I wish our political leaders would stand tall and tell us the way it is—no spin, no half-truths, no omission of facts to “protect us.” Contrary to Jack Nicholson’s rant in A Few Good Men, we CAN handle the truth. We’re grownups and we deal with grownup issues 24×7. We can take it, and we might even find the truth invigorating.
It’s getting so you don’t know who to believe, from the highest office in the land, to the local dog catcher, to the 24-hour news channels. My question is “Why can’t we just be told the truth, the way things are?” Are our leaders trying to protect us, or are they trying to protect their respective turfs (the less we know, the better . . . for them)?
It all gets a bit tiring.
Imagine a world where everyone was more honest and genuine. We’d be able to have open, frank discussions about this issue or that. We’d be able to create solutions, implement fixes, and move onward and upward. It’s a simplistic view, maybe a bit naive, for sure—but can you imagine no more stagnation, no more gridlock, no more dysfunction? Same Cooke said it best, “What wonderful world this would be.”
Enjoy this “classic” blog of mine on the topic of being genuine. And, as always, feel free to share your comments.
Will The Real You Stand Up?
(Originally posted on July 25, 2012 by Paul June)
When you were little, I’m sure a parent, teacher, or other authority figure in your life, at one time or another, told you “Honesty is the best policy.” The words might seem trite now, the sentiments a little corny, but give them another read while thinking about all those times in your life when circumstances might have been different, outcomes more predictable, and life a little easier to manage if you or those around you had been honest and more genuine. (I think we all have some stories to tell!)
Think about it: when we’re genuine, when we’re authentic, there’s no need to slip on a mask and pretend to be someone or something we’re not. We don’t have to remember who we are for this particular audience or who we are supposed to be for this person—we just “are” and life is a whole lot simpler and satisfying.
Applied to business, how many brands out there say what they do and do what they say, versus how many simply spin their stories and pretend to be something they’re not? Again, I’m a believer that the truth always wins out. Eventually, no matter how well you “pretend,” the real you, the real brand, the real company emerges. From big oil and big pharma, to organic growers and car manufacturers, to the entrepreneur working out of his or her garage, imagine if all businesses were true to their brands. Life would be a whole lot simpler and our day-to-day choices of what to eat and who to do business with a whole lot clearer.
Now think about politicians, from our local school boards all the way to the highest office in the land. Can you think of one other profession where so much widespread deceit is accepted, even expected? Anywhere else and such disingenuity would be rewarded with firings, shunning, and possibly even jail time.
The same goes with sports and performance enhancing drugs. We put athletes on pedestals and applaud them for tremendous feats of strength, endurance, and skill. Yet how much of it is real?
Imagine if all aspects of our lives—from personal relationships, to professional and political—were as genuine. Imagine all the day-to-day baggage, the mind games, the lies, the disingenuity we could simply do away with. Imagine what it would be like if, every waking moment, the real “you” showed up for others and for yourself. How much “lighter” would we all feel with the burden of pretense lifted off our psyches? No doubt we’d have lots more time, energy, and focus for the bigger challenges before us.
How genuine are you in your business, your relationships, with yourself? How might your life be simpler if the persona you project is the “real you”? What’s your experience been with authenticity?
Share your thoughts here . . . curious monkeyz want to know!
QUICK HITS
San Diego AMA Art of Marketing 2013 Thursday, November 7
The San Diego Chapter of the American Marketing Association (http://sdama.org/) is holding its “Art of Marketing 2013” event this Thursday, November 7.
The San Diego AMA is an education and networking-focused organization for high-performing marketers serious about furthering their careers, establishing valuable connections, identifying available resources, and achieving personal development goals.
This event is a great way to get to know the San Diego business community. It’s a one-day, interactive forum of speakers, panels, and one-to-one expert sessions designed to deliver real-world solutions and cover a variety of topics from best practices to cutting-edge trends.
More information ? http://sdama.org/events/art-of-marketing-2013/
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