Authenticity

Authenticity is the discipline of showing your work so others can see not only where you're going, but how you're getting there.

Authenticity Means Showing the Process

When I think about authenticity, I remember my eighth-grade algebra class with Ms. Voss. She never accepted homework that showed only final answers. She wanted to see the steps.

Her rule applies to life.

If you want people to trust your outcomes, you must be willing to show the process that produced them. Being authentic doesn't equate to being perfect. Instead, it means that we're transparent, that we're willing to show that we're intentional about every decision we make.

Early Lessons From My Father

I learned this lesson long before prison by watching my father, Julio. He fled Cuba after Fidel Castro came to power, escaping to South Florida without speaking English. Through discipline and persistence, he learned how to speak English, moved to California, met my mother, and together they gave life to my sisters and me.

In Seattle, my parents built a small electrical contracting business from nothing. My father wired homes, then expanded into public-works projects.

My father didn't talk about hard work. He demonstrated it. Every circuit had to work. Every light had to turn on. His credibility came from results produced through visible effort.

Lessons From a Stoic Emperor

I read Marcus Aurelius, and his book Meditations shaped how I thought about authenticity and discipline. Several principles stood out:

• Control what you can – Focus on your character, actions, and intentions.
• Live by principles, not convenience – Authenticity requires consistency, even when no one is watching.
• Embrace discomfort – Growth demands effort. Avoiding discomfort leads to stagnation.
• Recognize shared humanity – Authentic living includes service, contribution, and responsibility to others.

Aurelius reminded me that integrity is revealed in repetition, not declarations.

Authenticity Is the Long Game

Authenticity compounds like interest. It grows quietly, steadily, and reliably. Over time, it attracts opportunity, trust, and collaboration.

People may doubt your words. They cannot dispute consistent evidence.