19: "Authenticity" - from murder to marketing
How did a word once meaning "murderer" become the holy grail of modern branding? In this episode, Nicole and guest Leanne Knight trace the surprising journey of "authentic" from its dark origins to its pivotal role in today's business world.
And a question: In a world obsessed with genuineness, how can we truly embody authenticity in our personal and professional lives?
In this episode you'll learn...
The fascinating etymology of "authentic" and how its meaning has evolved from "murderer" to "genuine self"
Why being "authentic" isn't just about doing whatever you want, and how it relates to personal ethics and responsibility
How to effectively use "authentic" in your marketing without sounding cliché
A fresh perspective on balancing selfishness and authenticity in both life and business
Is “authentic” dead? Tune in to find out:
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Note: Transcripts are AI generated. Please excuse any errors! :)
Nicole: Hi,
Leanne: Leanne. Hi.
Nicole: Hi, I'm so glad you're here on the podcast with me. For everyone listening, I have Leanne Knight and Leanne Knight is the, the founder, of Authentic Vision Media, which is super, super relevant to the word that we're going to be talking about today. And Leanne I'm going to read the headline on your website because I think it's lovely as a copywriter.
Leanne helps her clients bring more consistency to their marketing visuals and more you to your branding. So Leanne, can you tell us a bit more about, about you, anything you would add to that?
Leanne: Yeah, so I'm a graphic designer and I think what kind of makes me different from other graphic designers is I don't really do branding design, but I work with people that have branding already.
Often they feel like it doesn't quite represent them feels a little bit off, just kind of need something. So I help expand their branding so that it feels more [00:02:00] like them and they have more of a, comprehensive idea of what everything should look like.
Nicole: Yeah, I love that. That feels so important in the way that we all show up on the internet these days. And the reason it's so relevant to what we're talking about is because we're going to be talking about the word authentic, which is literally in your business name and is a word that I do see a lot.
And I've been seeing a lot for maybe like five years, maybe more. I don't know. I'm really excited to dig into it with you. So let's start by, can you tell me just A bit about your personal experience with the word authentic.
Leanne: Yeah, when I was thinking about this, I really didn't think about the word authentic until I picked it for my business name, which I did, you know, spend time and intention, trying out words and figuring out what I wanted it to be and stuff, and then I was like, no, that is not the first time I thought about this, the first time I think I landed on the word authentic was doing Danielle Laporte's The Desire Map.
[00:03:00] back in the beginning of 2019. And so I was just like flipping through that, my journaling about it and stuff to like, you know, she asked all of these deep questions and stuff to get you like creativity going and get you kind of envisioning your future and your life and how you want to feel and all that stuff.
And so as a result of that, one of my words back then, which I have then just held onto since was authentic. So I could talk more about, you know, why I picked that and stuff, but also, well, Let me say this. Part of it was, how I landed on that question was because of these ideas around being true to myself, being like open, but also at peace, knowing that I was accepted and everything's okay.
And I wasn't like in trouble and stuff. And so thinking about that reminds me of stories. when I was a young adult and doing things that, you know, I was just doing what felt good and following my interest and whatever. And then getting in trouble, getting yelled at. I'm like, I [00:04:00] thought I was doing one.
I thought I was just like innocently doing what I thought was right. Interesting, but also I thought I was following all the rules, you know, I'm like, I'm doing all of these things. Right. And then I still got in trouble. And I say that like with quotes, like, how am I in trouble? I'm like, I'm an adult, but yeah.
And so valuing the idea of being authentic kind of comes from like, they can't make me bad for doing what I want to be doing and what feels good.
Nicole: I'm curious , you've said the phrase in trouble, which I am latching on to, because I feel like we all kind of have that, like we're afraid of getting in trouble.
But in this like air quote way, right. So I don't mean like literally in trouble. Like experiencing serious consequences, I think that it carries over from when we're children, I think, and we're always afraid of being found out.
I think that's the phrase that comes to mind, like being found out for not being real. Does that [00:05:00] make sense? It's what I just said. Do you have an example of what you mean when you talk about that? Like when you're worried about being in trouble?
Leanne: Yeah. What the, the situation that comes to mind is, So I grew up going to a Baptist church.
I don't anymore. I taught the children in my church. I led the choir at different times in my church. Like I was very involved and I went, so, you know, I'm saying I was doing all the right things, like quote unquote. And I went to like this leadership conference with some of the other leaders in my church.
Again, another, I was doing the right thing going to this thing. And then after the conference was over in like the. like foyer or lobby or whatever. There were like shelves of like books for sale and stuff. They're like selling stuff. And I was just like looking around and like seeing what was interesting, checking it all out.
And then one of the men from the church came, from my church, [00:06:00] came and found me and said like, Leanne, we're all in the van waiting for you. Like he was like so frustrated. And, you know, now I know so much better that it's like, Oh, this is about you. This is not about me. But in that moment, I was like, Oh my God, like I'm in so much trouble.
He's yelling at me. And I just thought I was, I was like, I'm doing all the right things. I teach in the church. I went to this leadership conference. I am doing extracurriculars as far as church is concerned. And then I was just like, Oblivious, but like, not in a negative way. I was just like, this is interesting.
This is cool. Let me check it out. I might like a book. And then I got yelled at out of the blue. And I think that feeling of like, I thought everything was okay. I thought I was okay. I was just at rest and at peace. I was actually unsafe when I thought I was completely safe. Like that feeling.
Nicole: Well, and what's funny is he probably was worried that he was going to get in trouble. [00:07:00]
Leanne: Yeah.
Nicole: Like in hindsight, like as adults, we can be like, Oh, he was thinking about himself, like you said, and worried that he was going to get in trouble for something you were doing.
Leanne: Now I can imagine that, you know, He had some beliefs around his expectations for the day and what we should all be doing that wasn't necessarily communicated to me. Or maybe I forgot, you know, maybe they said we have to leave at this time and I forgot. And that's another thing that like happens sometimes is we forget.
And so because I forgot, now I get yelled at. Like, how does that?
Nicole: So that's interesting though now, because now you're kind of equating being authentic with getting in trouble. Is that part of authenticity in your mind?
Leanne: I mean, yeah. I mean, how I describe authenticity now is doing what I actually want to be doing.
Instead [00:08:00] of doing what I think I should be doing or meeting some external expectations. so if I wanted to be shopping and looking at those books and stuff and see what was interesting, that was me being authentic. And so now I'm like, asserting that it doesn't matter that he was mad at me. And I'm sure maybe like I would have liked to know if there was some expectations so that we could collaborate and compromise and all be happy.
Sure. But in that moment, looking back at that moment, it didn't matter that he was mad at me. I was doing what felt right to me.
And he
could be mad if he wanted to be mad, but it is good and okay. In my mind, it is the right thing to do. Like, I, you know, there's no like right and wrong. I don't really know about that, but for me, it was the right thing to do to be doing what I felt was good and interesting and following that.
Nicole: Yeah. Well, I like how you're like bringing in the [00:09:00] external expectations and how authenticity can be at odds with that. Being authentic can be at odds with fulfilling the expectations of others.
Leanne: Yeah.
Nicole: Okay. So why do you think this is an important word for us to dive into?
Leanne: This comes up so much now, the word authentic as, you know, as a online business owner in this like online space that we.
Navigate the word authentic comes up so much and people lately, it comes up people saying like, I hate that word. Like, I'm so sick of that word. And like, before that, before people were complaining about it, maybe there was just like, that word is coming up a lot and clearly resonated for people and was meaningful.
And then it has been overused. To the extent that it's lost meaning and I totally get that and I feel like that too about authentic sometimes and about other words, but sometimes I will talk to someone directly and they're like, I hate the word authentic. And I'm like, you can see in my zoom name that my [00:10:00] business is authentic vision media.
And I'm like, I'm not offended by that because I totally get it. But I hold on to this as. Like a life value of mine, and I will stand on that.
Nicole: Yeah, I love that. It's not the word's fault. Authentic is a great word, but I understand the overuse. Like, it's such a great word that people started Using it more and more as like a goalpost, right?
Like people wanted to be authentic, especially when we talk about marketing, right. Which both of us are kind of involved in. When you talk about authentic marketing, it can start to feel inauthentic to talk about authenticity in marketing and in lots of things. But. Yeah, I think it's always a problem when words are overused, like we'll always reach a point where we get tired of them, but with authentic, I think it's extra tiring because it feels inauthentic when the word is overused.
Leanne: Yeah, yeah.
Nicole: Yeah. Okay. Well, let's look at some of the dictionary definitions and then chat about them. So first we'll look at the modern definitions. the [00:11:00] very first definition of authentic is the most straightforward definition I think I've ever seen, which is just not false. Or imitation.
And then the second one is true to one's own personality, spirit, or character. And then the third one is worthy of acceptance or belief as conforming to or based on fact. So the example they use, I think is necessary for that one is that someone could paint an authentic picture of our society.
Also along those lines are, you know, conforming to an original made or done the same way as an original. Yeah, let's start with those three. anything stand out to you?
Leanne: I feel like the second one felt like pretty aligned. I don't remember. And I guess I don't have it in front of me, but.
Like true to your spirit or something like that. I don't know. I don't know that I have something different to say about it, but just like, that's the one that I feel like is. most in line with how, how the word is meaningful to me. And I think in marketing [00:12:00] and online business and all this stuff, like it gets overused and people don't say what they really mean.
Like, why do you want to be authentic in your marketing or something like that? You know maybe they mean let's use your actual voice. Let's make it sound like how you would talk. Let's not be performative. This is how I should be sounding in my marketing. This is how I should be sounding on LinkedIn.
Let's just make it feel like you. I think that's what people mean sometimes, maybe in that context. And I, it's just one of those words that we all have a different understanding of what that might mean.
Nicole: Yeah. And I think like, I often talk in my own work about the duality of art and strategy in marketing. You know, I used to work in an agency, like almost everyone on the creative team had an MFA,
We want to make money . but really you're bringing a lot of art when you come to those roles and I'm not an exception to that. And I think that there's a way that the word authentic has almost become a strategy. rather than an [00:13:00] art. and when you make authentic a strategy, like in order to make more sales, you need to be authentic.
if you look at it that way, It's no longer itself.
Leanne: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. And I want to be authentic in my business because I don't want to exploit myself. I don't want to make myself fit in some box of whatever who I'm supposed to be, quote unquote, or what businesses are supposed to do, or what hours of day I'm supposed to work, or how much I'm supposed to work.
Or how I'm supposed to sell or like, I don't want to fit my like, authentic authenticity and business is getting back to like, okay, what feels good for me? What works for my personality and my preferences? Yeah, I don't know.
Nicole: Yeah. No, I, I like this. I feel like we're working at something. I can feel us like circling.
Yeah, we're working at it. I think we're getting close [00:14:00] though. Okay. I want to read the 1828 definition. Okay. So now we're going to get into it because authentic surprised me like digging into the history. I was surprised by a lot of the older, older definitions. So the 1828 one. Is this one's not surprising, but we'll get more surprising as we keep going for those listening, just stick with us having a genuine original or authority in opposition to that, which is false, fictitious, or counterfeit.
Being what it purports to be genuine, true applied to things as an authentic paper or register. And the second definition is of approved authority as an authentic writer. So I think it's interesting. Well, let me ask you first, what do you, what do you find interesting in this definition?
Leanne: I think it's interesting, and I think we see this in the other definitions going forward, is that the word authority comes into this?
Like what? But also what it makes me think is [00:15:00] authentic, like, as opposed to like a forgery. Like this is the real thing and this is actually a fake or, or maybe I can't think of the word, but like somebody faking, you know, like somebody like selling snake oil or whatever, like somebody saying, I can do this.
And then like, but actually they are not qualified to do that or they're just flat out tricking you. So that's interesting. That's like a whole different angle on the word. Yes.
Nicole: Yeah, it is. Because like you're saying, it's about documentation.
It's about an original document.
Leanne: Yeah.
Nicole: Which is always fun. I mean, this happens. it's almost, poetry the way this happens, how we take words that are about one thing and apply them to another. I love, like, there are some great poems that twist words in this way. And it's one of those things where you read it and you're like, huh.
I love that. But now we're used to it in this new way. All right. So now I'm excited. Now we're going to dive into the etymology. [00:16:00] So I'm just going to take the mic for a second, Leanne, and do a quick rundown of the history and then we'll talk about it. So I'm going to start with Middle English, which we're talking like 1150 to 1500 uh, AD.
So the word authentic started as authentic and it came from Anglo French and Medieval Latin. So now we're going back even further in history to like 1066 and the Medieval Latin is like 700 to 1580. Okay, and in these languages it was again authentic or authenticus, which meant something original, like a genuine document.
So this is very tied to that 1828 definition, right? But then we dig back further, so if we keep going back the Latin route. 75 BC to 300 AD, we get the word authenticus in Latin, which also meant original or real. And then we dig back further, in Greek, we get to 800 BC to 600 [00:17:00] AD, the Latin word authenticus came from the Greek word authenticos, and the Greek word meant that something was genuine or had authority.
So, I know these are all sounding kind of similar, but what's happening is We're finding the root authority as we dig back through history, so authority becomes more and more part of the word the further we dig back. Okay, so if we dig back further down the Greek path, we get the word authenticos, which came from authentia, which meant absolute authority or power.
And this came from authentess, which originally meant doer or master. And then we get back further in early Greek writings, authenticos and authentia started to show up in everyday writing. So it wasn't just fancy literature and poems. It also started to be used in more Byzantine Greek texts.
So a lot more people were reading the word authentic than they were before, and it meant something genuine or something with authority. But this all comes from the Greek word authentos, which is the root for [00:18:00] everything that I've said so far, and it had different meanings in ancient Greek, but the oldest use of authentos found in the writings of Herodotus and Greek plays, it meant killer Or murderer.
Yeah, so later it becomes more general. It means someone who committed a crime and then evolved to mean doer or master. But if we go back almost as far as we can on this word, it means someone who kills or does murder. What do you think about that, Leigh Anne?
Leanne: get here? I know
Now I'm like, maybe I'm questioning the name of my business. . Maybe this doesn't feel right anymore. .
Nicole: Yeah. Does it change your perception of the word knowing this etymology ?
Leanne: I'm honestly just like, wait, okay. Why did it mean that? And how there seems like there's like a middle there that I have missed, but yeah.
But there was some other stuff in there that I'm like, yeah, exactly. Like a genuine document or a part that I highlighted was the word being made of aut, [00:19:00] A U T meaning self and hentes, H E N T E S related to doing or completing something. And like the self doing, I think you said some other words around that, that stuff.
I'm like, yeah, like getting back to like what I want to do. Like, what am I? And I know it doesn't really mean that, like, seeing the etymology broken up like that, but it feels like a reflection a little bit of what I'm saying, which is like, yeah, what do I want to do? What is actually the truest thing for me to do based on who I am and how I feel and what I need and blah, blah, blah.
So I feel like that's like a little bit of a stretch, but I'm like, yeah, see?
Nicole: No, I think it's all there. I think like, It's like a self authority, right? So I think that that's what it comes down to, which I think does support the way that you're using it.
Leanne: Yeah.
Nicole: And, like, I know the killer murderer seems like a big jump, but [00:20:00] there is authority in that.
Leanne: They're like, this is I'm gonna take it upon myself to give myself permission to do this. Like, what?
Nicole: Yeah. And committing a crime, like there's authority in that, right? it evolves to be doer or master, so it's like there's commitment in there too, right? Like a self commitment.
Because when you say committed a crime, right, we can talk about the word committed, the way we use committed now, we could talk about like being committed to our goals, being committed to a relationship, you know, sticking with something. And I mean, once you commit a murder, it's stuck with it. It's done.
Like there's no going back. Yeah. So there does seem to be something there. Yeah, let's talk more about that, about like the role of authority in authentic, because I don't, do you think people think of that when they use the word authentic now? Like do they make that tie to authority?
Leanne: I don't think so, [00:21:00] but now it feels like it makes sense thinking of it that way.
Because I'm kind of thinking about, you know, I am my authority and I can trust and listen to myself and that man from my church like coming to yell at me now I can look back and say, he was not happy with what I was doing, but that doesn't mean that I was wrong or bad. Like I can be the authority of how I spend my time and what I do.
Nicole: Yeah. No, I love that. And I think of the word authentic as like a softer word, right? Like it feels very gentle. And then authority feels like a powerful word. And I think the way you reframed that story, like you're doing exactly that. You're almost giving authentic more power.
Leanne: Yeah. And I would say that like, we have the authority already. It's just, I don't, I don't know. I feel like there's maybe more here about.
Privilege and things like that. So I'm not saying all of us, like, we just need to give or like [00:22:00] empowerment, quote unquote, because who's giving the power or whatever. So just like caveat, but there is an aspect here of realizing that I already have the authority to choose for myself. What is right for me.
And in that story, like it maybe comes from somebody else and sure we have people in our lives that help us Claim the power and authority in our own lives, but mostly like we already have it. And that idea of authenticity is giving ourselves the permission to be ourselves, give ourselves what we actually need and what we want.
And of course we consider external factors of what other people need and want and what. Expectations there are, and if we want to, you know, and I hope that we consider, you know, these are the expectations. I actually want to keep the piece here. So I am deciding [00:23:00] to yield to that or whatever, but, you know, choosing that being aware of it instead of, you know, I'm sure, you know, you hear people I hear people all the time saying like, oh, like, I have to do this.
You know, oh, like, I don't want to go to this family thing, but I have to go or something like that. And you're like, you're an adult. Like, do you have to go or you're deciding I want to keep the peace. And so I'm making this choice that even though it's not really what I. It's like, not really what I want, but there is something that I want here, which is.
to appease these people or whatever.
Nicole: Yeah. And it can be authentic to like, choose your family, even if you don't want, like authentic doesn't have to mean always doing everything that makes your life easy.
Leanne: Yeah. And that for me brings up the word like selfishness, which has been, you know, mostly has the connotations of like bad.
It's bad to be selfish. Like, Oh, they're so selfless. like, they're so noble and so [00:24:00] selfless and like, oh, that person's being selfish or like, I think it's really selfish of you to do that. All of these things. And it's like, no, actually like we really need in our world and to imagine the world that we want.
We need individuals that are aware of what they need and honor what they need and go after what they need and. Look out for the collective. We need people that do both of those. And the first part, I think the first part is looking at what we need ourselves before we can take care of other people. So it's one of those words, selfish that we think is bad, but I don't think is bad because I think that's the first step to people being taken care of.
Nicole: Yeah. So where do you think like, is being selfish, authentic?
Leanne: That's a really good question. Because, and then it comes into, yeah, like, do I be authentic [00:25:00] at everyone's expense? I don't know. I can't really think of an example, but it's not about being selfish or it's not about disregarding others.
And especially if we live, you know, in community in some way, like we. You know, I'm going to put this should out there. I think we should be regarding others. And what was the question?
Nicole: Is being selfish authentic?
Leanne: Yeah. I don't know that it necessarily is like, it doesn't, that doesn't feel like a yes to me, it doesn't feel like it is like the same thing.
I think that. I don't know. I don't know what I think. I'm like gonna say like, I think maybe authentic, being authentic is sometimes being selfish, but not, they're not like one in the same. Yeah. What do you think? Yeah.
Nicole: Oh no, turned it around on me.
Leanne: Yeah. I'm like, I'm so like in my head about this. I'm like, I need a different perspective.
Nicole: Yeah. I mean, I don't think they're synonyms, but
I do think there needs to be some reflection [00:26:00] on selfishness as part of like, figuring out your authenticity. Because I do think we get to a certain point, in life where there's been so much conditioning and like so much bending to external forces of any kind, external rules that like, I've reached points in my life where I'm like, I don't know who I am.
Like, I don't know what my authentic self is. I had no idea if that thought I just had in my head is mine or if it came from someone else. I really cannot tell you, you know? So it does seem like, Leaning into selfishness a little bit can help you figure out what authenticity means for you.
Leanne: Yeah, I feel like it depends on your relationship to selfishness, I guess, because I'm seeing this, I don't know, situation in my mind of, someone that's a, People pleaser to just throw a term out there that we, I'm assuming that we all have ideas about what [00:27:00] that might mean. But you know, people that most of the time think like, I should be productive and I should be useful and I should be taking care of people around me.
And if someone asked for something, I should be doing it all of those things. And if they could then reframe and be like, what if like, being selfish is good? How can I be selfish right now? and that just, like, it sounds like to me, like, so benign, like they're like, Ooh, I get to like, eat lunch today. I don't know.
Or like, I get to have a chocolate or something. It's like, if that is them microdosing selfishness and figuring out, or like, maybe it's microdosing authenticity by like being a little selfish, but like playing around with like, what would that mean? That I think can be a helpful, possibly could be a helpful frame for somebody.
And it depends on, again, like where they're starting from. But if selfishness is more like, I don't want to make any certain thing mean something else, but like, oh, I told this person, I would help them and like, you know what? Screw [00:28:00] them. I'm going to go do this thing. I'm going to be selfish. Like, that to me is like a disregard of somebody maybe being hurtful and not that. You know, sometimes we hurt people when we're prioritizing ourselves and there's like so much like layers to this, but not being intentionally hurtful or disregarding others or taking away what other people need and request because you want to do something.
I don't know, but like, but there, I guess it depends on the motivation.
Nicole: Yeah,
Leanne: because I still just I'm like well being selfish isn't bad and if you really need to sleep in or something and you told someone you were gonna like give them a ride like if that's what you need I think that's like valid and that other person if they're an adult like they can figure it out but it's still not very nice to Like, agree to it, and then just, like, abandon them, or whatever, so, I don't know.
Nicole: Yeah, I think we've entered complex [00:29:00] territory.
Leanne: Yeah, now we're, like, very much like, personal ethics.
Nicole: Yeah, I know, who knew? Well, I guess we should have known that a conversation about Authentic would get us on personal ethics. Yeah, because now, if someone needs a ride to the airport and you promise, then you should take
Leanne: Yeah. And that's like, that I feel that because I really take my commitments seriously. And if I say I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it. And I have to check myself and say, Do I need to cancel this? Like, do I need to tell them that I can't actually do it because what do I actually need?
And I really, like, I want to fit everything in. I want to do everything. I'm like, well, I need a nap, but I also need to do this thing for this other person. Like, can I do both, you know, instead of cancel or something, but, but yeah, I don't know. It's all complicated.
Nicole: Yeah. No, it's so complicated. Well, and it's so, it's so interesting because I, I have an example, right, where I had to do a bunch of stuff at the DMV [00:30:00] last week, because we were supposed to record last week, right, this podcast.
And then I emailed you and said, hey, I'm looking at my week next week, and I just can't like I'm moving and your response, your email response to me was like, Thank you. So Thank you for knowing what you need and like asking for it. And I was like, What? You're welcome.
Leanne: Yeah,
Nicole: that was so nice. And I think that's like an interesting example of like this.
airport ride that we're talking about, right? Where like I had, we had a commitment and then I backed out of it. So I was selfish, but also the consequences, like the ramifications of that selfishness were not super high, right? I didn't need to get you somewhere where you had to, like, had a deadline.
Leanne: Yeah, but I could see also, you know, you weighing like, oh, like we made this commitment and now. I have this other thing, like, what do I do? I want to keep that commitment. Because I think that all the time. I have a call scheduled with somebody and something else is, like, coming up and I'm, like, oh, it [00:31:00] would make more sense to do this other thing, but I have a commitment with this person.
And then I remember, like, we just have a Zoom call, like, on the calendar. that is kind of arbitrary. Like, we're not always talking about something urgent anyways, or they pick that time, like, and I don't know why they pick that time. It's not like, oh, they had that only that half hour free in their whole life and that's why they pick that time and I'm ruining everything.
Like, that's not true at all. Like, there's all these stories that we make up about stuff or even just, you know, my commitment to doing what I said I was going to do And like, not thinking that there's any other option at all, and in reality a lot of these things are just not that big of a deal, and so for people that I interact with, such as you, but also for myself, I just want to remind us that like, yes, you rescheduling and like, Re, I don't know if this is the right term, resetting, like my expectations is so great.
Like, I love that you [00:32:00] did that. I'm so glad. And when somebody is like, no, I can't do that. I'm like, thank you so much for letting me know what you're available for. And now I can find a resource somewhere else or readjust my plans.
Speaker 3: And
Leanne: that's, I think, you know, we could all just do more of that.
Nicole: Well, it's like, we do have these perceived ramifications, right? Perception of cancelling a meeting on someone or asking to move a meeting could be, Oh my gosh, they're going to hate me and talk bad about me to all their friends. And I'm going to be ostracized from society for being authentic to bring us back to the word we're going down an ethics rabbit hole, which I love.
But yeah, these perceived ramifications I think can be quite persuasive.
Leanne: Yeah, but that makes me think too, though, like part of being authentic is just being myself. And so part of being myself, if I had to change an appointment would not be. I don't know. I'm not sure what it would not be.
But part of being [00:33:00] myself when cancelling something would be, let me make sure I let them know. Let me give them as much notice as I can, which, you know, totally could vary depending on the situation. And let me like remind them that I'm excited. Like let, like this tiptoes into like am I managing their feelings or their reaction and I can't do that, but being kind about it just like being the kind of person that I want to be about it.
I want to like give them notice. I want to be kind. I want to remind them that this isn't like I'm looking forward to it, these things or whatever. And I want to assert like what it is I am and I'm not available for. Which brings me actually to another word that I had written down related to this that feels really similar but not exactly the same thing, which is congruence.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Leanne: And I really have only started thinking about this word recently because it's a word brought to my attention by James Olivia to Hillman. And they say, I'm paraphrasing that congruence is being aware of [00:34:00] what's going on inside of me and outside of me and communicating that to others with my verbal and nonverbal message. So I love that and that's not exactly what authenticity is, but I would say authenticity is all of that plus like acting on it, like being aware, Oh, I feel inside me that I am hungry and it's making me.
stressed out and cranky. And I see outside of me that you know, for some reason I feel like blocked from doing that. Like I'm in the middle of work or I'm hanging out with these people and like, we're having a good time or they're doing something. And I see like, Oh, this is going to be hard to reconcile this, but then expressing, Oh, I'm hungry.
And like deciding that I'm going to act on that anyways, like, Oh, this is what I need. And I see that it doesn't quite fit in. Like, I feel like I'm an inconvenience or I'm going to disappoint someone or I have to disrupt whatever's happening, but I'm still going to. Honor my [00:35:00] need and make sure that I get that need met somehow and like go after that.
Nicole: Okay. Yeah. I like that. And it does feel like we reach a point like when a word's being overused that we need an alternative that kind of expresses the same concept, but more specifically than the way that the current word is being used. So I guess that brings me to one of our questions, which is, do you think that we should be trying to reclaim the word authentic?
Or do you think we should be kind of switching to a word like congruence?
Leanne: I don't know. I don't have a problem using it like in the name of my business. it feels right to me and that's fine. And I think that in the way that we're sick of the word say such as in marketing a lot, I think that we now need to be more specific. Like, what do you mean by that?
you don't have to dance for reels if you don't feel like it. You can market in an authentic way. Doing what feels good for you, like doing what interests you or having it actually sound and look like you. [00:36:00] So, and I mean, that's why my business is called that because as a graphic designer, influencing people's visual branding and identity and stuff, I want it to reflect them and feel like them and be in line with what they want.
Nicole: What they
Leanne: actually want and not what they think they should be doing.
Nicole: Yeah. Have you started in your own marketing to define the word authentic more specifically, or is it something you're thinking about doing?
Leanne: I do a little bit. Like for example, in my pinned posts on Instagram, I have one that says authenticity is the whole point in life and in business, which is really cool.
You know, is the whole point for me, I guess. Not to say it is for anybody else. And then I talk about it a little bit. And I think that's because, you know, Why is brand, my business, Authentic Vision Media? And like, what do I mean by that? And so that's why I felt like my platform in business of what I want people to know is this is why I chose this word, is because this is my One of my highest values in my life and in [00:37:00] my business.
And it just, it goes into so many different things. So that's how I work with like how I operate my business, how I work with clients, but also how I want their visuals to be. So it's just like, and it's also in my life and also how I care for myself and also how I care for my clients. So it just like goes into everything.
So I wanted to make that.
Nicole: and I think that it like for people who are like I do the writing of others like I'll write in someone else's voice like you're doing graphic design like in someone else's vision. And so I do think in those. Two roles, like, especially like when you're speaking for someone else or you're helping someone speak, like understanding their authentic selves is very important.
Like, and it's not something we can really ignore if we want to make good stuff.
Leanne: Yeah, exactly.
Nicole: Cool. Well, oh my gosh, I can't, we're like reaching the top of the hour already. I do want to ask you a couple Off the cuff weird questions, [00:38:00] if you're ready for it, that you did not get to prepare for in advance because I left them off the document.
Oh no! But, here we go. I won't make them too hard. If the word authentic were a color, what color would it be?
Leanne: Honestly, purple comes to mind. I'm looking at my Instagram and I'm like, purple, obviously. But that, yeah, like I can't, I don't know why exactly, but that just feels right.
Nicole: Yeah, I love it. And I'm also wearing like a purple shirt today accidentally, but I like match your brand.
Speaker 3: it.
Nicole: Okay. And this is my favorite question to ask. If you had to get the word authentic tattooed on yourself, where on your body would you choose and why?
Speaker 3: Hmm.
Leanne: I feel like I would do like. either on, like, on my arm or on, like, my leg, but partly because that's where I like to have tattoos. But I could see having it on my arm and [00:39:00] like, so that it's something I could look at and remember, like, remember this conversation, remember how, like, what the word means to me and, and remember the stories I've told and all of these, like, angles about it.
Nicole: Yeah. So it's not a word you would want to hide. You wouldn't want to put it like under your hair.
Leanne: Like the back of my neck. Yeah. I think that's so funny. I saw someone with a tattoo on their back the other day. I can't remember why now. I saw somebody's back, but I was like, you never see that. You never see your own tattoo.
So, no, it would be somewhere that I could see it and that other people would see it too.
Nicole: Yeah. It's a good reminder. All right. Well, Leanne, if people are listening to this and they want to know more about you and they want to find you on the internet, where should they go?
Leanne: Yeah.
So you can connect with me on Instagram or LinkedIn on Instagram. I'm authentic. vision. media. LinkedIn, you can find me by my name, Leanne Knight, but also you can get into my world and get to know me better [00:40:00] by joining me for a graphic design clinic, which I do pretty much every month for free. And just, you know, people come together and we take a look at their like DIY marketing graphics and see how we can bring More consistency to their marketing visuals and more you to your branding. So that's what we do in the clinic for free.
Nicole: Yeah, I saw that on your website or in an email or in a post. I can't remember where I saw it, but I saw it in your messaging recently. And I was like, that sounds so cool.
Cause I feel like so many people are trying to like DIY Canva their marketing, and it would be helpful just to have someone look at it and someone to talk to about it. Yeah.
Leanne: And it's been really fun, like to just get a small group of people together and for people to feel like it's very like chill and relaxed, like it's kind of quote unquote hot seat style, but.
. And just be in that supportive environment. And one of my friends too said, it's like microdosing being seen. She showed me like a graphic, like, what do you think? And I'm like, I might make tweaks because that's what I would do, but really, it's actually great and you should [00:41:00] post this.
So that helped her to be ready to share it.
Nicole: Yeah.
Leanne: So, yeah. And you can find that at authenticvisionmedia. com slash events.
Nicole: Cool. Yeah. Well, we'll definitely put all those links in the show notes. All right. I hope everybody goes and like questions their own personal ethics now. And I honestly, my hope for this is that people.
Feel more comfortable again using the word authentic. I don't think it's ready to die. I think it's, I think it's a good word and it's got a lot of legs and I hope we can re, re embrace it, but with more specificity.
Leanne: Yeah,
Nicole: me
Leanne: too.
Nicole: Cool. Well, thank you so much, Leanne. Thanks for having me, Nicole. Bye.
Looking for more info on Leanne?
Connect with Leanne on Instagram: @authenticvisionmedia
Find Leanne on LinkedIn: Leanne Knight
Join Leanne's free monthly Graphic Design Clinic: authenticvisionmedia.com/events
Learn more about Leanne's work: authenticvisionmedia.com
And I leave you with this…
Note: Greek authentikós and authentía/-eía first appear in non-literary sources of the first centuries A.D., whence their adaptation into Latin, and go on to see considerable elaboration in patristic and Byzantine Greek.
The base of these words, the agent noun authéntēs, had rather disparate senses in ancient Greek.
The earliest, attested in Herodotus and the Attic tragedians, is "killer, murderer," apparently generalized in Hellenistic Greek to "perpetrator (of a crime)" and then "doer, master," whence the derivatives based on the notion of authority.
