How Authenticity and Vulnerability Pay Off and Help You Win Personally and Professionally

Originally posted on Authority Magazine as a part of their series about "How Authenticity and Vulnerability Pay Off and Help You Win Personally and Professionally" Being vulnerable and authentic are some of today’s popular buzzwords. It may seem counterintuitive to be vulnerable, as many of us have been taught to project an air of confidence, be a boss, and act like we know everything. In Brene Brown’s words, “vulnerability takes courage.” So is vulnerability a strength or a weakness? Can someone be authentic without being vulnerable? How can being authentic and vulnerable help someone grow both personally and professionally?

Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?

Thanks for the opportunity! I’m the youngest of 7 kids, so my childhood was pretty action-packed. I always had my siblings around, showing me the ropes (including good music — any Guster fans out there?) I spent a lot of time outside, with much of my free time alongside my childhood dog, or making up fun games with our neighbors. I’m on the cusp of Gen Z and Millennial, meaning I didn’t have a cell phone as a kid, but became a teenager right after Facebook popped off. I’ll just say my “memories” on the platform from 15 years ago are humbling, remember “Truth is?” *face palm*

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“If you can’t beat the fear, do it scared.” This quote from Glennon Doyle is one that I’ve been able to apply across many sectors of my life. Most know I’m a fairly anxious person. From flying, to public speaking, to the wind hitting my window in a storm … I find fear in a lot of experiences. I realized a long time ago that I couldn’t let fear control my life. If I chose to let fear win, I wouldn’t step out of my comfort zone. We’ve all heard that “growth occurs outside of our comfort zone” — and I completely agree. Many of my favorite memories are situations I just had to acknowledge my fears, accept they exist, and do the damn thing anyway.

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