Geek Out!
How Being Authentically You is the Key to Success
Have you ever felt like you had to tuck your quirks, passions, or “geeky” interests under a desk to fit in? Like maybe no one wants to hear about your obsession with 80’s love songs, how you track every NASA launch and name your houseplants?
Over the years, I’ve worked in many environments where stepping out of line felt like a rebellion (and possibly a great risk to employment). Whether I was a teacher drowning in a room of other teachers (all with the same Clark’s shoes and Vera Bradley bags) or in a sea of lawyers all wearing dark, black and grey suits—I’ve been there. Somehow, it never felt like my quirks or independent thinking would be safe.
But consider this: what if the very things you hide are your secret superpower?
I thought about this over the weekend while at a book signing event. I love talking with readers, especially when we chat about historical authors. I’ve had such a blast touring historic author homes. Once I get going talking about how Nathaniel Hawthorne had his own room at Melville’s house, that Emerson lent Louisa May Alcott books and that Noah Webster used to count houses in every town he visited . . . Well, you get the idea. I get on a roll.
Don’t even get me started on my love for 80’s music, Debbie Gibson and the latest movies I’m excited to see. Things really go south when I put on my tinfoil hat and start discussing various theories of time travel, whether aliens exist and the haunted ghost town I just read about.
Somehow, these conversations never seemed to fit in the courtroom, the boardroom, or the public-school classroom. In fact, I once got docked points during student teaching because I asked a child how he would design a shopping cart when he shared his ideas during story time. Why? Because I didn’t stay on script.
I spent many years hiding my quirks. Lawyers are supposed to wear only suits, always talk in complicated legalese unless they are saying, “It depends,” right?
But when I step into my author shoes—I am my truest self. Creating art has taught me how to live with spirit. How to take risks and how not to be afraid of standing out.
And it hasn’t been just the act of creating art that has given me this wisdom, either. It’s been all the amazing people I’ve met along the way. Other artists, musicians, writers, readers, comic book lovers, gamers, actors, entrepreneurs . . . anyone and everyone who has found confidence in coloring outside the lines.
What I’ve learned is this: if you are like everyone else, then how do you stand out? If you are always “perfect,” how can people trust you? If you hold back your opinions, dim your energy and hide the stuff that makes you “you,” then are you really living your life, or someone else’s idea of it? What value does that give to the community? To your loved ones? To the world?
Studies confirm that people trust and follow those who are authentic. Brené Brown called it being vulnerable. Whatever you call it—it’s about staying true to who you are.
Identify Your Authentic Self
So, who are you really? What are your nerdy hobbies? What excites you? Motivates you? Obsesses you?
Quick exercise: write down three traits or passions you usually hide. What is one small way you can let one of them show at work or your next social gathering?
When you lean into your true self, something magical happens: connections deepen, opportunities multiply, and burnout shrinks. Why? Because you’ve stopped worrying about being perfect, calculated, and fitting in. You’ve stepped into owning who you are.
Of course, I’m not suggesting oversharing or being unprofessional (please don’t show up to work in your pajamas or bore your boss with too many unnecessary details about your rock collection). But liven up, loosen up. Share that creative idea that’s outside the box that no one else thought of or shared. Be thoughtful, curious. Be unapologetically authentic. Be you.
The more you stay true to being the best, most authentic, positive version of you, the freer you become. The more authentic friends you will make and the more aligned opportunities, made just for you, will come your way.
So, as we end this week’s post, I leave you with a challenge! Do one small thing this week to show your authentic self. Share a story, post about a passion or hobby you love, wear that favorite neon green scarf.
Trust me: when you stop worrying about what other people think, you finally get to decide what you do.
Till Next Time,
Sarah
AKA A Busy Lady
P.S. I’ve been busy on the road bringing my time travel thriller All These Threads of Time to readers all over the east coast. Check out my latest video from my Barnes & Noble signing this past weekend in PA where I sold out of books! I didn’t get pictures with everyone, but I did my best!
P.P.S. In other writer news, don’t forget to check out Rebel Writers: The Genius Behind the Pen Volume II. I’m so excited to share this one with you. Filled with stories from the lives of literary genius—from Emerson to Poe to Dickinson, Wharton and more, this is not one you want to miss.
And Last but not least . . . I’m still hard at work on my next thriller, Tune In. Turns out . . . I need to tighten the voice and reduce that pesky word count. This one is taking me a bit of time, but it will be worth it. Stay Tuned — no pun intended :)
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A Busy Lady is written by an actual human—no AI, just chocolate, creativity, and a love for storytelling. This also means there may be an occasional typo, just to prove a human did it ;)