What you reveal at work : personal details for your profile on health and fitness

[shootingstar]

So got the questions. Am trying to find ways of de-emphasizing cycling in my answers. Not everyone wants to read/hear about cycling. So it's mentioning my art stuff, etc.

[indysteel]

So got the questions. Am trying to find ways of de-emphasizing cycling in my answers. Not everyone wants to read/hear about cycling. So it's mentioning my art stuff, etc.

I think you're overthinking this Shootingstar. Answer the questions the way you want to answer them, providing as much or as little personal information as you're comfortable sharing. Don't worry about what you think people do/don't want to read. For all you know, they'd find any and all of your interests to be fascinating. Just be yourself and let the reader react the way they're going to react.

[Crankin]

I agree. People will take what they want from what you say.

[PamNY]

You are definitely overthinking this Shootingstar.

I did employee publications for years for a large corporation. Presumably this is not an in-depth analysis of you or the other employees who have participated. Malkin's advice above is very good.

Your cycling is a fact; you don't need to rationalize or explain it.

Just give simple, cheery answers and don't worry about what people will think.

[indysteel]

I'll share a little story that might help: About a year ago, one of my coworkers, who happens to work in a division of our office several hours to the south of where I work, wrote a piece for our own inter-company newsletter about her chickens. Now, I'm not really interested in chickens, but I read the story anyway. It was so funny and charming that I felt compelled to email her to thank her for sharing it. At the time, I didn't know her other than by name, but her story, and my email in response to her, sparked a friendship. While I never actually see her, we email regularly and share what's going on in our respective lives. She's a very funny, lovely person, and I'm so glad she shared something with me about herself.

I share that because you just never know how, why or over what you might connect with someone. I think being genuine and open goes a long way toward bridging all sorts of gaps with people. Now, you may have no interest in bridging gaps at work--and that's fine--but you never know how sharing your interests with others might impact them.

[thekarens]

Plus One for what Indy said. I haven't connected with or met any of my co-workers that I've read about on our intranet, but I have been inspired by them. There was the lady that was 100lbs overweight who went to the Boston Marathon and decided right then and there she was going to run that race and sure enough the following year she had lost the weight and run that race.

I also agree that you don't need to give an indepth look at your innermost being. Just be yourself and share you passion like you would with anyone else who asked you about it.

[Blueberry]

I do love to be inspired by others - and I really appreciate it when people share. There are so may people here who inspire me daily. Most of them I've never met in person. But - sometimes it's the extra kick in the pants to get on the bike when I'm tired or do just one more interval, and for that I am grateful!

I appreciate it when I see realistic articles other places too - particularly about how people fit fitness into their daily lives (and time to cook healthy food - that's a challenge!). Let yourself be an inspiration and don't over think it. You can't make everyone happy, but you might just inspire some people by just sharing who you are.