Being Authentic In Your Business & Your Life

Some business owners have taken this to mean they can say and do whatever they want to because after all, they are just being authentic. Everyone’s talking about it in different ways lately, but it seems everywhere you go, somebody’s talking about being authentic.

The dictionary defines authentic as “the quality or condition of being trustworthy or genuine.” It also used words like genuine, real, and character.

Being authentic is also about being who you claim to be.

We’ve all seen examples of public figures, athletes, celebrities and politicians who just weren’t who they appeared to be, and somehow, the true person you are always seems to come out.

As an LGBT business owner, do you have to be out in your business in order to be authentic? That’s a question for the ages isn’t it?

You have to decide what’s right for you, your life and your business. And, what’s right in one situation may not be right in another. If we lived in a perfect world where there was no discrimination and no judgement, maybe the answer would always be yes, but that’s not the reality today. And, as long as it’s not reality, you have to do what is right for you. Keeping safety, business profits and your own values in mind will make this decision easier for you and keep you being authentic and real in every situation you encounter.

We all should be authentic – in our business and in our lives in general. It’s really just the right thing to do. Do what you say you’re going to do. Have character. Be genuine, real and trustworthy. We’d all probably agree with that.

The question becomes in how far do you take this? For example, if you’re a t-shirt and jeans kind of person, and let’s face it, who isn’t more comfortable in that attire, is that what you wear to an important business meeting so you can be authentic and true to yourself? That probably seems like a silly question to even ask, but if you look around you’ll see that we’re getting more and more casual all the time – many times in the name of being “authentic”.

Part of being authentic is respecting others around you and appreciating opportunities that are presented to you. Sometimes, we do things out of respect for other people and not necessarily because it’s what we would normally do. Is that compromising your authenticity? Not at all!

Wearing a suit, dressing up a little more than normal, or going out of your way to be respectful has nothing to do with you being real and genuine. It’s still you in that suit, and it’s you showing character and genuine respect for others – it doesn’t get any more authentic than that. Being authentic is all about doing the right things based on the situation you’re in. That’s what real character is all about.

Sometimes, as LGBT people and business owners, we have a tendency to hold ourselves to a higher standard than we hold others to, and while it’s probably not necessary to do that, it comes from a deep rooted place in some of us. Give yourself a break and just be who you are…that’s the greatest gift you can give anyone.

Be authentic with your clients, prospects, staff, friends and family. You owe it to yourself, and to them, to give them the best you have to offer. And, doing that, while being one hundred percent yourself, and who you are at your core, is the best possible way to give of yourself. They’ll love you for it, you’ll make a bigger impression, have longer lasting relationships, and in your business, you’ll make a lot more money in the long run as well.

Be you, give them the real you. That’s what they came for in the first place. They were attracted to you to do business with you based on something and more than likely, it was something about you.

Be authentic in your marketing, in your business dealings, and in your life and watch your life soar.