- You are here:
- Home »
- blog
- » What does being true to yourself mean…
What does being true to yourself mean…
I grew up on a small dairy farm in Tennessee with seven siblings and had so many childhood experiences, good and bad.
I was challenged by life itself when at 15 the family moved to what I called “a city life with no morals”. It was actually the suburbs outside of Richmond, Virginia and a major cultural change for a Tennessee farming family
At 17 I was in the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Tech with students from all walks of life where everyone just seemed to be looking out for themselves.
In 1975 I started my first job as a scientist and conservationist with National Forests in an all forester organization that did not want or respect scientists.
I worked my way up through ranger districts, forests, and regions and landed a position in headquarters as a program manager.
I received many battle scars along the way. But, throughout my life I’ve tried to be true to myself. I am still trying today.
For me, being true to yourself in life, and in business means:
-accepting yourself for who you really are, and not pretending to be someone else;
-respecting yourself so that others will sense you are strong and capable of standing up for what you believe in, what you value;
-expressing yourself in a way that broadens the experiences and perspectives of others;
-being sincere, open minded, and fair when dealing with people; and
-making decisions about those things you really should make for yourself.
I hope every day you are working on being true to yourself.
About the Author Jim Keys
Currently, I am working with other entrepreneurs and new business startups on challenges they encounter by sharing my experience and knowledge, and through coaching and mentoring when opportunities arise. I enjoy helping others fine-tune their operations and succeed in business and life.