To Stand Out, Make Yourself Small
A message I wish I’d internalized decades ago
My friend and book-writing partner, Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA, shared a belter of a piece of wisdom with me this week.
Much like a ghost-writer, Kevin’s a “ghost-designer.” For over thirty years, his company has assisted household brands from Whole Foods to Harley Davidson — and hundreds of mom-and-pop shops in-between — to thrive in the ever-changing world by focusing on creating places and spaces that bring people together and promote prosocial behavior.
At five-foot-eight-inches, Kevin isn’t the biggest guy. Most of the CEOs and executive team members he meets with tower over him. The same goes for some of his team members who accompany him to these meetings.
“It’s interesting to observe how people respond when I walk into the room holding my notebook and pen surrounded by my colleagues who have a more commanding presence,” he told me.
“Countless times, people looked right past me and assumed one of the bigger guys on our team was the owner and I was an assistant. At first, this bugged me, and I wanted to make it known how important I am and that I was the founder. But I learned very quickly how much of an advantage being unassuming can be. People immediately felt comfortable around me and spoke freely with…
