About this quote

Most people carry a private belief that their inner quirks make them unlike anyone else. That belief keeps you smaller than you need to be, locked inside comparisons and embarrassment. Try one small experiment: tell a coworker one thing you think makes you odd and invite them to do the same. You will find overlap, and that discovery makes it easier to speak honestly and choose who deserves your openness.

When to use it

• At a project retrospective: "I read that line about everyone thinking they're secretly different. I'm going to say I panic under pressure—anyone else?"
• In a dorm-room at orientation: "I always thought I was the only one who hated small talk. Turns out my roommate hates it too."
• At a new-parents group: "I assumed everyone else handled sleep loss better. Hearing your stories made me stop hiding how exhausted I am."
• In the locker room after a lost game: "I felt like the only player who chokes under pressure. Who else gets like that before a free throw?"