Finding My Voice: How AI Reminded Me I Am Enough.
This is not the blog post I was going to publish. Yesterday, I spent an hour putting together a different version and was all ready to hit ‘post’ until I asked my sister to proofread it.
Trying to be as diplomatic as she could, Maya fed back that she couldn’t hear my voice in what I had written. On reflection, I realised she was right—it wasn’t my voice at all, but an AI-filtered version of it.
At first, her feedback stung. My immediate reaction was frustration—it felt like a rejection of the work I’d put in (thanks, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria). I started questioning myself: If this isn’t my voice, then whose is it?
Within minutes, I spiralled into feeling like a failure, annoyed that I hadn’t posted by my arbitrary 5 pm deadline (thanks, ADHD). I mean, what was the point of even writing it if I couldn’t get it done in time? (Never mind that I’d asked Maya to proofread at 4:40 pm—oops.)
Her feedback, however, forced me to ask myself a bigger question: Am I enough?
I’d love to be able to say that the calm and nurturing voice in my head whispered, Yes, Max, you are enough. But alas, the relationship I have with the voice in my head is more complex than I sometimes would like.
Whether that voice belongs to me, an ex-boss, an ex-partner, my dad, my uncle, or a particularly critical teacher from primary school—perhaps even an amalgamation of all of the above—is an ongoing conversation I have with my therapist. The voice is there, and although its whispers feel like taunts and its cautions like threats, I’m coming to accept that it’s just a misguided way of keeping myself safe; protecting me from the shame and embarrassment that arises when I don’t feel good enough. If I don’t try something new, I won’t face the frustration of not being the best. If I don’t take a risk, I won’t encounter the disappointment of messing up. If I don’t put myself out there, I won’t experience the intense feelings of rejection that often consume me for days—thanks again, RSD (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria).
However, it’s not a trade-off I’m willing to accept any longer; it’s a crappy deal.
AI may sound fancier, have access to a wider, more impressive vocabulary, and can make a point without going around the houses, the shopping centre, and the supermarket (thanks for everything, ADHD), but it’s not my voice, my expression, or the way I view the world—and that is what I bring to the table.
One of the best pieces of advice someone gave me is: “Strive for authenticity rather than originality—because the latter doesn’t exist.” And although I’m not a fan of sweeping generalisations, in this context, I think it’s true and useful for me to remember. I’m not the first and won’t be the last queer, neurodivergent leader, and these experiences are not unique to me. However, the way I understand and express them is unique—and that, ultimately, is what others will relate to and resonate with. I know this because that is what I want from other leaders: a willingness to challenge those critical voices, drop the business-speak, and bring what is uniquely them. Because when they do that, it somehow makes it okay for the rest of us to do the same.
The truth is, the business world—and the world in general—needs fancier words, better-structured thought pieces, and a homogeneous perspective filtered by AI much less than it needs authenticity, vulnerability, and diversity.
In many ways, setting up Max Price Consulting makes me feel like a beginner, which is a state of being I have always really struggled with (thanks again, ADHD). I guess I’m still figuring out what it is I bring that is uniquely me. The question Am I enough invites more questions than it answers, but I know I won’t find those answers using ChatGPT, however tempting that may be.
So, what do I know to be true right now, in no particular order (because I love a list):
Vulnerability invites vulnerability.
The commonly accepted understanding of what makes a good leader (insert adjective here) is a lie.
Those critical voices in my head don’t necessarily have bad intentions—but the impact of their words can be unhelpful and sometimes devastating.
Authenticity is more important than originality.
The world needs diverse perspectives much more than it needs perfection.
Being a beginner is okay and, indeed, a certainty when trying something new.
AI is a great tool used in moderation. 🙂
Above all, as I continue down this road, failing, succeeding, and failing again, I know at my core that “I am enough” is something I will come to embody. Because it’s not something I need to learn, but something I need to remember.
And I want to thank my sister, AI, and my ADHD for reminding me of that.
If you’d like support in finding your authentic voice, Max Price Consulting is here to help. Together, we can create an inclusive and positive workplace culture that celebrates uniqueness, authenticity, and vulnerability. Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below, or reach out to learn more about how we can work together.
About the Author:
Max Price is the founder of Max Price Consulting, specialising in workplace culture development and leadership coaching, with a focus on kindness and inclusivity. With over 13 years of experience as a co-founder of Proud2Be, Max is passionate about helping organisations create positive, supportive environments where everyone can thrive.
