There’s freedom in honesty
I wanted to start this blog with some eloquent title, using long and sweeping language to describe something like the start to a great novel. But the fact of the matter is that I am not a novelist, nor is that card likely to be drawn from the deck of life any time soon. And so I am left getting right to the point which is: When we are honest, especially about who we actually are, we can be free.
There can be a tremendous difference between the way things look and the way things are. It’s the classic “judging a book by its cover.” There are many examples within eyeshot these days, like web-ordered furniture that’s designed to look like ultra high-end mid-century design. Wood-looking plastic veneer is nothing like solid walnut, though looks can be deceiving at first. So what do you want? Something that looks good for a few years and then gets thrown out, or do you want something that is real and lasting? Both are viable options for different reasons.
This is a major point of misunderstanding. It’s as if, socially, because the cheeseburger only takes 5 minutes to get handed to me through my car window, then everything should come as quickly. We have a lopsided view. But then we take it a step further and begin to ascribe this fast food attitude to things that cannot be created in 5 minutes! And that’s where our assumptions and expectations get way out of whack with what is both possible and also desirable.
I’ve spoken to dozens of entrepreneurs, some are trying to build and sell a business quickly, others are trying to create something that has a decades-long legacy. These are two extremely differnt mindsets, but somehow, they both seem to think that the fast-food prescription is going to meet both of their needs. It will not.
Reversion. Return.
Life seems to have a gravitational pull back to some kind of average, a stable point where we are most inclined to find ourselves. When we lose weight, the body tries even harder to put it back on. (The Europeans have developed an excellent static benchmark through excessive daily walking and their tobacco habits). We always find ourselves tilting back to a familiar set of dreams and ideas. Our focus always lands on those parts of our work that we thrive in, that bring the best out of us. We hem and haw around the other necessary tasks and opportunities. But some we jump right on. Why those ones?
This is why we’re building brands for businesses based on the Authentic story. It’s that plumbline, that center point that seems to provide the gravitational and grounding pull. At Pivotol we always wanted to build something more sustainable in an industry that really loves hopping around selling cheap and sexy makeovers. What if you could embrace those qualities that make you attractive, and let the confidence and assertiveness of your conviction be the thing that turns someone’s head?
Requiring Truth
Pinpointing that plumbline requires looking hard at the truth of the matter. When I look at myself in the mirror, I have to admit to the realities of my own body, its build, its capabilities. I could be a pretty sufficient mid-distance runner, but power-lifter or NBA guard won’t ever be my reality. It’s just not the authentic truth. For some of us, this comes easy, for others, it can be very hard to face the human realities of the businesses we’ve built. Just today, I looked at my business partner and said, “I am not good at building and maintaining cold-sales funnels, are you?” As much as I’ve imagined being good at it, or feeling that I ought to be good at it, the fact is that I’m not. And you know what? That is the beginning of freedom.
See, we can stew in a broth of our own shortcomings, just as much as we can roast over the fire of our overinflated self-image. In the exact moment, we admit that we are just not someone or something else, we become free to explore, to be curious. Our conversation turned into a series of questions: who do we know that is good at this? What are we good at that could help out our own situation and the situations of others? I am finding so much satisfaction and release in being able to proclaim with confidence, “This is not my skill, and in three decades, I have improved very little.” because in the very next breath I can stand tall and state with confidence that I am good at some things. Words, listening, interpreting complex ideas and sharing them simply with others. The world doesn’t need me to be great at everything, a few of the right things, the authentic things are more than sufficient.
Uncomfortably Free
When digging in with a client, we start asking questions that are born out of real curiosity. We define a “real” question as one that is not hampered by an ulterior motive. It is genuine. There is no presupposed or predetermined path for the answer. It also means that the conversation is free to wander into territory that’s going to touch upon the truth and potentially expose any false narratives that may be operating. But, who knows? We are exploring together. No one realizes how self-conscious we all are about many aspects of our vocation until someone comes poking around the depths. But if we want the freedom to be confident, it comes at the price of discomfort.
Real is Beautiful
I once saw an old hot rod car restoration project. It had been fully restored, except for the paint on the body. The car had been shaped, patched, and treated for rust, and the restorer had just clear-coated everything. You could see the sanding marks and places where the car had been repainted over the past 70 years. It was absolutely beautiful. An art piece. I’ve seen paintings in galleries that I liked, that were beautiful, but nothing stirs me like the masters of old. To stand in a room of Monet’s paintings is an existential experience, not quite the same as a gallery you might find in a tourist town. We all know, down to our toes, when we are being greeted by something profoundly real. It makes us excited, it elicits a response inside of us. Authenticity ignites and inspires authentic reaction. It’s why I put the same thing on the bottom of my Christmas list every year, “...or anything from Filson.” I just love being a part of something that is spending a lot of energy being transparent and honest about making and selling Unfailing Goods.
Most of our clients won’t be world-famous, but the rule “Authenticity begets authenticity.” applies at any scale. I love watching this work in small businesses. Multiple investment funds that pull together a small number of avid and believing investors. A construction company that, in a time where everyone is crying about there being no one to hire, gets inbound resumes every week from people saying things like, “I’m willing to do whatever it takes, or wait as long as it takes to get to work here.” A meat company that takes the time to show people how they like to both honor and prepare their protein and builds a national following as a result. A designer who becomes renowned not for having some specific personal style, but who really focuses on understanding her clients as people. These businesses don’t need thousands of followers to succeed, they just need a highly engaged and committed core. People who know the true story and believe in helping it to become successful.
We get to experience some powerful “the big reveal” moments with companies, and there’s usually copious amounts of excitement. We share visceral moments of visible change (a new logo, a new website, the first branded apparel), but we all know it’s not just another cheap and temporary thrill. There’s something resonant and real behind the new and beautiful exterior. A transformation that is substantive and lasting. It may take time to believe it, and for others to as well. But we know this isn’t something on the surface that fades in a couple of hours.
So cheers to becoming better people who are more honest with and about ourselves. I hope we all look around us and begin to patronize businesses that are doing this hard work. Although, when the work’s done right, it’s hard not to become an avid supporter.
