The Authentic Narrative Is Really Bulls***
An Honest Evaluation Of What It Truly Means To Be Authentic
“The Authentic Narrative is BULLSHIT!” Even typing that felt strange but good. I started my company Authenticated in 2016 with an idea around investing in founders, creators and brands. In 2022, I started to call bullshit on my own brand name and narrative. Authenticated was a “get away car” an entity and a business I started after pivoting out of my last role as CEO of a venture studio / branding agency in Los Angeles. Like so many business leaders I had played with the word Authentic and decided to name my company Authenticated Ventures, LLC. To me the word “Authentic” had connotations of “keeping it real” something I could relate to. I equated it to hip hop culture, the genre that I not only grew up with as a kid being in love with but also as a music executive at Sony, hip hop provided a lifestyle and fed my family. During the pandemic, with a lot more time on my hands to reflect, I began to question who I was, how I was presenting myself to the world and my own true sense of authenticity. Then I actually began to study what the word authenticity means.
Individuals considered authentic are those who strive to align their actions with their core values and beliefs with the hope of discovering, and then acting in sync with, their true selves.
Psychology Today
Let’s just start with core values. I don’t think I ever really contemplated my core values. So I dove in and sat with that question. All my friends who have done significant personal work can rattle off their core values, I often confused core values with my character. Core values dig much deeper and drive your identity and your decisions. Core Values are your roots.
So my core values are
Autonomy
Courage
Influence
Maybe you have never contemplated your core values. Here’s something for you to read.
Now I began to examine my actions. The things I do daily, my operating system. In 1998 during Web 1, I was often called a visionary for my boldness of talking about the internet. I was bold in my convictions, I left a great career in the music business for a startup and I built a media property that influenced creative executives around the country. Today I have an opportunity to align my core values in this journey of discovering my true self. Could be more excited.
Here are (5) actions I’m currently contemplating
Reexamining My Inner Circle. I realized I have all “yes men” around me who graciously validate and clap for me but I also need people in my inner circle that challenge my operating system.
Showing Up Confidently. I’m currently asking myself if I truly believe in what I’m doing. Would I work on this company if no one invested or believed in it? I have questioned my integrity in the past. I’ve worked with clients I didn’t align with and worked on projects I didn’t believe in. I’m prepared to walk away from investors, creators and brands whose values are not aligned with mine. I also used to care a lot about what other people thought about me and my reputation. I’m in constant work shedding all of that to walk in true confidence. Give zero F’s about what you think today.
Building Play In My Weekly Schedule I’ve long believed in the power of play and while I used to schedule it during the pandemic, I have not been serious about it in a couple of years. Ashton Cantou, our guest last week called me out on this and I’m now adding it back in my life. Check out last week’s episode of “Proof Of Culture” for great tips.
Revisiting My Online presence For a long time I found myself resting on the “touchdowns” from the past. My Wall Street Journal article, the pictures of me and all the celebrities I have worked with, the appearances on CNN, MSNBC and various keynotes. Those are the past and no longer relevant. I’m currently looking at my presence and incorporating new language, content and even a new photo shoot in the future.
Trusting My Decisions I am someone who has tried to force situations and have come to realize that just doesn’t work. I have found safety in controlling the outcomes. Now I’m ready to rest in the great unfolding. The pandemic, challenging parenting moments, losing my best friend to a heart attack and a myriad of other personal challenges have made me truly appreciate the act of surrendering. I’m a work in progress in this area. Learning how to take care of myself no matter the circumstance has been the greatest gift I could have given myself. It’s a gift that I give myself every day.
Why Is Being Authentic Important Now?
We are in a unique time in the world and the opportunity to build the future is in the hands of the entrepreneur and world changers. The next great invention, blockchain protocol, restaurant concept, Yoga studio, ChatGPT business, AI startup and cookie store will come out of global cities that are diverse, evolving, dynamic and not relegated to New York City, Palo Alto or Los Angeles. Places like Tulsa, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Detroit, Cape Town and of course Miami will produce entrepreneurs that are diverse in thought and possess different backgrounds.
This moment requires alignment of my true self. I truly believe that as the world becomes more digital, autonomous, robotic and artificial, genuine and authentic humans matter.
Proof Of Culture
Find us on Clubhouse this week with the incredible Francesca Hogi discussing “The Pivot”
