“From the same point of view,” meaning looking at something from exactly the same
perspective or angle—implying that two or more people interpret a situation or event in the
same way, without significant differences shaped by their individual experiences or biases;
essentially, seeing things “through the same eyes.”
Throughout my years of teaching dance and owning a studio, I have learned that everything
life throws at us influences who we are as business leaders and educators. In my opinion, a
large portion of the conflict and confusion we create for ourselves comes from our
unwillingness or inability to understand why someone sees things differently than we
do—whether it concerns world events, business practices, politics, or even constructive
criticism. Everyone sees and hears things differently, and most people also respond to those
stimuli in different ways. It amazes me how people post strong opinions about current world
events on social media and then imply that if you disagree, there must be something wrong
with you. Perhaps they have never heard the old saying, “Different strokes for different
folks.”

The truth is, we are not all looking through the same lens all the time. Your focus is not
everyone else’s focus, and others are not wrong simply because they do not agree with or feel
the same way about a topic as you do. If we could truly wrap our heads around this, I believe
a great deal of stress, anger, and anxiety would simply disappear. I can say with complete
certainty that it has helped me immensely.
Personally, I have never understood why anyone assumes that everyone will agree with their
point of view. We can barely control the thoughts that enter our own minds or how we
feel—so how can we expect the world to align with our opinions at any given moment? In
business, I actually welcome it when someone on my team challenges an idea or proposes a
change. It forces me to broaden my perspective, and yes, I learn something as well. But I try
not to stop there. I want to know and understand how others view the world through their own
lens in all the situations we face daily. I truly believe that if you want to be a great leader,
business owner, and teacher, this one quality can be a game-changer. I make a conscious effort
to practice it consistently.
This does not mean that we have to agree with how others think or act, or even fully
understand their behavior. We do not. The key is not becoming frustrated or judgmental when
differences arise.
This applies to everything that happens in both your personal and professional life.
If we want our students to be open and receptive to things they may not like or agree with, is
it not important that we help them develop and adopt this mindset? If we can help our students
cultivate this life skill, I can assure you it will be highly valuable in the years to come.
However, it is difficult to teach if you are not actively practicing it in your own life.
Take a moment to think about your students.
Do they all learn the same way?
Do they hear and apply corrections in the same way?
Do they progress in the same way?
Do they enjoy the same dance styles?
Do they behave the same way?
The answer to all of these questions is no.
Everyone has their own lens through which they see the world. Great teachers and leaders
understand this and are able to meet people of all ages where they are. I firmly believe it is
our responsibility as leaders to occasionally set aside our own lens and look through someone
else’s. This does not mean losing your values, beliefs, or life choices. It simply means not
projecting them onto others, forcing them, or expecting everyone to see through your lens. In
my view, this is the mark of someone who can leave their ego at the door, who exercises self-
control, and whom people are eager to follow. As another old saying goes, one size does not
fit all. I encourage you to always remember that we can all see the same thing and interpret it
differently—and that is okay