What does it mean to be authentic?
How do you know you are an authentic person? In his book, Legacy, author James Kerr writes, "Authenticity is the mark of a true leader. It begins with honesty and integrity. Honesty allows us access to our truest vision of ourselves and, when setbacks occur, gives us a strong foundation. Integrity gets the job done. If our values, thoughts, words, and actions are aligned, then our word is our world." One way you know you're being authentic is to pay attention to your feelings under different circumstances. Do you feel you're being true to yourself? Are your actions consistent with your values or are you just trying to impress others? Are you truly trying to connect with people or are you being disingenuous? In a December 20, 2023 article from The Expert Editor, author Brendan Brown details numerous traits an authentic person exhibits. Here are a few: 1. You express your opinion and are confident in letting others know how you feel. 2. You seek personal growth and look for ways to improve and seek more knowledge. 3. You're not defined by external validation and don't look to be recognized for your efforts or accomplishments. 4. You own your mistakes and don't try to blame others when things go wrong. 5. You genuinely celebrate others and the success that they obtain. 6. You treat others with respect and dignity regardless of their "status." Authenticity isn't about being perfect. It's about playing to your strengths and working to improve your weaknesses. It's about ensuring your values are aligned with your actions. It's about being the kind of person you would want next to you if we were going to war. Leave me a comment about your thoughts regarding the qualities authentic people should possess. Please check out the most recent article I wrote for Authority Magazine which was published on December 18, 2023. The title of the article is: 5 Things You Need To Know To Create A Very Successful Podcast. You can read the article by clicking on the image below or going to the Articles and Press Tab at the top of the page and clicking on the article.
Please check out my latest audio recording from the Middle Age Mess Podcast With Dan Indante. You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the AUDIO PODCASTS & RADIO INTERVIEWS button at the top of this page, then click on the PODCAST INTERVIEWS tab scroll down, and click on the Middle Age Mess Podcast tab.
Please check out my latest YouTube recording from the Lennix James Podcast with Dr. Jennifer Moore. You can watch the podcast by clicking on the PODCAST & SPEAKING VIDEOS button at the top of this page and scroll down and click on the Lennix James Podcast tab.
What makes a company excellent? What makes them survive, and even thrive during the ups and downs of the business cycle? According to a March 29, 2022 article by Sean Silverthorne in Harvard Business School's Working Knowledge, five qualities help a company thrive over time: 1. The businesses are often run by families. - Many new business startups, receive their capital from friends and family. 2. Values guide decisions. In India, for example, they have a strong set of value-based businesses' because reputation is an important part of many business's longevity. 3. Companies innovate to have a positive impact on society. Leaders who leave legacies, head organizations that make creating public good a priority. The drive to use business to improve society comes from a moral compass and a calling to do what's right. 4. Business leaders strive for inclusivity and gender equality. Having a diverse workforce with plenty of female mentors helps the organization develop a more inclusive culture. 5. They fight corruption, even if they aren't always successful. Developing a reputation for playing by the rules and not paying bribes tends to send a signal that corruption will not be tolerated. Leaders need to develop the right mindset and be willing to look at the long game instead of trying to focus on immediate gratification. By focusing on leaving an organizational legacy, many companies can not only benefit from the profitability of today but also set the organization on the path to use their products or services to improve society. Please watch the short video below to learn more ways to leave a business legacy. Also, please leave me a comment about your thoughts on how companies can build longevity through their business model. What does it mean to live a life of purpose?
How do you know if your life has meaning and purpose? Viktor Frankl, the Holocaust survivor and author of, Man's Search For Meaning, wrote: "One should not search for an abstract meaning of life. Everyone has a specific vocation in life to carry out, a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment." What is the concrete assignment that you were built to carry out? How do you know what your purpose in life is? Your purpose or assignment is what gives your life meaning. According to Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, our purpose is found in performing acts of voluntary self-sacrifice. What would you sacrifice your life for? What has meaning and value to you? If you believe Jung's definition of purpose, then your life cannot be found in anything material. Your purpose will never be found in money, power, or influence. It can only be found in those things you are willing to grind and suffer for. One of the things team sports taught me was the importance of being part of something bigger than myself. You learn on a team that if you don't do your job, not only do you let yourself down, but you also let your teammates down. And if you think about it, the biggest team game we all play is this game of life. A purposeful life demands sacrifice, and when you find something bigger than yourself to sacrifice for, then your pain and difficulty take on meaning and significance. Don't spend your life searching for things or something tangible. Use your unique gifts and talents and spend your life searching for meaning, mission, and purpose in service to something bigger than yourself. That is how you live and love a life of meaning, purpose, and significance. |
Author & SpeakerTerry is a sought after speaker who believes in the power of a story to motivate, inspire, and help others lead their uncommon and extraordinary lives. By combining his twelve-year cancer journey with his diverse business, athletic coaching, and hostage negotiating expertise, he delivers compelling yet relatable presentations for conferences, on-line events, panels, meetings, and seminars. Archives
May 2024
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