The Authenticity Effect: How Being You Sparks Collaboration & Success

Inspiration typically comes from well-placed catalysts in our lives. Maybe it was that one conference you attended, where a speaker spoke to a part of you that you never even knew existed. Maybe it was the day you found yourself alone in nature, taking a break from your busy life, with no one else in sight, and clarity and inspiration emerged from the calm. Maybe it was someone who made you feel seen and heard, someone who leaned into your passion, celebrated your ideas, and believed in you.

In order to truly understand what inspires us, we need to know who we are first. Embedded in our individuality are our gifts, no two of us are the same. The very fact that we are here on this earth is extraordinary in itself! It’s actually so extraordinary that the odds of being born are similar to the probability of 2.5 million people rolling trillion-sided dice and all landing on the same number. You were special from the start, and who you are, down to the smallest freckle, is no mistake. So, who are you?

Many of us lose this sense of self along the way. We get caught in comparisons, societal expectations, and the opinions of others. When you’re constantly told who you should be or who you’re meant to be, it’s easy to forget who you actually are or who you want to become. It’s high time to take that power back. Remember, you were extraordinary from the start, just as you are!

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Those things that energize you, make you feel unstoppable, and set your soul on fire contain hints of who you are and what your gifts are. If you take a moment to sit back and close your eyes, you can probably think of a recent time that you felt this; the stars just felt aligned, you knew that you loved what you were doing in the moment, you knew that this was your best you coming to the table.

The problem, though, is that most of us don’t live in that space enough. We become overly concerned with what others may think of us, down to the way we laugh, speak, sit, or stand. It feels wild to write this, but I know I’ve had these thoughts in past interactions: “Do they perceive me as a leader? I need them to know how experienced I am. I must be cognizant of the inflections in my voice so they don’t doubt my knowledge of this topic.”

Why do we do this? Where did all this overthinking come from? It’s learned behavior and it’s exhausting. We’ve had experiences with so many people throughout our lives and careers—many in positions of power—who encapsulated this same thought process. Over time, we’ve internalized these external definitions of success. But it’s time to free ourselves from comparison and carve our own path.

As event professionals, we know we are gifted in serving others and making incredible, unforgettable moments a reality. But when we are unapologetically ourselves, magic happens. Our creativity is heightened, our passion fuels collaboration with the brilliant minds around us, and we become unstoppable.

Finding a community where you are encouraged to be yourself, without judgment, is essential. The dream teams are made up of people willing to throw spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, who listen to real, unfiltered ideas, and who want to collaborate with others from different life experiences and perspectives. They won’t care about the inflections in your voice or whether you sit up straight enough. They care about the passion and innovation you bring to the table. That comes from leaning into your authenticity, experiences, and ideas; which are your own and will be different than any other person on this earth.

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We need to come together and celebrate the uniqueness of those around us. We must highlight each other’s gifts, challenge one another to lean further into them, and work together—not only to create the most show-stopping events for others but also to build the most meaningful and fulfilling lives for ourselves.