Ep 176: How Showing Up Authentically Impacts Business Success
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How Showing Up Authentically Impacts Business Success
We hear people talk all the time about showing up authentically online. But what does that actually mean? And more importantly, how does it impact your business?
I recently spoke with Tracy Harris, who has built an incredibly successful business by showing up fully as herself. She attracts the right clients—not by following trends, but by staying true to who she is.
But for many business owners, showing up as yourself isn’t always easy. Fear of judgment, perfectionism, and the influence of mentors or peers can make you feel like you need to mold yourself into something else.
If you’ve ever found yourself trying to "fit in" online instead of embracing what makes you unique, this is for you.
Why We Struggle to Show Up Authentically
Most people don’t set out to be inauthentic. It happens subtly.
Many entrepreneurs start by following mentors, joining mastermind groups, or being influenced by those they look up to. But at some point, you look around and realize:
You’ve started mimicking the tone, style, or personality of others.
You’re showing up how you think you should, instead of how you truly are.
You’ve lost touch with what made you stand out in the first place.
Authenticity isn’t just about what you share—it’s about how you show up and whether it feels aligned with who you truly are.
Breaking Free from Perfectionism & Imposter Syndrome
For Tracy, two big challenges shaped her journey to authenticity:
Perfectionism – From a young age, she learned that success was rewarded. Achievements, awards, and praise reinforced the idea that being "perfect" was the goal.
Inferiority Complex – Early in her business, she assumed mentors and leaders had all the answers. If someone had more experience, a title, or authority, she defaulted to trusting them over herself.
Sound familiar?
Many entrepreneurs struggle with this. They listen more to what others say they should be than what their gut tells them. Over time, this can disconnect you from your own voice and vision.
The shift happens when you realize that your unique perspective, personality, and approach are exactly what your audience needs.
How to Show Up Authentically in Your Business
Look at Who You Were Before the Conditioning
Who were you before external expectations shaped how you showed up?
What naturally drew you in as a child, before others told you who you should be?
Identify Where You’ve Been Trying to "Fit In"
Have you adapted your voice or style to match a mentor, group, or trend?
Are you holding back certain parts of yourself because you fear they won’t be "professional" enough?
Create from a Place of Alignment, Not Obligation
What would you say, share, or teach if you weren’t worried about how it would be received?
How can you show up more fully as yourself without filtering your personality?
Authenticity isn’t about oversharing or being transparent about every detail of your life. It’s about showing up in a way that feels true, natural, and aligned with who you are.
Authenticity Attracts the Right Clients
People are drawn to confidence, energy, and realness.
The more aligned you are with who you truly are, the more naturally you attract the right clients.
For Tracy, embracing her natural strengths, personality, and essence helped her build a thriving business without trying to be someone she’s not.
The same is true for you. Your ideal audience doesn’t want a watered-down version of you. They want the real you.
Final Thoughts
Showing up authentically isn’t just about personal growth. It directly impacts your business.
The more you embrace who you really are, the more you attract the right people, opportunities, and success.
Authenticity isn’t just important for growing your audience. It’s also critical for keeping the customers you already have. If you want to build a thriving, engaged membership that retains members long-term, you need systems in place that nurture connection and keep people invested in your program.
Get my FREE Membership Retention Roadmap to learn the five essential systems top membership owners use to keep members engaged and coming back.
Download it now at retainguide.com.
Want to hear more about how authenticity can transform your business? Listen to my full conversation with Tracy Harris on the podcast.
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