Are You For Real?

Read time: 5 minutes

Hey internet friends.

Last week, we explored the importance of respecting boundaries in leadership.

​You can read that (and all past issues, here).

Today, I want to dive into a topic that's been on my mind lately:

The authenticity business.

I've been thinking about how many of the best businesses in the world have founders with a certain 'depth' to their personalities.

More often than not, it's this 'depth' that stands out the most, sometimes even more than what their businesses are known for.

This observation has led me to some intriguing questions:

1. What if authenticity is the best form of leverage in the coming economic shifts?
2. In a world facing a trust deficit, could being your most authentic self be the key to standing out?

As an investor in multiple startups, I've found myself backing founders based on their authenticity, sometimes even more than the business model itself (though that's important too).

This has made me wonder:

• How much does a founder's authenticity influence the success of a startup?
• Can authenticity be cultivated, or is it an innate quality?

The concept of radical authenticity fascinates me. But it also raises some challenging questions:

• What are the risks of being too authentic in a business setting?
• How do we balance authenticity with professionalism?

As we navigate an era of curated online personas and AI-generated content, the value of genuine human connection seems to be at a premium.

This leads me to ask:

• How can businesses leverage authenticity to build trust with their customers and employees?
• What does authentic leadership look like in practice?

My Take on Business Authenticity

While I'm a firm believer in authenticity, it's crucial to understand what that means in a business context.

True authenticity isn't about unfiltered self-expression or disregarding professional norms. It's about bringing your genuine self to work in a way that adds value and builds trust.

Here's what I think authentic leadership looks like:

1. Transparency about challenges and failures, but with a focus on solutions
2. Showing vulnerability, but maintaining competence
3. Being true to your values, even when it's difficult
4. Admitting when you don't have all the answers, but committing to finding them

However, I've seen authenticity backfire when misunderstood. For example:

1. A CEO who shared personal struggles without boundaries, making employees uncomfortable
2. A founder who was "authentically" confrontational, damaging team morale
3. A leader who prioritized "being real" over being effective, neglecting necessary skills development

The key is balance.

You want to be genuine, but also professional.

Authentic, but not oversharing.

Real, but always adding value.

What are your thoughts on this? Have you experienced the power of authenticity in your own business journey? I'd love to hear your perspectives.

To your authentic success,

Dan

P.S. If these questions sparked some thoughts, I'd love to hear them. And if you know someone wrestling with authenticity in their professional life, why not share this with them and start a conversation?

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SOS (Science of Success) Curated:

LinkedIn of the week: 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗯𝗼𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁​

Podcast of the week: 30 Years of Business Knowledge in 2hrs 26mins​

My Tweet of the week: 20 Skills That Will Pay You Forever​

The Neuroscience of Authenticity

A study from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that expressing one's true self activates the brain's reward centres in a unique way. This raises some intriguing questions:

1. How might this neural response to authenticity influence team dynamics and company culture?
2. Could prioritising authenticity in the workplace lead to more engaged and satisfied employees?
3. What are the potential downsides of this "authenticity high," and how can they be mitigated in a professional setting?

These findings open up new avenues for exploring the role of authenticity in business. What do you think are the implications for leadership and organisational behavior?

Everyone wants to make money, and many view it as the ultimate path to happiness. But for Sahil Bloom, money is merely the by product of discovering what truly brings you joy and fulfilment.

In this incredibly insightful episode, we sit down with Sahil, a wealth expert, to explore the deeper side of success. Sahil shares how financial wealth is not the goal, but a natural outcome of pursuing your passion and aligning your life with what genuinely makes you happy.

We delve into the mindset required to build lasting wealth, not just financially, but in a way that brings balance and satisfaction to your life. Sahil’s unique perspective challenges the conventional wisdom of chasing money for its own sake, encouraging listeners to focus on their passions, purpose, and personal growth.

In doing so, wealth becomes not just a goal, but a reflection of the meaningful life you’ve built. This episode will inspire you to redefine success on your own terms and develop the mindset to create both financial and personal fulfilment.
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​Listen in to learn and develop your thinking...​

Until next week - smash your success,

Dan

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1-1 Coaching with Dan

In my goal to help more entrepreneurs/people who are looking to level up their careers, I've just started taking 1-1 consulting calls (only 1 a week)

Why book a call? Some of my expertise/success:

I've built 5 startups. 1 win, 1 fail, and 3 still going.

E Commerce: Heights — with revenue over $15M a year.

Community: Foundrs, one of the UK's top founder communities

Podcasting: Leaders Media - bootstrapped media company that makes the UK's top business podcasts, Secret Leaders, with over 50M downloads.

Health/Mental Health: Managed to overcome burnout, insomnia, depression & anxiety in pursuit of success as I talk about in my interview with Steven Bartlett on Diary of a CEO​

Angel Investing: I've invested in over 86 startups

Coached & Mentored: Certified coach & done lots of mentoring

Personal Brand: Have grown to 170k on LinkedIn and X (Twitter) in the past 12 months

So if you're interested in booking a session with me to talk all things business or building a personal brand, book for 30-minutes or 45-minutes. (limited spots).

Science of Success Vault

I'm building a vault of valuable tools, resources, and one sheets that I hope help you succeed.

These will be stored in the ever-growing 'Science of Success' vault — you can always access that here

Want to take your success (even more) seriously? 👇​
🧠 Fuel your brain and feed your gut, try Heights here (use code 'SOSDMS' for 15% off your first month of any subscription

🎧 Check out my podcast Secret Leaders here​

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