Perhaps the only truly authentic version of you is just a few days old, lying in a crib, pooping in your pants.
Ever since then, there's been a cultural overlay, a series of
choices, strategies from you and others about what it takes to succeed
in this world (in your world).
And so it's all invented.
When you tell me that it would be authentic for you to do x, y or z,
my first reaction is that nothing you do is truly authentic, it's all
part of a long-term strategy for how you'll make an impact in the world.
I'll grant you that it's essential to be consistent, that
people can tell when you shift your story and your work in response to
whatever is happening around you, and particularly when you say whatever
you need to say to get through the next cycle. But consistency is
easier to talk about and measure than authenticity is.
The question, then, is what's the impact you seek to make, what are
the changes you are working for? And how can you achieve that and still
do work you're proud of?
Source: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2014/08/is-authenticity-authentic.html
