Welcome to the Year of Authenticity ????? All Pride, No Ego Newsletter #26

Happy New Year, beautiful people!

I hope you had a fantastic holiday with friends, family, and loved ones. My break was wonderful, and I am feeling recharged for a BIG year ahead!

I want to kick off the new year by sharing my mission and my dearest wish for all of you:

? One Big Thing: The Year of Authenticity

2024 will be the year of authenticity.

This is not just a personal goal of mine (although it is one of them). I believe authenticity will be a defining trait of the next 12 months and beyond for individuals, businesses, nations, and movements.

Authentic is often connected to identity, whether national or personal: words frequently modified by authentic include cuisine and dish, but also self and voice...

With the rise of artificial intelligence—and its impact on deepfake videos, actors’ contracts, academic honesty, and a vast number of other topics—the line between “real” and “fake” has become increasingly blurred...

Authentic is what brands, social media influencers, and celebrities aspire to be... Ironically, with “authentic content creators” now recognized as the gold standard for building trust, “authenticity” has become a performance.

AI, performative authenticity, hateful politics and rhetoric... all of these factors are making it harder to be your true, authentic self.

But authenticity also more important than ever.

Living authentically is life-giving. Empowering and enabling OTHERS to live authentically is one of our highest callings.

I am dedicating 2024 to spreading the message of authentic living and leadership.

Because everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their own skin... at work, at home, at school, and in public.

Here are a few ways you can start living and leading more authentically this year:

1. Find your Ikigai. When you start doing work that you love, that you're good at, that the world needs, and that pays you, that is your Ikigai.

Ikigai is a Japanese philosophy for finding purpose in your work. Since we spend over one-third of our lives working, we should try to do the most meaningful work we can.

2. Explore what makes you feel ALIVE. What is an activity, environment, or social group that makes you feel truly alive and in love with life? This could be a hobby, creative calling, travel, or time with friends, partners, and loved ones.

This is especially important if you are feeling stifled at work and you don't have the option to switch jobs. If that is you, make sure to crank the authenticity up to TEN when you are outside of work.

Explore, try new things, and have fun just being YOU.

3. Make space for other people's stories. I firmly believe the world would be a better place if more people felt comfortable just being themselves.

While you can't change the whole world at once, you CAN start making your corner of the world a little better by accepting and welcoming people's authentic stories.

If you are a leader or manager, encourage your team to bring their full selves to work. Start by sharing YOUR authentic story. Then reiterate that folks will not be punished for being their true selves.

Outside of work, we can all help our loved ones feel more comfortable in their own skin. Get curious about their lives, ask thoughtful questions, and participate in their favorite activities. Tell them, "I am here for you, I support you, I accept you, I love you."

Trust me, a simple statement like that can do wonders for someone struggling with their authenticity.

In summary, 2024 is set up to be a difficult year in many ways.

We are entering a contentious election year, and conservative state governments continue their fight against diversity, equity and inclusion. Not only that, we have war, climate change, and rapidly evolving technology.

I don't mention these things to scare or overwhelm you. In fact, I think now is the PERFECT opportunity to practice authenticity in every aspect of our lives. If you can learn to live more authentically in times like these, you can do anything. If not now... when?

So cheers to 2024. And cheers to becoming the best version of your true, authentic self.

?? Leader Spotlight: Call for Submissions!

"May we leave our corner of the world better than we found it."

As we enter the new year, I am looking for examples of queer leaders and allies who are making their corner of the world better than they found it.

Past Leader Spotlights featured:

• Katelyn King (She/Her), LGBTQ+ advocate
• Tori Cooper, Human Rights Campaign’s Director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative
• Russell Ledet, MD, PhD, MBA
• Spencer Jenkins, Editor-in-Chief of Queer Kentucky
• Jessica Wooten, Director of LGBTQ+ Philanthropy at the Indiana University Foundation
• and so many more!

Know a leader in your network that is making the world a better place?

Reply to share their LinkedIn and a short sentence of why they should be featured.

?? What I'm Loving

? What's Worth Fighting For

• ?? Florida students. As school administrators and teachers struggle to affirm their LGBTQ+ students in Florida, some locales are working with Equality Florida to implement strategies that allow for the use of preferred pronouns and names with parental permission. Read more from The Advocate.
• ????? Ohio Trans Health Care. Last week, Republican Governor Mike DeWine vetoed a bill severely limiting healthcare for transgender youth. We applauded... until he signed an even more restrictive Executive Order just days later. The Ohio House is expected to override DeWine's veto today anyway. This is a start reminder of how quickly basic human rights can be taken away.
• ????? Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. DEI initiatives under attack will be a major theme of 2024. Now, billionaire businessmen are joining the onslaught, as Bill Ackman and Elon Musk call DEI 'racist.' But what these white (and frankly, privileged) men forget, is that DEI was developedevelop to combat REAL racism and prejudice against minorities. We must continue to fight for more diverse, equity, inclusive, and welcoming workplaces. Read more about what's at stake.

????? Read All Pride, No Ego, a National Best Seller!

Love the book?? It would mean so much if you would leave a review.

In what ways do YOU want to me more authentic in 2024? Reply to let me know!

Until next time...

Jim