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The Inconvenient Truths about Being Your Best, Authentic Self
Authenticity is a slippery thing. Here’s why you still need to pay the high price to be yourself.
In one of his interviews in Dubai, Elon Musk was asked what advice he would give to young people who aspire to be like him.
Musk glanced at the floor as if it would reflect his answer back on the polished ivory stage he was standing on. Then, with a somewhat confused look, he replied,
“I think probably people shouldn’t want to be me. I think it sounds better than it is. It’s not as much fun being me, as you’d think.”
Giving the interviewer a chance to absorb what he just said, he took a concluding note,
“I’m not sure I want to be me.” — Elon Musk
The audience laughed. Nobody knew Musk was being very serious at that time.
Authenticity is a slippery thing
Should you be yourself?
In theory, most people will agree that “being yourself” sounds like a pretty good plan. But what does it really mean? Is it even possible to be anything else?
