“Deliver on your ideas.  Nothing silences critics like success.  Raise the bar for yourself and project a greater vision for those around you.”  When Tony Paragas shared this statement with me, I felt challenged to seize the moment and share a sales performance training strategy for success that I have been undertaking now for over a decade.  Being authentic might not always be popular, but it has dramatically altered my personal and professional life for the better.  Hopefully what I have to share can impact your life as well.

Which is more important, being right or being real?  I see examples several times a day of individuals committed to being so right, that they lose sight of being real.  Losing sight of being real is a dangerous path.  Not being real becomes a downward spiral into a space that leaves you out of touch with reality.  How often do you see people so obsessed with “rightness;” having the “right” answer, doing the “right” thing, acting the “right” way, winning arguments to prove how “right” they are, etc. that they get side tracked from the real issue at hand.  It is not only impossible to be right all the time, it's exhausting, stressful and all around not fun for anyone involved.  Even an illusionist can have a hard time keeping up the illusion...just ask Houdini.

When you find yourself needing to be right, ask yourself what is really going on.  Check into your emotions.  Usually there is some level of being vulnerable that you are trying to avoid.  Being right seems like the easier path than being real.  You might discover when you self-investigate that being right is actually a roadblock on your pathway to success.  What do you gain by being right?  What are you losing by not being real?  How is being right leading you away from accomplishing what is really your goal?

Being authentic is where the magic is.  It gives you access to real power, freedom and connection in your life.  Those who interact with you will be able to tell the difference.  Individuals that you do business with, will find it less challenging to engage with you, giving you credibility and access to their trust and their interest in what you have to offer.  If we stay focused on being right all the time, we will win some and lose some, but ultimately will lack the ability to achieve beyond our expectations.  Being real verses being right is the difference between a professional and an amateur.

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