Richard Harris

Richard Harris is one of the top names in sales, but he’s dealt with imposter syndrome his whole life. His compelling event for getting help happened one morning in San Francisco. He woke up in the fetal position and physically could not move. On paper, everything was great: good job, his own apartment. But as he describes it, he felt like he was walking around with ten pound weights on each leg. He called his mom, who found him a therapist he would go on to see for over 20 years.

At first, he stayed quiet about it. He was embarrassed and had this idea that only “crazy people” took medication. When I asked what it cost him to start talking, he said he doesn’t know. Maybe someone chose a competitor over him, but they never told him that was why. He does know what he’s gained: a stronger relationship with his wife, and a family where his kids know they can get help if they need it. He’s gained so much, he doesn’t think about what he might have lost.

The phrase I’m taking from this episode, and probably stealing, is Richard’s: you do you. That idea came through in a story he told about calling a friend on that really bad day in San Francisco. His friend listened and then said, “I don’t know what that feels like.” Richard saw that as a brave thing to say. It taught him that the people you talk to don’t need to have the answers, or even understand. What matters is that they show up.