, and Street Signs.

At the ripe old age of 15, in the thrilling world of Driver's Ed, I discovered something crucial: I couldn't read the street signs.

Not just the far-away ones. Any of them.

You might ask, “Amy, how did you get to 15 without realizing this?”

Well, two things:

1. I was an enthusiastic conversationalist in class (a.k.a. chatty), which meant I had permanent real estate in the front row.

2.In the front row, you don’t need to see the board. You just need to see your teacher’s increasingly exhausted facial expressions. 😇

Fast forward: I got glasses. Then, contacts. Then, dry eyes in my 30s said, “Absolutely not.” So back to glasses it was, except not always.

Because here's the deal: my vanity has been in a decade-long tug-of-war with my vision.  I have glasses.  I like glasses.  I think glasses make people look sophisticated, intellectual, and stylish.

But apparently, my mirror disagrees that they look good on me.

So, unless I'm driving (in which case, yes, I do wear them. You're welcome, fellow motorists), I sometimes, many times, usually, squint my way through life. Because what's a little blurry signage when your ego gets to remain untouched?

And then it hit me, this whole thing is a metaphor for business.

How Often Are We Pretending to See Clearly?

We get so caught up in what we think we're showing the world. Our sharp branding, clever messaging, and confident pitch.  But if we're being honest, many of us are squinting through our strategies, hoping nobody notices the vision gaps as big as Times Square billboards.

Instead of putting on our “glasses” (real feedback, honest analysis, maybe a little Vetta Sales Consulting strategy nudge), we hide behind curated content, ego, and the illusion that we're clear.

But real clarity? Real vision? That requires owning where we aren't seeing well. It’s vulnerable. And, dare I say it? A little brave.

So here's my gentle call to action, wrapped in a smudge-free microfiber cloth:

Put on the glasses. Ask for help.  See the signs, even if it messes up your carefully curated style.

Because clarity, in life and business, beats vanity every time.

And yes, I’m wearing my glasses as I type this. Probably.