Authenticity, Influence, and the Art of Connection
Finding the Balance Between Authenticity and Influence
Is the real question: What is the balance between authenticity and influence?
Or is it: How do you connect with your authenticity in a context where influence is required?
At first glance, these might seem like the same question. But I’m realizing they are fundamentally different in essential ways.
This post began, as many of mine do, because I write to understand. Writing forces me to clarify my thinking. And sharing my writing? That’s an invitation for you to reflect on your own.
Right now, I’m grappling with two questions:
Who is the audience for Insightful Path?
How do I reach them while staying fully myself?
I won’t pretend otherwise—part of my writing is about influence. I’ve experienced firsthand how certain skills and ideas can help people create meaningful change. I want to communicate those ideas in a way that engages you, that makes you pause and consider how they might apply to your own life and work.
But for that to happen, I need to:
Have confidence in the skills and ideas I’m sharing.
Understand your world—how you think, what resonates, and how you take in information.
If I can do that, there’s a better chance my words will land. Maybe they’ll even spark something—a shift in perspective, a new approach, a deeper connection to your own voice.
At its core, this is about you seeing and connecting with your best self. As Jackson Pollock once said:
“Art is not what you see, but what you make other see.”
The Artistry of Writing—and Work
Writing, like any craft, is an art form. When we read something truly compelling—whether it’s an essay, a novel, or even an informative piece—it feels different. It flows. It engages. It carries a conviction of purpose that is palpable.
And this isn’t unique to writing. It’s true in any industry.
Recently, I needed to trim my beard. I’ve been to many barbers over the years, but I never found one that really clicked—until yesterday.
Walking into a new shop, I noticed artistic photos of bearded men in barber chairs. Two barbers were working, and an empty couch waited for me. I took my seat and watched them.
At first, I felt impatient. They were taking their time. But then I realized why. They weren’t just cutting hair—they were studying, measuring, adjusting, refining. They cared. They earnestly, authentically cared.
I finally found my barber—a beard artist. As Paul Cézanne once said:
“A work of art that isn’t based on feeling isn’t art at all”
My writing is both for influence, and is a way I artistically express myself. There is a real emotion, and genuine desire to both engage and influence - and that craft, when taken seriously, is, in my opinion, art. Art that is based on feeling.
Wrestling with the Balance
So what does this mean for my writing? I’m still figuring that out. I know I have different audiences, and some of my writing is more for me, and some is more for my client. However that balance, that is where I am still working, working to find the authenticity in both of these extremes.
I know I write to influence, but I also know that true influence comes from authenticity. As someone who helps others walk the path toward their authentic selves, I can’t abandon that search within my own work.
As a transformative coach, I work with leaders exploring how to manifest their leadership identity. Together, we uncover insights that help them balance authenticity with the demands of different leadership contexts—allowing them to navigate complexity, uncertainty, and change while remaining true to who they are.
If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you. If, like me, you are on the path to deeper insight and finding your authentic voice—and want to explore how coaching can support that journey—reach out. Let’s talk.
