Authenticity Stop Trying So Hard!

by Ross · 7 comments

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A lot of personal branding experts are charging people who want to learn how to be authentic. What these experts are selling is a feeling. They aren’t selling you authenticity, instead they are selling a mindset. Best-Selling author and ad man, James Adams once said,

“The most common trouble with advertising is that it tries too hard to impress people.”

Often times in the social space, we find ourselves trying to do the same. Instead of being ourselves we become products  and in turn do things to impress others rather than act on things that make us happy. Authenticity seems to have become another overused buzzword  used by gurus when discussing personal branding. What is  often over looked when discussing authenticity is the gift we tend to use on a regular basis – common sense.

Call me ignorant but I always thought authenticity just meant being yourself. Just showing up, being yourself and letting the authenticity follow suit.

Fish and chips, photographed Norfolk, UK

Image via Wikipedia

It isn’t about “trying” to be authentic – its about “being” authentic.

If you’re a guy who likes fish and chips – Be a guy  that likes fish and chips. If you’re a painter who has a weird sense of humor – Be a painter with a weird sense of humor.

Be [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE]
Not someone trying to be [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE]

Authenticity is simply being true to yourself.
You don’t try and BE Authentic – You BE yourself.

And that’s my weekend rant…

For more on authenticity check out:

A Definitive Guide to Keeping it Real & Being Authentic

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Tagged as: Authentic, Authenticity, Networking, Online Writing, Personal Branding, Social Media, Social Networking

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  • gwenmccauley

    Ah, were authenticity so easy for many folks. I can't tell you how many of my coaching clients (a) don't know who they are under all their cultural conditioning (b) if they know who they are think that it isn't what people really find valuable (c) are terrified of being judged, dismissed, or worse, publicly damned & humiliated by customers, colleagues and friends if they really reveal themselves.

    At some point in our coaching relationship many clients get assigned the task of creating a blog and writing about what interests them as an exercise in getting over their fear of letting people know what really lights them up or expresses who they really are. It is amazing to stay with them through the terror of their first few postings and to watch them relax into the fun and personal discovery that comes from being authentic in a public context. Even if no one ever reads their postings they discover the power of shamelessly being themselves in public.

    Sadly, you are right about so many 'experts' trying to convince people of inauthentically being 'authentic'. It isn't always an easy path to re-discover authenticity. But I know from many years of working with all ages, stages and types of people that we all have it buried somewhere deep inside. We all knew who we were when we were children. It's just that many of us lost it or buried it safely deep inside as we aged.

    Thanks for talking publicly about such an important topic.

    Gwen McCauley

  • http://www.rosssimmonds.com/ TheCoolestCool

    I couldn't agree with you more. The statement “We all knew who we were when we were children.” couldn't be more true. When were young we have no fear of being judged or ridiculed for being different. Its not until we grow up and start to see the way the world works that we lose our way. We can't teach someone how to be “authentic” we can only guide them to be more comfortable with who they really are. And to do that, we must first be comfortable with ourselves.

    Well said Gwen, thank you so much for sharing your expertise with such a passionate comment! I look forward to more of your contributions and insight.

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  • Miriam

    I started reading your articles after coming across “Why I believe Pinterest will rule the web”.. I just want to point out the irony in authenticity. We try so hard to be something we’re not in order to be successful while our success is there for the taking if we would just believe in ourselves.

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