Category: Authenticity (New Currency)

We are trainer and trainee

jeff noel quote
You are the CEO of You, Inc.

 

We are trainer and trainee.

Spending the past few days with the uniquely close college buddies (and their wives/children) was an opportunity to be profoundly reminded about these basics:

  • Life is hard
  • Life is glorious
  • Lifelong friendship makes a person feel rich

The fact that these relationships have been kept alive for 38 years (freshman year 1977) is a most cherished blessing.

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Authenticity is the new currency

Florida Beach wildflowers
Florida Beach morning glories from a few weeks ago.

 

There is art we’ll never see in a museum, nor see for sale in a store.

But it is still art.

Exquisite.

Ordinary.

Generous.

Risky.

Brave.

Art is simply human behavior.

What allows human behavior to cross the line and become art is unique and special.

It’s a generous habit. It’s risking the comfort of predictability. It is created to inspire the creator and any who come in contact.

You can be socially accepted or you can make art.

You can aim for something tangible in return, or you can do it humbly, invisibly.

Artists must abandon the security of fitting in.

The peace and contentment that flow from committing to becoming and remaining authentic is the inherent reward, even though none is sought.

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Pretend or don’t pretend

Glacier's Lake McDonald shoreline closeup
Metaphorically uncommitted. Half in, half out.

 

This might not make sense (at first).

When we believe in ourselves we walk a dangerous path.

Our so called bold belief could be a delusion – meant to distract us from our fear.

An alternative is to do stuff (in the absence of fear) that makes us come alive.

Doing brave, generous, and soul stirring stuff.

No pretending.

No fear.

Or at least no fear that is strong enough to stop us.

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There is no room for this

Southwest Airlines employee statement
At Denver Airport waiting for the shuttle to main terminal.

 

(Thi is a note to myself)

You want a positive attitude?

Well then, here’s all you have to do.

Go get it.

Oh snap, wait, there are reasons, right, that this isn’t possible for you?

You’re special and different, and have issues that complicate things. Issues that are different from everyone else, right?

Bull.

Walt Disney never (publicly) accepted excuses. He never (publicly) worried about being different either.

He also knew (later in life) that these two beliefs would be the foundation of his leadership legacy.

i confess to copying Walt.

There, i said it.

Your excuses are invalid.

At least that’s what i’ve convinced myself to embrace.

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