The joy of being a misfit
If you read my last post in Instagram and thought, “YES. That toxic workplace feeling, the unfairness, feeling like the weird kid at the party,” well, you're my people!
Honestly, the messages I received about not fitting in showed me that my fight to find my place is actually a strength. I spent decades trying to put together the "Elizabeth Puzzle" without the right instructions.
Always feeling out of place
If you’ve ever felt like an outsider inside your own community, you’ll know these phases:
The goofy kid: When I was little, I was the class clown, always doing something silly for attention. I wanted the spotlight so badly, but I couldn't tell the difference between people laughing with me and laughing at me.
The angry teen: Later, I changed completely. I became grumpy and unfriendly. I put up a wall and only let people in who made me feel safe. I gave everyone else a challenging look to keep them away. But guess what? The bullying still happened. I realized it didn't matter if I was funny or angry—I was still teased.
The Dublin search: When I moved to Dublin at 21, I thought: Finally, I can be myself! (I quickly found out I didn't know who "myself" was.) My low self-esteem caused years of chaos and confusion.
I could go on, but fast forward to age 39, and an ADHD diagnosis. Suddenly, the instruction manual for the "Elizabeth Puzzle" appeared. Everything made sense!
I'm still learning about my diagnosis, but one thing is clear and has been constant since childhood: I am obsessed with making people happy. My biggest goal in life is to see people smile.
Why you should care about misfits
If my story sounds familiar, many people on your team are wearing masks every day. They are your best thinkers and your most creative people, but they get burned out easily in boring, stiff workplaces.
This is more than just being nice. This is about getting the best ideas. A great leader doesn't just manage people; they learn to understand the unique, brilliant, and sometimes strange minds on their team. You need to create a place where the "misfits" can be themselves and share their strongest ideas.
Caribou: A safe space for genuine connections
This is why we created Caribou’s events.
We hate boring. We design experiences that are so fun and focused on real connection that people skip the small talk and jump straight to the big ideas.
You can't force trust, but you can create an environment where trust is unavoidable. We flip the typical event structure to make people feel safe and seen. When we plan an event, we create a space where:
Vulnerability is good: People feel safe to drop their masks and have real conversations.
New ideas happen: The different perspectives on your team are not shut down—they are shouted out loud.
Action lasts: Learning sticks, and relationships grow strong, long after the event ends.
If you’ve ever felt lost, you are not alone. The world of different thinkers is wild, but it’s better and warmer when we stop trying to fit into boxes. Life is better when we work together.
Ready to host an event where your unique team members finally feel like they belong and can lead? Let's design a Caribou experience that is anything but normal.
