Authenticity is so important, yet many of us stray from it at times.
In a media-dominated world, where we often see the best in other people’s lives and want to show the best in ourselves as well, it’s easy to put on a mask in order to seek approval from others.
Social media often plays a vital role in determining people’s beliefs of how life should be and even benchmarking where we should be at a certain point in life. I found myself obsessed with chasing likes and views and wondering why some posts were not getting as much engagement as others.
The professional world is the same. People strive to position themselves in a certain way that they think will benefit others. The question is, should we change ourselves? It’s simple. In the business world, people do what it takes to get a position, a promotion, or an investment. Just like outside of work, fitting in helps you become part of a group. At some point in my nearly 30 years of life, I learned that it’s okay to not fit in. In fact, it’s better to stand out as yourself, and if you can’t fit in with the group, it’s not the group for you.
In the early days of PushFar, I had my goals centered around finances and my philosophy of success centered around our values. I truly believed that was the dream. Then the pandemic hit and I took a step back to reassess what I had built and realized that it was okay to not be the startup entrepreneur that you expect to be.
It was okay to be unconventional and do things differently. I chose to focus on profits instead of revenues. After all, when funding and startup investments were not so readily available in late 2022 and early 2023, suddenly all the venture capitalists realized that what a company like PushFar was doing (lean and profitable with steady, achievable growth) was closer to what they wanted than what they expected in the last decade of investing.
Trying to adhere to goals that are perceived as “right” is not only exhausting, but frankly, unattainable for many. Authenticity should be encouraged because it embraces diverse insights and promotes inclusivity, which is important in any field. When it comes to entrepreneurship, authenticity is key to guiding your business in the direction that’s right for you. Authenticity allows you to make authentic connections that align with your values, which will positively impact your future career. Being authentic with yourself and others will bring you much more joy in the long run than striving to achieve what others perceive as success.
Ed Johnson
Ed Johnson is the CEO and co-founder of PushFar, an online mentoring and career development platform. Ed was featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Social Impact list.
