Authenticity

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

When I think of authenticity, I recall my eighth-grade algebra class with Ms. Voss. She never accepted homework if I only gave her the final answers. She wanted me to show my work. That principle applies to life as well: 

  • To be authentic, we must let people see the path we take—not just our destination.

I learned this lesson early on by watching my father at work. My dad, Julio, fled Castro’s communist regime in Cuba. He escaped with others and landed in South Florida, not speaking a word of English. Within a few years, he learned the language, moved to California, met my mother, and together they had three children—my two sisters, Julie and Christina, and me. Our family moved to Seattle, where my parents built a small electrical contracting business from the ground up. It started with my dad wiring houses. Soon, the business grew to specialize in public works, installing street lighting and traffic signals for the Washington State Department of Transportation.

My father was a living example of authenticity. He didn’t merely talk about working hard—he demonstrated it. He was “authentic,” making sure every light turned on precisely as planned. That kind of manual work never appealed to me as a teenager. I drifted from my father’s example and searched for shortcuts. 

By the time I turned 21, I was involved in selling cocaine, seeking the “easy” path. At 23, authorities arrested me, leading to a conviction and a sentence that requiredmultiple decades in prison.

Yet in prison, I learned far more about authenticity—particularly by studying historic leaders. One who influenced me greatly was Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic philosopher and Roman Emperor. In his book, Meditations, Marcus Aurelius wrote extensively about living with virtue and discipline. Despite the burden of leadership, he constantly reminded himself—and tried to teach his son—the importance of:

  1. Recognizing what we can control: Aurelius urged readers to accept the things they cannot change and focus on what they can—their character, their actions, and their intentions.
  2. Living by principles: He encouraged consistent, virtuous behavior rather than merely talking about virtue or adopting it only when convenient.
  3. Embracing discomfort: True growth requires effort. Aurelius guided his son to practice self-restraint, self-reflection, and perseverance—virtues essential to withstand adversity.
  4. Understanding our shared humanity: Authentic living means recognizing that we’re all part of a broader community. Serving others and contributing to society are central tenets of a life well-lived.

Upon release from prison, I built my life around those same concepts. Although I didn’t go into a career of honorable craftsmanship, like my dad, I produced authentic work. I realized that to “show my work,” I had to be fully transparent about my journey. I documented every step, from my journals in prison to the daily blogs I write now, offering lessons and encouragement for others. It’s all part of our Straight-A Guide.

Through it all, I arrived at a simple plan for demonstrating authenticity:

  1. Envision a clear goal.
  2. Prioritize what comes first to create momentum.
  3. Build tools, tactics, and resources that accelerate progress.
  4. Stay flexible and adjust as necessary.
  5. Measure progress with clear accountability metrics.
  6. Cultivate support from mentors and peers.
  7. Execute the plan every day—show your work!

That recipe carried me through decades behind bars and guided me to build success after release. Be cautious when working with gurus who claim to make 100s of thousands per month, but want to charge you thousands of dollars to be a part of their community; that is how they make 100s of thousands per month. Learn from those who are authentic. Follow their model and invest in yourself.


Self-Directed Learning Question

In what ways can you “show your work” today, demonstrating the authenticity that comes from living by your values rather than simply talking about them?