You probably know about cover-ups from your experience with others and from what you are doing in your own life.
When a big name person or big company get’s caught in a cover up, we are all pretty quick to critique and condemn them for not being more forthright, honest or fair. Examples of this include…Martha Stewart, Watergate, lots of CEO’s and politicians I don’t want to name as they will bring up anger and that is not the point.
But the real lesson comes from looking inside. You see they are just a reflection. Maybe you didn’t skim money or take an insider tip or do what they are doing on a big level, but what are you covering up?
As a society, we have all been taught to put our best foot forward and I certainly agree with that. And we all have a dark side and it is not that we want to spew that all over other people either. So what is the middle ground? How can we put our best foot forward in our businesses and be really authentic at the same time.
People want us to be more authentic – they can relate to us as human beings that way. I think all of us have our authenticity sniffers turned way up these days. We don’t want to be taken for a ride anymore. We want to work with people who are genuine, and can truly help us get through these challenging times so we can thrive again but in new and different ways. Thriving doesn’t necessarily mean what it used to mean. It’s about thriving on life! And money to buy what we desire is also part of the equation but not the whole enchilada.
What does it really mean to be authentic? I am hearing that word being tossed around a lot these days by a lot of big name internet entrepreneurs?
Were you taught to look like you have it all together? I can remember my dad taking my hand one day and pointing at a woman and telling me, “don’t ever let yourself look like that.” I don’t remember what she even looked like but the directive stuck with me and I made it mean probably a lot more than he intended.
Anyway, I don’t have all the answers to today’s question but I thought I would start by telling you some things about myself that you probably don’t know. People do this a lot on Facebook and since many of you are not on Facebook yet, I wanted to share myself with you first.
Here are some things you probably don’t know about me:
- I was born in NYC and have one older brother. From there I moved to Jacksonville, Florida and moved to Atlanta after going to college at Tulane. Okay, that’s the boring stuff.
- My full name is Len Stacey Mayo although my parents always called me Stacey. In the 4th grade, I decided I wanted to be called Len and after my brother teased me and called me Leonard and I received mail from the army, I switched back to Stacey.
- When I went to college, I thought I would become a social worker and join the Peace Corps – kind of ironic for a gal who doesn’t like to camp.
- I majored in Business and have combined my love of making a difference in people’s lives with building businesses that make an impact.
- My last soirée with politics was as President of my Freshman class in college, where I learned that I had no power to get us new washing machines and dryers in the dorms.
- I stole a Coke from a crate outside a vending machine in camp when I was 7 years old. Luckily I got caught which ended my life of crime.
- I love music but am not very musically inclined. I have fun singing with my hubby though.
- I have always been a beach person until the last year or two when I got drawn to the mountains. Now I love both the beach and the mountains.
- I created The One Minute Meditation™ to help me get peaceful and deal with stress during the day. I don’t remember to do it every hour either.
- The photo you see on my website and newsletter was taken approx 12 years ago. Oops. Well, you can see the current me on my videos for now.
- I get to stare at a beautiful 9 foot waterfall out of my office window every day that my husband built.
- I’ve had my share of challenges – physical and emotional – which is why I am so passionate about helping others. I am not done with my challenges and share as I can of what I learn with my clients to make their lives better.
- My first marriage (many moons ago) was pretty unhealthy and was to someone who had an alcohol addiction.
- I have more wrinkles around my eyes than I like and wish I didn’t care. When I shoot videos in the right light, they are not so visible.
- I am passionate about Peaceful Entrepreneur because I know there are better ways to do things for me and for you and I keep learning and sharing. I don’t have it down pat yet, but it’s a great future to live into.
- I just read these to my husband and he told me he didn’t know some of these things either. Amazing.
Would you be willing to share yourself with us too? Under the comments section, feel free to share something about yourself that others don’t know. Don’t use it to pitch – just share yourself authentically.
One step at a time, consider uncovering that which people may not know and see what starts to happen in your business and life. Note this does not mean telling us all your dirty laundry. It is just about being real. Find the balance that works for you.
We might call it the Authentic Experiment 🙂
Oh and speaking of authentic. Another reason I want you to practice coming out and be seen for who you are is because of my upcoming video contest where you could win $1000. So get your video camera ready and stay tuned. This will be easy. (Where’s that easy button when I need it?)
Loved this Stacey as I’ve found I too am looking for authenticity and genuineness from others I’m in contact with. I think we’re all a little tired of people who are just looking for numbers and people to ‘flog’ their goods to such as some of the followers on Twitter (and I feel bad for having said that LOL). I have to say I am beginning to come across more and more genuine people of late and it’s just lovely.
Authentic Me:
The photo I use is the real me. Taken a month or so ago. It’s out of focus etc but the only pic of me I have that shows my face. (i normally turn away from camera’s because I’m not at all photogenic!) This one was taken at my grandson’s (yes, my grandson’s) kindy on Grandparent’s Day. I was in my element playing with the kids and play doh at the time.
I love kids because you can just be yourself around them and they never judge you for making an error or faux par. They accept you as you are, and they know how to laugh and enjoy life.
I am hopeless with the internet and setting up my blog, twitter account etc. It’s all an enormous learning curve for me.
I’m very shy! I much prefer to speak with people online than I do in person. I am getting better at it though.
As much as writing is my passion, it takes me forever to express what I want to say. An email that may take most people 10 minutes to write can take me several hours.
I am way to verbose – but I have a lot to say, LOL.
I was a very young single mum and have mostly overcome the judgments at the time, of this.
I don’t like my wrinkles either! And I also don’t like not liking them! I should be proud of them, they were well earned. 🙂
I hate talking on the phone! I will avoid as much as possible!
I smoke! I often feel bad for smoking because I am a deeply spiritual person and smoking doesn’t seem to fit into my perspective of what a spiritual person is! Interesting hey. Does an authentic spiritual person smoke?!!!
I love being at home. It is my heaven on earth. I love, love. I love my partner, friends and family passionately without smothering them. I just truly feeling blessed to know them all!
I know that after I’ve sent this I’ll think of at least 10 others that would have said more about me than these ones LOL.
Thanks for the opportunity to share myself Stacey and for sharing yourself.
Margaret,
Thanks so much for sharing yourself authentically with us Margaret. It’s time for us to accept our wrinkes, heh? And everything else that we judge as imperfect 🙂
Warmly,
Stacey
Yes Stacey… acceptance for the wrinkles – goodness, if only they were labeled happy lines we’d be wanting more of them hey. 🙂
Peace and happiness
Margaret
My name is Elizabeth Faith a name I have never cared for. I wanted to be called E, eddie, or Liz it’s Liz that stuck. Though I am not a buddhist I follow the 8 fold path and meditate because they are practical ways to live for me. I am a sugar addict and go to a 12 step for that. It has been enlightening. I don’t worry so much about being overweight it’s the crazy monkey mind I want to heal.
I have property that is paid off but no house yet. I love woodland slopes but for now it’s city life. I have a fabo husband who can fix all kinds of things.
I have a housekeeping business that is slow going because of my day job. I know it could go far if only I wasn’t worried about the financial lag time. I love helping people make their homes healthy places to live. I love caring for elders and writing.
I don’t love phone time or email. I would rather just delegate those jobs to someone who loves them. I would rather work hard than sit behind a desk.
My day job is a video editor for a small production house. I want to do more creative people helping stuff but butterflies and unicorns don’t pay the bills (so says my boss). There must be a way.
I am forty and have two kids one in college and one is a senior in high school. Yeah!
The picture on my facebook profile is less than a year old. I am happy with the way I look, wrinkles and all.
Thanks for sharing Liz. Keep taking steps towards your dreams. I imagine getting off sugar will help in that respect as well.