No, I’m not asking if you pass the Windows Genuine Advantage test.
What I’m asking is…do you fake it?
No, I’m not referring to the famous “I’ll have what she’s having” corned-beef-gasm that Meg Ryan made famous in When Harry Met Sally.
What I’m asking is…are you authentic?
It’s easy to fake it – to act as if you know what you’re talking about, even if you’re talking out of…well, your ass. It’s easy to appear as if you give a damn, even if you’re thinking “who gives a sh*t about this (project/idiot co-worker/social issue)?”
Naked emperors dance willy-nilly through the streets these days. Are you courageous enough to be the little kid down front who says…”But, the emperor has no clothes!”
It does take courage, because there’s a better-than-even chance you could face a firing squad before sundown with this approach.
But wouldn’t it be great if more of us did exactly what that kid in the fable did, and called ’em like we see ’em?
As a communication consultant, I find that people hunger for authenticity and truth. Our culture seems to be captivated by the bread and circuses offered by the entertainment industry – of which I firmly believe the self-help movement is a part.
Here’s a suggestion – try telling the truth, every day, at least once. Lead by example. Who knows, you may even influence a politician…
