Find Your Authentic Edge

Many professionals feel the weight of managing external expectations, especially when entering new industries or adjusting to unfamiliar environments. There’s often an unspoken pressure to change your behavior, tone, or thinking to align with workplace culture and norms.

But the more you bend to these pressures, the more you disconnect from the version of yourself that initially entered the situation. Subtle shifts might seem like necessary growth at first, but over time they compound. Eventually, you may find that you're drifting away from your core identity, creating more challenges than solutions.

Making It Personal: My Journey

After 15 years in private investment, I’ve learned to confront this challenge head-on. Coming from a pro athlete background, I encountered every assumption and stereotype imaginable—questions about why an NFL athlete would pursue venture capital instead of broadcasting or coaching. The perceptions always entered the room before I did.

Early on, I felt the pull to conform. It seemed like the best way to show I wasn’t just there as a spectator or a mascot—I was there to learn, work, and compete on the same level as everyone else. My vocabulary shifted to industry buzzwords, and eventually, I looked and sounded the part.

I was confident in what I said, even if those words weren’t ones I would typically use without outside influence. But the gap between my professional identity and my true self was widening. It made me examine the situation more closely…

Am I growing and building new capacity to be a better version of me, or am I diluting who I truly am?

The urge to conform isn't just psychological; it's embedded in workplace dynamics. While acting on signals to "fit in" can help you build the capacity to position you for the next step, or they can dull the very edges that make you distinct and valuable.

The real challenge is discerning between genuine professional evolution versus the slow erosion of your authentic self. Only you can decide which trade-offs are worth it.

• Some trade-offs add new capacity that enhances your authentic self. They pave the way to a more capable version of who you already are.

• Some trade-offs create dissonance that creeps in when you lose yourself to meet external expectations. It shows up in ways you might not expect: loss of creativity, diminished drive, and even burnout.

When you repeatedly show up as a version of yourself that isn't authentic, you may look the part, and the world may be convinced, but in those quiet moments alone, you might not recognize the person staring back at you.

Why Authenticity Wins

In The Third Decision: The Intentional Entrepreneur, Randy Nelson states, “You don’t need to be someone else to be successful. You need to be yourself, but with intentionality.” True success comes from leaning into your authentic self as the anchor of your journey.

Technical skills become commodities over time. A more sustainable differentiator is how you apply that knowledge through your unique worldview, values, and experiences. This is where authenticity shifts from a potential liability to an undeniable asset. When you leverage your unique perspective, you unlock a "blue ocean" of possibilities—ideas and strategies others simply cannot replicate.

When you stop striving to conform and start leveraging your unique point of view, you unlock a "blue ocean" of possibilities—ideas and strategies that are uniquely your own.

Why It Matters

In a world where conformity and copycats often prevail, authenticity becomes a form of blue ocean creativity—an edge that others can’t easily replicate.

By embracing your authentic self in the workplace, you foster the confidence to take bolder risks, present unconventional ideas, and tap into innovative strategies. As industries evolve, some of the most valuable assets will be the unique perspectives people bring to the table. Authenticity fuels creativity, setting you apart in a world where conformity often prevails.

When you show up as your true self, it changes the entire dynamic:

• Confidence Grows: Authenticity builds a deep sense of confidence and pride that becomes resilience in the face of challenges

• Creativity Flourishes: You unlock innovative solutions and fresh ideas because you’re not limited to what’s “acceptable” or “safe.”

• Strategic Differentiation: Your unique blend of experiences, perspectives, and technical skills gives you a unique POV no one can replicate.

4 Easy Ways to Start Showing Up, Authentically

Start Small:
Test the waters in low-risk situations. Informal team meetings, one-on-one conversations with colleagues, or lunch discussions are the perfect opportunities to express your genuine thoughts, perspectives, and ideas to gauge how others respond.

Be the Case Study:
Instead of defaulting to industry jargon, offer personal stories and insights rooted in your personal experiences — it will foster more genuine exchanges

Expand Gradually:
As you grow more comfortable sharing your authentic self in smaller settings, look for larger opportunities to inject your personal style and viewpoint into your work

The End Goal:
Integrate your true self into your professional life in order to drive deeper satisfaction and a career that feels both successful and meaningful.

Your authenticity is your durable sustainable competitive edge. Don’t give it away by folding under the pressure to conform. By embracing who you truly are—your experiences, your voice, your story—you unlock a competitive advantage that no one else can replicate.

In doing so, you’ll not only thrive professionally but also create a life that feels aligned, purposeful, and uniquely your own.

Ready to take the next step?

If you're searching for a change but unsure where to begin, check out these two powerful tools from Separation Playbook:

📚 Get the Self Scouting 101 ebook→ 
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