There are lots of things we can do, should do and must do.  Remember the old line our parents used to say? That all you knew for sure was that you had to pay taxes and someday you would die. Well maybe your parents didn't say that, but mine sure did.  I think that's why my 85-year-old mother is so mad at me because I refuse to do her taxes because she lives on barely enough Social Security income to make it and it seems like doing taxes is a big waste of time. But okay, enough of the fact, that I'm really not that good of a daughter. Let's go back to all those things that we keep piling on our plate or telling ourselves to do. The "should do's", "can do's" and "must do's. Because I really believe that none of it makes any difference unless we do this one thing - be authentic.

I learned over the years that working hard to be authentic is the one thing makes me not only successful, but really happy. I continually work to be authentic, because sometimes it's not that easy. I believe that authenticity is feeling what I feel at all times and then choosing what is appropriate to say or do depending on who I am saying it to or doing it with. And the reason I say it's not that easy is, if we don't know who our authentic self is it can be difficult.

Seems pretty simple right? Just be authentic. Be real. But for a variety of reasons most people are scared to be authentic, and it makes sense. Maybe you're not that confident of your authenticity. Maybe you believe that it's not the right way to play the business game. Maybe you believe...whatever. The point is if you ask anyone, they will tell you "of course I want to deal with someone who is authentic", but what does it really mean? How many times as you grew in your business experience did you hear "don't show your cards"? That doesn't mean don't be authentic about the cards you have. It didn't mean don't play the game because you can't be authentic and play well. It meant, play the game as your authentic self. How many times now do we hear that you have to be transparent in order for someone to trust you? Maybe, maybe not.  Honesty and authenticity don't always go hand-in-hand with transparency. Just because you are "open" or "transparent" doesn't mean that you're being authentic or real.

I think one of the easiest ways to spot authenticity is looking for passion. And I don't only mean the kind of passion where someone is outwardly enthusiastic. Passion can also be deeply quiet. The one outcome as evidence of passion - inward or outward, is good results. Recognizing authenticity in yourself is pretty easy because when it's authentic, you don't have to think too hard about it. It's just your personality coming through. When you're being authentic you do a good job connecting with people in a way that is easy for you and therefore, your authenticity is apparent to those you interact with.

So it's important to remember that authenticity doesn't always mean "telling it like it is". Like I said earlier, authenticity is being real with yourself and thoughtfully choosing what to share and not share with others depending upon the situation. It's actually easier to be authentic than not to be, but that doesn't mean we don't have to work on it. We do. But it's a lot easier to work on just one big thing - being authentic, and see how everything else we should do, must do, or might do, falls in line.

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