How can you bring more of yourself into your work?
I just came back from spending a week with 150 very successful entrepreneurs. We’re talking $5,000 per hour/$1m+ per year take home salary entrepreneurs. The event is an invite-only retreat called Mastermind Talks. There was more conversation than content.
We drank, played, and dreamed together. It was incredible.
I must admit: I arrived with a big ‘ol chip on my shoulder.
I assumed I knew enough about this event to know that most of the people in attendance would be male, white and in the tech space. I really didn’t know how such a group would respond to my slang-slinging, f-bomb using, brown-skinned, big-curly-afro having self. Boy, did I underestimate this ridiculously awesome group of people.
First off, I got more compliments on my hair at this conference then I’ve ever gotten in any other place ever. Clearly, this is a group of white males with excellent taste. 😉
But seriously, the attendees wound up being more diverse than I expected. The audience included entrepreneurs of all different industries and of a variety of professions. There was a decent-sized contingent of women entrepreneurs who blew my mind and whom I adore! We really, truly bonded and had a great time dancing, learning, plotting, sharing knowledge and getting a little drunk together. 😉
I found that every single person I connected with, whether they were a multimillionaire or even a semi-famous public figure, was being their honest, vulnerable self. They were willing to share their weaknesses and challenges as well as their successes.
No one had to pretend to be perfect or to have it all figured out and it was magical.
After about 24 hours with this crew, it became very clear, that these folks love and appreciate authenticity in others because they want to be free to be their authentic selves as well. But that’s not the only reason. I believe that this impressive group of entrepreneurs realizes that there is a huge ROI on being your authentic self.
One night, Gary Vaynerchuck stopped by to do a Q&A. I had the opportunity to talk to him about not giving a fuck. And by not giving a fuck, I really mean being willing to be your authentic self no matter who you’re with or where you are; not having a persona and just showing up as you, regardless of the potential consequences (because you really don’t give a fuck about the consequences). And his response was this:
“When you aren’t wasting time worrying about what other people think, you’re executing.” – Gary Vee
Not only are you executing, but you’re executing quickly. So if you want to understand the ROI of being your authentic self and not giving a fuck, it’s this:
- Winning at relationships (because authenticity attracts the right people and repels the wrong people).
- Winning at business (because authenticity attracts the right people and repels the wrong people).
- Winning at happiness (because authenticity attracts … you get the fucking point!)
You will always win being your authentic self. Win friends, win clients, win money, win amazing relationships. Win at life.
So my question for you is this: who would you be if you just expected to win while being your complete and whole self, in business and in life?
Stop worrying about what other people think. Stop trying to please. Instead do what lights you up and expect to win. For more on this, watch this week's all new Rachel Rodgers TV episode:
Speaking of lights, would you like to join me for a Handled retreat in the City of Light? The NYC Handled retreats sold out quick! We are fully booked for the summer, however, we do have two spots available for two awesome entrepreneurs to have a one-on-one retreat with me in, wait for it, — Paris! Yes, boo! Me, you, your business plans and the most inspiring city in the world! Get all the deets here and grab one of two spots quick before they are all sold out!
