At some point in my life, I learned the lesson that vulnerability was weakness.

Whether that was admitting failure, showing my emotions, needing to depend on another person…it all screamed weak to me.

Zodiac signs, Enneagram, Myers-Briggs (or 16 Personalities), The Four Tendencies … the list goes on.

As a culture, we’re currently wrapped up in the idea of understanding ourselves. Of figuring out how our brains work, why we make decisions the way we do, how our personalities are formed. And it’s interesting! But why do we do it? Why are we so preoccupied with the idea of categorizing our personalities?

There is only one truly key item you need in order to run a successful business: the ability to get your product in front of your customers and sell it to them. But selling yourself, your products, or your services doesn’t always come naturally. So how do we train our brains to know how to do this without sounding awkward, without feeling pushy, and without turning the customer off? Follow these easy steps to find out!

Okay, I know authenticity is a controversial word in the entrepreneurial world. Some people absolutely hate it, while others talk about it incessantly. But I think it's one of the most important parts of running your business, so let's break it down and talk about why.

When I was a kid, I believed in Santa Claus. I believed in the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny. I thought that there were pots of gold and leprechauns at the end of rainbows. And I thought that you could only be successful through struggle.

I was wrong on all accounts.