(Original post date: September 13, 2011) After reading Friday’s NY Times article, ‘Authentic? Get Real’ I feel the need to address an issue I call Authentic Rhetoric. Authentic Rhetoric, as I see it, is the effective use of terminology related to ‘authenticity’ and being ‘real’ or ‘authentic’ in order to gain trust and respect, often with a hidden and inauthentic agenda. Truly authentic people don’t feel the need to describe themselves as such because they are too busy effortlessly being themselves to waste time worrying whether or not anyone is judging them. Authenticity...


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I would not be an entrepreneur specializing in Authentic Leadership if it were not for my experience working for Ray Dalio at Bridgewater Associates. For approximately six months, I supported Ray Dalio (Founder), Bob Prince (Co-CIO), and Ray's brilliant, philanthropic son Matt Dalio (Founder of The China Care Foundation) as their Executuve & Personal Assistant. Despite its brevity, this previous position has proven time and time again to be a major contributing factor to the person I am and the work I do in the world. I learned more about self leadership in that six months than most people...


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One of our most challenging dilemmas as humans is to satisfy our constantly shifting (or simultaneous) need for commitment and independence. When in a committed relationship we often long to be free, and when we are free we long to be committed to a partner. While it's certainly possible to maintain your independence while in a committed partnership, there are also times and reasons why one or both partners are called to something (an experience, life lesson, etc.) that requires them to be alone. I came across the video above yesterday and was inspired to write this blog. The song is 'Come...


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And we think we have it bad in America?... Steve Keil's recent TED talk is music to my ears. Not since reading Stephen Nachmanovich's book Free Play, have I been so excited to keep inspiring the flow of creative genius through embracing individual authenticity. If you are not enjoying your work...and think it is impossible to do so...you are choosing fear over fun. Only YOU can shift your perspective. “Innocence is essential to our psychological health throughout the life span. From infancy onward, innocence provides the foundation for our natural (instinctive) openness to the world,...


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This TED Talk delivered by brilliant bricolage (creating from what is at hand) artist Janet Echelman is proof that anything is possible if you believe in limitless creativity. Turned down by seven art schools, she went on to become a Fulbright Scholar and a world renowned artist. Don't give up hope....get inspired and invent!


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Almost exactly 10 years to the day of her final episode that aired just last week, I submitted the paper below to the professor of my 'Ethos of Brand' class. We were asked to choose a prominent brand identity on which to write a research paper. Fascinated with the notion of personal brands, I swiftly chose Oprah Winfrey as my subject. To my surprise and utter contempt, my (at the time) 70+ year old professor issued me a grade of a D on the paper, stating that "people cannot be considered brands". I have always been a bit ahead of my time, but I was absolutely devastated by his refusal to accept...


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I am always on the lookout for new music, particularly anything from Denmark. Today I came across this duo called Darkness Falls and have watched their video (Hey!) above almost a dozen times already. It's addictive! First, the song by itself... The music is reminiscent of '007 theme meets Pulp Fiction'. The lyrics are a mix of sheepishness and confrontation. Her tone bounces back and forth between longing and strength. The slightly racy video is a whole different story, and doesn't seem to match up with the lyrics at all. Yet the music and the film noir cinematography complement...


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As luck would have it someone decided to create a YouTube video of Van Gogh paintings to go along with one of my favorite modern jazz songs.  Despite some some repetition in the images used and the fact that the name St. Germain (belonging the music artist) is misspelled, this is a nice combination of sound and sight.  Enjoy....


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I've been a fan of this song for over 20 years and only recently heard it with a whole new level of awareness.  I was amazed at how PERFECTLY it represents the human struggle of managing our psyche (ego) to listen to our soul (authentic intuition). Our psyche (ego) tricks us into being fearful and judgmental of others and ourselves.  It convinces us that we are in competition with others and that we are not enough. On the other hand, our soul (authentic intuition), if we listen, constantly tries to remind us that we are MORE than enough...boundless, limitless. It is in moments...


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Even if you've never read Don Quixote, this song with it's melody and delicate metaphors, has a way of inspiring a curiosity about life and how we choose to journey through it.


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