Authenticity and the Importance of Being Authentic as a Leader and as a Brand

Julie and I have taken to having adventures with a Roof Top Tent (RTT). For those unfamiliar with an RTT you can see from the headline picture, it’s a tent you fix to the roof of your car that opens up so you can live and sleep in it. They’re brilliant—quick to set up, warm, and perfect for the outdoors. I’d seen them all over social media—sunsets, fairy lights, and people waking up to beautiful sunrises, looking a million dollars. So, naturally, when we were packing for our first trip, I found myself throwing in some fairy lights. Why? Julie gave me a 'look' when I said, "We need them for our Instagram pictures!" I’m cringing as I write this, but yes, I packed them and spent a ridiculous amount of time putting them up in less-than-ideal conditions. But they were up, and we were Instagram-ready.

We headed to bed on the roof of the car. Unlike the picture-perfect Instagram scenes, we awoke in the middle of the night to a massive storm raging around us, both of us needing the toilet, it's our age. And remember, we were on the roof of the car—not exactly ideal. We scrambled down the ladder, got soaked, covered in mud and grass, and exchanged that classic "this was your idea" look, to be fair to Julie this and all stupid ideas are mine. Sleep didn’t come easily after that. I had to brave the storm at one point to deal with a collapsed awning, ankle-deep in water, freezing cold.

Morning came with a stunning sunrise—nope, the storm was still raging, and the sky looked very angry. Was Julie’s hair perfect, makeup flawless, and a beautiful breakfast cooked over an open fire, just like Instagram? Hardly. We both looked like we hadn’t slept at all—because we hadn’t—and had been rolling around in the mud for a while. I took a picture, but Julie’s threatened me if I ever share it. And, to be fair, I’ve seen us look better!

This experience really highlighted for me the huge difference between the reality we live and the polished, curated world we see on social media. It got me thinking about the importance of authenticity, especially in today’s digital age.

As a leader, authenticity means embracing the imperfect, the real, and the unfiltered moments. People are drawn to leaders who show their true selves, flaws and all. When we’re authentic, we connect on a human level, which is far more powerful than any perfect image we could present. It’s the same for brands. Consumers today are bombarded with perfection, and they’re tired of it. Yes they want to be sold an aspirational dream but they also want real stories, real experiences, and real connections. In this world of filters and fa?ades, being authentic is not only refreshing but essential.

Remember, as my mentor and professional coach Chin Teik Cheah says, it was found that the average person has about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. Of those thousands of thoughts, 80% are negative, and 95% are exactly the same repetitive thoughts as the day before! This, combined with the polished, curated world of social media, can make you feel inadequate, less than perfect, and as though you could always be doing better. I hope this helps, but take it from me—you’re doing great and probably better than most. Those dark times are there so the bright, beautiful moments really shine. Above all, remember to be authentic, because nobody likes anything fake, whether that’s a leader or a product.

Please do reach out if you need a chat I'm always happy to help and provide a perspective, you can learn from my mistakes!

Love and peace to all x

Bob

P.S. For sale—one little-used, storm-damaged Roof Top Tent and fairy lights.