From Blending in to Standing Out
Today, I interview Eric Brotman who was very entertaining in childhood. He loved doing standup comedy or singing, always mimicking his favorite stars. He enjoyed putting on a show for his friends and family, goofy and carefree. But he never actually used his own voice or his own style when he did these things.
In school, he fit in everywhere and was friends with everyone, now referring to his younger self as “chameleon-esque”. Still to this day, he has a tendency– as many of us do– to tailor his speaking style to his audience.
However, the changes that took place after his parents’ divorce led this high schooler to face adulthood much earlier than expected. Eric began working at age 14, made his way through college, and completed some internships that led him toward the finance industry (although his studies were in English and Psychology). In this field and in his work with clients, he realized the vulnerable work he was doing as people shared their fears, the financial mistakes they’d made in the past, and their hopes and dreams for the future.
He found his voice through moving forward, trying different things, and being open-minded to opportunities that came his way. He didn’t plan to end up working in finance, but he says it’s the best outcome he could have ever hoped for, and he loves helping others to open their minds to the possibilities that life has to offer.
