Some friends of mine just got back from a week at two dude ranches outside of Steamboat Springs. Both ranches were outstanding – in fact, while each had their own individual spin on things, both were roughly equivalent in the quality of care they provided for their guests. And the staff at both ranches loved what they were doing.
But there was one defining characteristic that one ranch had that the other lacked. The ranch that stood out was the one that realized that they weren’t just providing a really high end resort-style experience. Lots of places do that. This ranch understood that they were providing a place that their guests love, because their guests love the same things they do.
While that ranch was interested in attracing more guests, they weren’t about to change who they are in order to do it. In fact, they were interested in being more like who they are. They realized that their guests came precisely because they were being who they are.
Their guests keep coming. The same ones. Every year. All because the ranch is reflecting what the guests want to be a part of. The guests and the ranch are being authentic.
Authenticity is the new internet buzzword, and is the driving force being social media. But authenticity isn’t just about what you post on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or your blog. Autenticity is about being who you are all the time.
And before the internet got ahold of the term, authenticity was called integrity.
Integrity is rare, that’s probably why it’s so incredibly attractive. And, here’s the deal – to be authentic all you have to do is be who you are. All the time. Everywhere.
You might be insecure about being authentic because you believe that the desire God has placed in your heart – to drill wells in Africa or run a food bank or play concerts in jails – is unique to you. You can’t raise money to do it because no one else could possibly be interested. That is simply not true. He is moving lots of other people to do, or at the very least support, the same thing. That’s why there’s fifty organizations drilling wells in Africa. By not being who you are, you are robbing your friends from seeing their desires (the desires that God placed in them) realized with you and through you.
The fix is pretty easy. Just start telling stories that are true to who you are and what you’re doing. You don’t need to wear masks or switch personalities depending on who you’re with. Trust that all you need to do to awaken followers is let who you are seep into all areas of your life.
The brain-numbingly simple version: just be who you are.
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