In my WordCamp US talk, the first strategy I suggested to embrace your WordPress mediocrity is to be authentic.
But finding your authenticity is easier said than done. It can be hard to find your true voice, and even harder to express it proudly.
For a long time, I struggled to find my voice in my business. I felt so new and inexperienced, that every job I landed was a struggle with my own lack of knowledge. Everything took a long time to complete, as I had to do a lot of research and backtracking for each step of the process.
Once I eventually found my voice, and figured out how to express it in my business, everything fell into place. It was easier to write about myself, I got better processes in place, and everything just felt more natural.
The thing is, there will always be someone more knowledgeable than you are. That’s just the way the world works. But rather than being crippled by this knowledge, you can see it as an opportunity to see what offerings you have that augment your technical knowledge.
Leonard Cohen sang: “There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”
I think this can relate to authenticity in business, as your personality can and should supplement your knowledge. Most people won’t mind if you have some cracks in your technical expertise, as long as they can relate to you as a real person.
Once I released my inner WP SuperGeek, my business personality felt more complete. I don’t feel like I’m holding anything back anymore, and the nerdy side of my personality can shine through.
People will want to work with you for you, not just for what you know. So spend the time to figure out what your point of view is, and don’t be afraid to express it.
Don’t forget: if you bring your personality to the table, it’s great to be good enough.
I can’t wait to meet the real you!
Leave a Reply