🤩 TREE 483: Authenticity and professionalism

If I had to choose between professionalism and authenticity, I’d go with professionalism.

Some mornings, I authentically don’t want to get out of bed. Some days, I authentically don’t want to do my job. Sometimes, I authentically don’t feel creative. There are situations where I would authentically like to be a jerk. Some of the things I authentically think of saying should definitely not be said.

Professional Jeff knows better. Professional Jeff gets out of bed, does the work, gets in the right place to receive inspiration, tries to be kind and keep my mouth under control.

Professional Jeff is more productive, kinder and happier than authentic Jeff.

This dichotomy of myself can be a useful way to think but it’s important to recognise that this is surface-level thinking. At a deeper level, Professional Jeff is who authentic Jeff wants to be. Professional Jeff isn’t something different or put on. Professional Jeff is the better expression of Jeff. Beneath the divide at the surface is unity. There’s just one me.

That’s why I started with “If I had to choose…”

The best version of you is not put on. It truly is you.

“Not for me, thanks. It’s all garnish and no meat.”

I think one of the reasons I like pop so much is that it is unashamedly professional. Pop artists don’t hide the fact that they work really hard and that they cultivate personae. They know it’s an act. We know it’s an act. It’s supposed to be an act and so it has a level of authenticity that some music posing as authentic doesn’t have. And now Pet Shop Boys (Spotify).

Grow slowly
Jeff