We throw around words like authenticity as a core value to connect with the world in general…especially for those in the limelight…we often forget what is actually authentic and what resonates as an example.
Well here are two from the last few days, both of which show sincerity, vulnerability, emotion and most importantly the ability to take charge and own a narrative that appeals to everyone.
First is Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, whose meteoric rise to the top of the golf world in just a few weeks is as remarkable as it is endearing. Through it all Scheffler, at least until now, has been exactly what you see..a rising 25 year old born in New Jersey, raised in Texas, just trying to seize the moment and make sense of all that is going on around him at a very fast pace.
Sunday after his win, he was asked how things were going…he didn’t give a canned answer or revert to a simple catch phrase. He laid it out for all to see listen to and understand.
“I cried like a baby this morning. I was so stressed out. I was sitting there telling (his wife) Meredith: ‘I don’t feel like I’m ready for this kind of stuff’ & I just felt overwhelmed. She told me, ‘Who are you to say that you are not ready?”
A great way to use words…sincere ones…to inspire and motivate and emote at just the right time.
Then we go just a bit further north to Philadelphia, where the Philadelphia Phillies 25 year old third Baseman Alec Bohn was not having a good Monday night. Bohn had three early errors in the game against the Mets, prompting the “Boo birds” to come out in a city that is never easy to play in, and getting a response from Bohm, caught on camera about his, shall we say, strong distaste for Philadelphia in that emotional moment.
What did Bohn do? He showed authenticity and sincerity beyond his limited MLB time, owning up to the comments, explaining his emptions and yes…even apologizing.
“Look, emotions got the best of me. I said it. Do I mean it? No. It’s a frustrating night for me, obviously. … These people, these fans, they just want to win. … I don’t mean that.”
Now these two 25 year olds probably had some help figuring out their response and their narratives, and kudos to those behind the scenes to get them both to their notable lines. Regardless they both showed authenticity and maturity speaking to a very wide audience, and in a world where nonsense and drama reigns, they diffused, wrapped their arms around their sincerity, and won they day, even more than what they accomplish on the course and the field.
Kudos Scottie and Alec. The limelight isn’t easy and the competition is high, but the way these two spots were handled set examples for all.
