Behind the Curtain: When Words and Actions Don’t Align
Behind the Curtain: When Words and Actions Don’t Align In “The Wizard of Oz” there’s a moment that hits like a freight train: Dorothy and her ragtag crew finally confront the “great and powerful” Wizard, only to discover he’s not what he seems. Behind the curtain isn’t a towering, magical figure—it’s just a guy, sweating bullets, pulling levers, and faking it with smoke and mirrors. His big, booming words promised one thing, but the reality behind the curtain told a different story. Sound familiar? It’s a perfect analogy for what happens when someone’s words and actions don’t line up. We’ve all seen it—a leader who preaches “integrity” but cuts corners, a friend who swears they’ve got your back but vanishes when it counts, or a coach selling the “good culture” of their program to student-athletes and families when in reality their culture is toxic. It’s the curtain trick: a polished front of bold claims and shiny promises, hiding a weaker, messier truth. And just like in Oz, once you s...