I’ve been doing a deep-dive into what it takes to become an entrepreneur, a value-creator. It’s not that easy, it’s time-consuming, and it’s almost certainly risky. But it’s become an obsession, and a journey I can’t not take.
Part of the path is truly thinking about what an authority figure is, and the way to go about making money. I believe that, in order to make money, you have to prove you’re an authority in some form or another, but also, you have to do it with authenticity. Not only do you have to BE YOU, but you also have to do what’s in the best interest for others. Being an authority in any aspect of life is great, but being an authentic authority is exceptional.
Here was a question posed on social media.
Whose point of view would you trust more about a random subject, someone who has never read a book about it or someone who has read extensively but only from one narrow point of view?
Does it matter what the subject is?
And here was a response that I think hit the nail on the head.
I’d probably take both with an equal grain of salt and look for someone with skin in the game.
Authority
The basic question above was one of authority. Do you trust the person with no prior knowledge or the person who’s an “expert” on a specific subject matter? The solution: Take the person who’s trying to make a profit by improving on the random subject.
Authority comes in many shapes and forms. The college professor may have authority on a subject because they have tenure and have researched a topic extensively, but they are also biased by the system in which they operate. The person with a strong opinion, but no prior knowledge of the subject, can also be the authority because they have philosophies, values, and beliefs that can influence the debate. This person also is biased because their argument is based on personal beliefs and not knowledge about the subject.
The third, and most trustworthy authority, is the profit-seeking person. The entrepreneur seeks to create value for other people that want something. In seeking profit, this person must come up with the best solution for the client. Although they might not be an established scholar, they have done enough diligence to provide a solution. And the fact they’re making a profit shows that other people agree it’s a capable solution.
Authenticity
The other side of the coin is being a “conscious” entrepreneur. You can be an authority figure and use your abilities for evil, or use them to pull a fast one over on another. In today’s world of viral social media posts, and interconnected relations, you can’t hide behind your authority without authenticity.
I’ve been reading a lot of copywriters recently (Brian Clark with Copyblogger, Seth Godin, Matt Fuery most notably) and they all share one thing. They all posses a level of authenticity. Yes, Godin’s books may not be that great, but his daily blog is really good. Each copywriter writes for the reader, not because they want to feel good about themselves, but because they want you to be a better you. Maybe they’re really crummy people, I don’t know much about them, but reading their writing makes me trust their authenticity. I believe in their authority.
Being a Leader
Being a leader isn’t about being really great at something. Anyone can be really great at something. Being a leader is about being exceptional, all the time, because that’s who you are. People in leadership positions need not only to be great at something, but they also need to be authentic. The authentic leader is the one who will create a better world, a better future, and bring more prosperity to the world.
Yes, that sounds cliche, but it’s true. The world needs authentic, authoritative, leaders. Exceptional leaders.