The Path to Authenticity: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Leadership

Hello beautiful people!

In a world that often rewards conformity, how can we find the courage to be our authentic selves and lead with purpose?

That is the subject of our next newsletter series: The Path to Authenticity.

This week I will share an overview of the 6 steps. Then we will dig into each stage!

Before we get started, I would love to hear from you… what does authentic leadership mean to you?

✅ The Path to Authenticity: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Leadership

It took me decades to fully accept, embrace, and eventually love my full, authentic self. When I did, I felt like I could finally be the best version of me, both at home and at work.

I stumbled and crawled my way to authenticity, but I am hoping to make the journey a little easier for others. That is why I’ve created The Path to Authenticity: a 6-Step Guide to Self-Discovery and Authentic Leadership.

I will outline the journey in today’s newsletter. If it interests you, reply to let me know and I will expand on it in the coming weeks!

Without further ado…

STEP 1: Build a fearless self inventory

Authentic leadership starts with understanding YOU.

• Take time to explore your strengths, weaknesses, and defining moments

• Ask yourself tough questions about your passions, fears, and aspirations

• Document your truths without judgment or fear

STEP 2: Conduct an audit of professional learning and insights

What learning and experiences have shaped who you are today?

• Gather performance reviews, feedback, and other documentation

• Reflect on your personal growth and lessons learned from past experiences

• Identify your favorite and least favorite aspects of your work

STEP 3: Seek Feedback and Reflect on the Insights

Trust your circle to help.

• Engage your chosen family, peers, and "truth tellers"

• Listen with an open mind and humility to gain valuable insights

• Use feedback to test your assumptions and guide your growth

STEP 4: Define your Personal and Leadership Vision

As my executive coach used to say, “Bring your future into the present.”

• Imagine the future you want to create and work backwards

• Align your actions today with your long-term goals and desired legacy

• Consider your role models and the impact you want to have on others

STEP 5: Stay Constantly Curious and Learning-Focused

Expand your mind and your world.

• Read diverse books, articles, and podcasts to expand your perspective

• Attend workshops and conferences to develop new skills and networks

• Embrace failure as an opportunity to learn and grow

STEP 6: Give Back to your Community.

Make the path to authenticity a little easier for the next person.

• Mentor someone on their own Journey

• Volunteer your time and talents to causes that resonate with you

• Help others navigate their own authentic leadership journeys

• Leave your corner of the world better than you found it

Where are you on your Path to Authenticity? What step are you most excited to learn more about?? Let me know in the replies today… I’d love to hear from you!

🌟 Authentic Leader Spotlight: Rob Smith, Founder of The Phluid Project

I am a FUTURIST who thrives working at the intersections of Free Enterprise and Humanity: Several years ago, I began a journey to live a more honest, authentic...altruistic life, merging my professional career with my greatest passion, advancing humanity. I was inspired by my heritage as a third-generation Native American from the Ojibwa tribe to create The Phluid project, as a way to honor the Two Spirit indigenous leaders of the past and present.  I created a place where I could leverage 30 years of fashion, leading multi-billion dollar brands from Macy’s, Levi’s, Nike, and Victoria’s Secret, coupling decades of work fighting for human rights and social equality.

By creating The Phluid Project, I’ve immersed myself in an adventure of creating and exploring unchartered territories.  I’ve chosen to unlearn in order to relearn.  I went off into this wilderness with curiosity, parked both judgment and ego, and rooted myself in honest connection, social justice, and a deep interest in the desires of our youth. This commitment has created The Phluid Project, a gender-free fashion brand grounded in activism and community. Through The Phluid Project, I've had the great fortune of getting to know humans of every generation, gender, race, religion, and socioeconomic status, better understanding the reality of the limiting labels society prescribes to us. Creating the space between the binaries allows each of us the curiosity and freedom to truly be our authentic selves.


We are a brand with brand extension through licensing, wholesale, pop-up shops, partnerships, and collaborations. We are also an Education and Training vehicle, “The Phluid Certification”, helping to facilitate learning about the new generation and the non-binary mindset through Gender Expansive Training.  

As we continue on our journey, sharing the knowledge we’ve learned over the past two years and helping major companies prepare for this new generation, not only as consumers but as the newest generation to enter the workforce…I look around and recognize that there is nothing I would rather do with my life.  It is my greatest honor to be a part of this moment in history. I recognize my privilege to be a part of this cultural zeitgeist as we all learn to free ourselves of the past and move toward the future...free to be.

Connect with Rob:

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

• Website

• The Phluid Project

🌈 What I'm LOVING ❤️❤️❤️

My trip to Copenhagen to visit my niece was absolutely delightful and a full circle moment for me.

38 years ago, I spent my 21st birthday in Denmark while traveling abroad for the first time. The trip opened my eyes and my heart to a whole new world… literally!

To spend my 59th birthday back in Denmark, with my niece, just reminds me of the unexpected and wonderful life can be.

Skål!

✊ What's Worth Fighting For

• Inclusive School Curriculum. The Advocate reported on 7 states that teach LGBTQ+ subjects in schools: California, New Jersey, Nevada, Illinois, Washington, Connecticut, and Colorado.

  • We must continue fighting for the LGBTQ+ students in every other state.

• Books Bans. In another report, The Advocate listed the most challenged library books in America… and most are LGBTQ+. Books include All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, and Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. See the full list.

• LGBTQ International. Putin’s Russia: first arrests under new anti-LGBT laws mark new era of repression.

  • ‘Just over three decades after Russia decriminalised homosexuality in 1993, three people have been arrested and charged under the country’s harsh new anti-LGBT laws and could face ten years in prison for membership of an “extremist organisation”.’

  • This is why we must fight TODAY to keep the rights we have worked so hard to earn. We must never take them for granted.

🏳️‍🌈 Read All Pride, No Ego. A USA Today Best Seller!

• ​Barnes and Noble​

• ​Amazon​

• ​ShopQueer.co​

• ​Bookshop.org​

Love the book?? It would mean so much if you would leave a review.

Last thing...

Keep Smiling!!

Until next time...

Jim