Seeing My Blind Spots

Seeing in Both Directions

Joseph J. Bucci , Bio and Archives--September 16, 2026

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He had all the makings of a superstar--at least, he thought he did. He grew up a dreamer, seeing himself making the big catch for the winning touchdown, or running the race of a lifetime to win the gold medal. No such opportunities ever presented themselves, though it wasn't for lack of trying. He just never seemed to get the breaks when he needed them.

As a teen, and later a brash young adult, the dreaming boiled over into a cocky ambition that had lost touch with reality. What was really at the core of it, all along, was a longing for acceptance. There were risks taken on a dare, a “know-it-all” swagger that covered for something softer underneath. Marriage, and then the weight of family, drew him into a role where consistency mattered more than adventure, and he chafed against it until he nearly lost everything that was real. But for dreamers, dreams are hard to kill.

Physician, Heal Thyself

I met him through a mentoring program at work, where within a few minutes he had spilled everything out of his mind. The deeper issue, the one that had driven him toward this restlessness in the first place, had never actually been addressed. Near the end of our conversation, he said something I didn't expect: “All you have to do is help me see my blind spots--the things I keep stumbling over that limit how far I can go.” I remember thinking, at the time, that this was a request for me to diagnose him. It took me longer than I'd like to admit to realize it was also an invitation to examine myself.

The problem in that company--the same problem in most companies--was that his insistence on “doing things right,” and the strong opinions that came with it, were read by most leaders as a bad attitude. His work was good. He delivered results on time and accurately. Still, most of his leaders were content to jot a vague “improvement” note at his........

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