"The truth is undefeated" - Gary Vaynerchuk
To anyone who carries the truth as a burden on their back, something to hide from or shield from others, you're using it wrong.
It's actually the wings that free you.
For your personal growth, and for your business, it's time to stop hiding. Your fear of owning your truth is hindering your success, your growth, and your happiness.
Before I dive into this know that I'm no saint. I make mistakes. One of my biggest struggles in transparency is looking in the mirror to find my truth in where I've gone wrong, but once I find it I quickly come to terms with accepting and owning it. I never forget that any truth of mine is a human truth, and we are all equal in that we all have them.
I speak with transparency about the things I know about myself. The good, bad, and ugly.
I can recognize it's not that simple to those around me, and probably isn't simple to you if you're reading this, so read a little further and I'll make it more objective for you.
People always tell you to be honest because it's "the right thing to do", when in fact one can argue that in certain situations honesty isn't the noble thing.
For instance: a husband on his death bed admits to his wife of 50 years that he had an affair. Was it the right thing to do?
The reason for being honest isn't just that it's "the right thing to do" (which I would actually still argue the ownership itself being the noble thing and take up timing as a completely different issue--personally).
The more compelling reason to be honest is that honesty comes with more personal and interpersonal benefits than any alternative lack of transparency.
So while you're busy being burdened with the fear of people knowing you better, I'm over here setting my truth firmly on the table. Freeing the people who aren't a good fit for me and my business and character, attracting those who are, and walking through life free as a fucking bird.
The personal and business benefits of transparency are astounding.
You Greatly Reduce Your Run-ins With Conflict & Guilt.
"Miscommunication is one of the biggest causes of conflict in interpersonal relationships, and transparency helps to reduce the occurrences of miscommunication." - Rolli Adenmosun
When people say they trust you, they aren't trusting you to be perfect.
When they trust you they're trusting you to be who you've presented yourself to be.
Once you present yourself or your business as a certain type of entity people expect you to deliver on that standard. The moment someone takes a risk on you, be it with their money, their secrets, letting you into their home or heart, it means they're expecting you to deliver on the standard you set. No one else set it for you, so it’s your own fault if you set one you can’t meet.
Conversely, loss of trust you once had isn’t the result of a character flaw or human error of some sort. People accept each other through those circumstances daily.
Losing someone's trust means you stepped outside of the standard you lead them to believe in, which in turn made them question everything else you presented yourself to be.
So if you remain authentic in your strengths, weaknesses, business, and character, you almost never have to disappoint anyone around you, or suffer the conflict and guilt resulting from that disappointment.
You Get More Accountability -- The Greatest Ingredient Of Growth
"As an introvert and a private person by nature transparency was not something that came natural to me, but I quickly learned that a sense of transparency and vulnerability were key to making true connections." - Chanel Cumberbatch
You want personal growth?
Face yourself.
Furthermore, allow those who you've promised a standard to judge you based on your consistency in upholding the standard.
People say "the first step is admitting you have the problem" because there's no way to grow without accountability for your flaws. This requires transparency. And sometimes it requires others to call us out, because we’re often too busy looking out into the world to notice the mess we’re creating.
You Stop Questioning Your Circle's and Following's Acceptance Of You
"...This attracts the right people, deters the wrong ones, and you never have to overthink who you are trying to represent." - Arne Giske
When people know your truth their decision is simple: at what level can they show up for you.
Some will decide to stay distant. They'll follow you on IG without buying your product. Others will disappear, but the best people for you at that time of your journey will decide to be your best friends and best clients.
When you reach a point of consistent transparency and allow everyone around you to see you as you are you get to firmly believe this one thing: no one in your life is out of place or holding you back.
Not a friend, and not a customer.
People Give Their Money to Those They Trust
"We live in a world where marketers are full of crap 99.9% of the time. So when you go out there and you're completely transparent you automatically set yourself a step ahead of everyone else." - Dan Henry
I don't care if it's asking a friend to borrow money or asking a client to take a chance in paying you for a service. If they don't know who you are, you aren't getting the money. You start hearing "I don't have it, I'm sorry." and excuses of the sort.
What they really mean is "I don't know if I'm going to get the results I’m looking for out of this transaction." i.e. “I don’t know if I can trust you.”
And that's because they've picked up on an inconsistency with what you're presenting that makes them question who you really are and what your business is really capable of.
So when it comes to business, you need to make sure your target audience trusts you before you ask for the sale.
You don't have to take my word for the benefits of honesty and transparency. See the full quotes roundup of successful entrepreneurs who have built some of the most loyal followings by owning their truths in business and life.
Arne Giske - Founder of The Millennial Entrepreneur Podcast & Digital Marketer
"When you are authentic in your marketing you never have to fake your image. People see the real you, not a manufactured brand. This attracts the right people, deters the wrong ones, and you never have to overthink who you are trying to represent. I've found that it's a lot more fun to be myself and not hold back. My story is unique, my style is my own, and no one can copy that. There's only one Arne Giske!"
Arne has a kickass podcast and might even take you on as a sales funnel client if you fit the bill. Get to know him!
Chanel Cumberbatch - CEO at Chanel Cumberbatch, Business Strategist
"Transparency has had a HUGE impact on both my business relationships and my personal growth. As an introvert and a private person by nature, transparency was not something that came natural to me, but I quickly learned that a sense of transparency and vulnerability were key to making true connections. Especially online. Now I'm able to share bits of my story with others, inspire and truly become "relatable" as well!"
Chanel is the aspiring entrepreneur's hero, killing 9-5's one client at a time. Check her out here.
Rolli Adenmosun - Founder of Resilience Fitness/Poet/Model
"Transparency serves a large benefit in both business and personal life alike. From a business perspective, clients know what they are getting into from the visuals we put up on social media. So when they come to class they have adequate information on what to expect thus there is a sense of trust. We did not chose to hire models to represent an image because we are the image and every client is a part of this image. In regards to personality, self growth and clarity are the biggest advantages to transparency in one's character. Miscommunication is one of the biggest causes of conflict in interpersonal relationships, and transparency helps to reduce the occurrences of miscommunication."
Rolli is one of my all time favorite humans. He started his Fitness Coaching business, but also takes part in the arts including spoken word poetry and modeling (though he might not openly admit to the latter). Follow his IG here to keep up with everything he's doing.
Dan Henry - 'Superhero' Facebook Ads Expert
" I would say, transparency has helped my business tremendously. We live in a world where marketers are full of crap 99.9% of the time. So when you go out there and you're completely transparent you automatically set yourself a step ahead of everyone else."
Dan is a major Batman fan and the go to guy for Facebook Ads. He has two goals: get results and stay real while doing it. Click Here to check out his cheat sheet called "7 Proven Steps to Creating, Running, and Profiting from Facebook Ads!"
Eryn Amel - Writer/Photographer
"Transparency helps allows me to piece my success together one sale at a time in business. Finding a network that honors your transparency helps them support your vision. Not specifically when it comes together, but allowing my trials to take shape organically seemed to have birthed life into my projects and this transmits to my customers. I think the transparency helps others feel comfortable in who they are supporting all the while showing others how much work goes into operating a business meant to keep your lights on."
Eryn is an artist of several forms, and the transparency she speaks of has afforded her one of the most loyal followings I've seen. Follow her on Instagram for a daily dose of mind, body, spirit, and beauty.
JR Rivas - Facebook Ads and Sales Funnels Expert
“Transparency is really essential to your success if you’re marketing, especially online because there’s often a lack of transparency. So if people see you being honest, even when it’s not convenient, they’re more likely to trust you, become a part of your email list and eventually buy something if they feel like you’re a genuine person.”
JR is a top performing Facebook Ad and Sales Funnel Expert. He’s selective in his client onboarding, but if yo have something you want to sell you should check him out.