The title of this book: “Millionaire Teacher” caught my attention in a review by John Chevreau on Wealthy Boomer.

Here’s a video of author Andrew Hallam to get a sense of who he is.

Andrew Hallam

Millionaire Teacher | Wealthy Boomer | Financial Post

opinion.financialpost.com12/21/11

While he is Canadian, Hallam teaches in Singapore, where he does NOT enjoy a DB pension. So his tale of amassing $1 million before age 40 is a little more interesting than the average Canadian teacher arriving at Freedom 55 millionaire status solely by a DB pension. …

Chevreau describes how Hallam wrote the book from a hospital bed during a bout with cancer in 2009. It’s an informative article about an interesting man who created a 9 step method for teachers (who teach over seas) to create a retirement portfolio that makes sense.

This subject of financial intelligence for teachers reminds me of Robert Kiyosaki’s motivation to provide financial education to the masses. That motivation was seeing his father (the well paid head of the educational system in Hawaii) struggle with money throughout his life and particularly as he got older.

Hallam expands the idea of teaching the principles of financial intelligence to the world of educators. And from my reading of Robert Kiyosaki’s work, I’m certain that Kiyosaki would validate Hallam’s warning about financial services sales people.

And we at Healthy Welahty Boomer would add one more recommendation to Hallam’s advice to teachers:

Buy the Cash Flow Board Game from Rich Dad Company and PLAY IT OFTEN.

I AM Michael Barrett and I AM a Baby Boomer.

Healthy Wealthy  Boomer November Updates + Costa Rica

2011 has gone by fast – another amazing year.

The Two Year Mark as Core Health and Heart Forgiveness Facilitator

We are completing our second full year of Core Health and Heart Forgiveness Workshops and what an exciting and joyful experience that has been. Changing peoples’ live through self in-powerment as they walk away free of years of conflict, emotional trauma and dysfunction – being in sync for the first time for a long time.

Kind of an energy tuneup and a major internal spring cleaning – all wrapped up into one.We have seen dramatic changes across a broad intersection of demographics working with people from age 11 – 82 from all walks of life.

What a joy and what a fortunate experience in our lives – not just as facilitators either. The Core Health work has changed our lives too in many ways too many to mention in a short post. Amazing life transformation about sums it up.

Costa Rica Bound…

Effective Dec 1, we are heading to Costa Rica to head up Nueva Vida Health and Wellness Center and operate sixty day rehabilitation retreats for the treatment of addiction using Core Health as a primary tool to facilitate wellness.

This center is a subsidiary of Costa Rica Medical Tourism Services and part of the company’s extensive medical network.

Addiction touches most families today including addictions to pain killers after a surgery or physical trauma. Our sixty day retreats offer a quiet, private and professional approach to treatment of addiction in a beautiful environment overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Baby Boomers Need Dental Work – Get Some R & R and Beautiful Smile at the Same Time… Many Baby Boomers need dental work and don’t have dental insurance. The kids are grown and they have great smiles. Now it’s your turn. Costa Rica has some of the most advanced cosmetic dentistry in the world that costs about 1/4 to a 1/3 of what you pay at home. If you have been thinking about cosmetic dentistry – dental implants or porcelain veneers, think Costa Rica. Costa Rica has amazing beaches – on the Pacific, the Carribean and the Atlantic oceans.Why not schedule a vacation – swim with the dolphins, go ziplining, visit a volcano or take an amazing eco-tour in the rain forest – and come home with a beautiful smile…

Getting you teeth fixed in Costa Rica is an incredible bargain and offers some of the finest technology on the planet. Give the Florida office a call at 941-388-7552 and our friendly, competent staff handle all the details – transportation, lodging, food, vacation – whatever you want and all the arrangements with the dental network.  100% financing is available too.

In any case, stop in an say hello when you’re in our neck of the woods.

Wishing you the best of Holidays in 2011 and an amazing 2012.

I Am Michael Barrett and I AM a Healthy Boomer

Michael and Alexandra Barrett run the Nueva Vida Health and Wellness Center in Costa Rica.

Abundance Day for Baby Boomers…

Saturday, September 24th was Abundance Day in our house and it was fun.

We started the day with gratitude for all the things that are going right, the opportunities that keep coming our way, our health and recognizing the emerging abundance in our lives.

It was a spontaneous process that began in the morning starting with the daily email from Abraham-Hicks. The first part of the message was talking about releasing resistance, followed by this quote:

“Most people do not expect their path to great abundance to be one of ease and of joy. They have been taught that struggle and hardship and sacrifice are requirements that must be met before the reward of great abundance can be realized.

Most do not understand that the very struggle they deliberately involve themselves in, in their quest for success and advantage, actually works against them.”

Next we read a section in one of our favorite books reminding us to let our higher mind be the guide in our lives instead of our ‘little’ mind that gets in the way.

David Wood and Michael Barrett Atlanta 2006

The Financial Lid

As we drove to replenish the coffee supply, we listened to an audio cd of a friend of ours who was talking about raising our financial ‘lid’. Our friend is David Wood who we met in 2005 while on staff for Peak Potentials. David was the head trainer at the time and as we worked a number of events with him grew to be friends.

In his description of a financial lid, David says to draw a box on a piece of paper and write the number down inside the box that describes your monthly income. Then he says to draw another box around the first one and write the same number in the outside box and then add a zero on the end.

Financial Lid Example

For example, look at the image on the right. If your monthly income is 3500, put that number in the inner box. Next draw a second box around the first and put 35000 in the outer box. He said whatever we are making now is our financial lid and we need to expand our lid if we want to increase our income. If our lid is $1M a year, add a zero and make it $10 M a year in the outer box.

He reminded us that we have to expand our belief in our willingness both to be worthy and to accept the increased amount before we will receive it.

It’s an inspiring cd that has more meaning to us since David is a personal friend.

Removing Abundance Glitches

Next, we followed the “lid” exercise instructions on David’s cd and combined this with our knowledge as Core Health Facilitators both to identify and remove any energy glitches around our “lid” using the DTQ process in comprehensive kinesiology.

Later that night, we went through the energy clearing process we use in our workshops to clean up any remaining distortions or resistance in our system and we could actually feel the difference.

The Cash Flow Board Game

Starting in the afternoon, we had a blast playing 3 full games of Cash Flow (the game developed by Robert and Kim Kiyosaki) with a dinner break in between the 2nd and 3rd games.

What a great day this turned out to be. What a stimulating and joyful experience. It provided an internal sense that we have finally cracked the internal abundance code and man does it feel good. It is part of our financial intelligence and wealthy boomer training.

Abundance day was inspiring.

What is more fundamental to wealth than being willing to receive our own abundance. We have decided to make one day a week Abundance Day.

I AM Michael Barrett, I AM a Core Health Facilitator and Healthy Boomer.

Have you been to a Millionaire Mind Intensive yet? Every Healthy Wealthy Boomer should…

T. Harv Eker is still at it, producing one the greatest shows on earth. Since 2005, I’ve personally been in the room for the 3 day intensive MMI’s 11 times in Seattle, LA, Dallas, Atlanta, Vancouver – BC, Secaucus NJ, Pasadena CA, Calgary Alberta, and recently in Tampa, Florida.

Sign up for free for a Millionaire Mind Intensive near you.

The first time in May 2005, I was absolutely blown away. So much so, that I went to work for the company the following week – one of the most interesting and challenging job experiences in my entire life. The experience changed my life and headed me in a totally new direction – for the better.

A couple of months ago, I went again – a bit older, more street wise and as a much more complete person than the first time I went. And it was still a really enjoyable, energizing and powerful experience – even though I knew exactly what to expect.

There is magic in the MMI. It charges you with energy and makes you walk away feeling like anything is possible. It brings out the best in people and helps people expand in a healthy, wealthy way.

In light of the tough economic cycle that we have been experiencing over the last few years, it is really refreshing to be in a room full of hundreds of people who are celebrating life with a can-do attitude. It is such a contrast from the daily downer coming out of Washington – or the media. You should go just to feel good, if nothing else.

It is high energy and life changing.

Many of us have been through some heavy stuff since 2007-8. Yet life goes on and things always get better when WE CHANGE INSIDE. Being involved with the company that puts on the MMI is exactly what prompted me to get more involved in self-development work and get my facilitator certification in Core Health and Heart Forgiveness.

Now I get to help people change their lives for a living – not the same high energy pace of the MMI, but life changing, just the same, on a deep inner and energetic level.

There is still time to catch an MMI before the year is over – and believe it or not, it’s free.

Here’s the schedule for the remainder of the year:

Sign Up for a 2011 Millionaire Mind Intensive Seminar while you can.

20/20 Hindsight Sucks…

AVAILABLE DATES AND LOCATIONS

October 14 – 16 – Calgary, AB
October 28 – 30 – Los Angeles, CA
November 4 – 6 – Dallas, TX
November 11-13 – Chicago, IL
November 11-13 – Vancouver, BC
November 18-20 – San Diego, CA
November 18-20 – Denver, CO
November 18-20 – New Jersey
November 25-27 – Toronto, ON
December 9 – 11 – Phoenix, AZ

If you want they also have VIP packages available that are cheap and it means you get to sit in the front – middle so you can see and hear better. Either way, it’s a great bargain and you won’t believe how awesome the 3 day experience is for free until you try it. It just may be the impetus to put you on the road to financial intelligence in a new way.

You can sign up for the Millionaire Mind Intensive near you…

Maybe I’ll see you there, you never know.

I AM Michael Barrett, Healthy Boomer, Creator of Healthy Wealthy Boomer and a Certified Core Health Facilitator. We change lives for a living.

You can circle me on my Google + Profile.

What and Who We Listen to Is Very Important Right Now.

Are You Choosing Resolution or Conflict? Continuity or Disruption? Lack or Abundance?

YOUR CAKE

Why not have YOUR CAKE and eat it too?

Why not choose resolution, continuity AND abundance? This is where our true strength lies.

There is a very large effort focused on creating the belief that we must either choose this or that. If you are not with us you are against us. If you choose this, you can not also have that.

Your $100 Bills

And this effort has been in place for a long time.

The big issue with this idea is that it implies our authority comes from somewhere outside of ourselves and this is not true.

We are responsible for our own lives and our own choices. Nobody has the right to choose for us – ever. That’s what free will is about. Each of us has our own authority. We need to exercise it. We have gotten into the habit of looking outside for someone else’s approval:

• The government,
• The medical community
• The church
• Our parents
• The neighbors
• Whomever or whatever…

It’s our call – not theirs.

Here are some NEW questions:

WHY?
Who came up with that absurdity?
Why is it true?
Why does it have to be this way or that?
Why can’t we choose this AND that?

Answer:

We CAN. Somebody’s been conning us for a long time.

It is THE GREAT SCAM – the great scam for all seasons.

Something dawned on me while watching a very poignant and powerful video this morning. The message was the same as the first time I had watched it – only this time I was different.

Something within me said: ”You need to communicate this message. This is the message.”

Somehow, it was clear that there is no: “either/or”. Our choices are not absolutes and there is no rule in the universe that says if you choose this, you can not also choose that.

There is either…

and

There is either/and.

You can choose this AND that AND that AND whatever else you want. And by choosing one, you do not eliminate the other choice. You can go back and choose it again later or add it – OR NOT. It’s up to you.

Either/Or is a fallacy. It’s a control game. Somebody made it up. It is not TRUE. Quit buying into it. Throw that rule out and let it decompose in your compost pile. Delete it from your thinking and your vocabulary. It is not law and never was.

We have been told and trained to believe that we can not have our cake and eat it too. What kind of crazy thinking created that idea? Of course we want to eat the cake. Why have it otherwise? Cake is for eating not looking at.

There is a grand effort to teach us that when we do challenge what we are being told, we are behaving in a way that unacceptable for the greater good.

Whatever happened to listening to different opinions and choosing for ourselves?

It wasn’t always this way. Questioning authority and challenging the status quo through thoughtful discussion and logical argument have historically been respected qualities among our greatest thinkers.

Here is a quote from Albert Einstein that seems to fit:

“Great spirits have always experienced violent opposition by mediocre minds.”

Remember, you can always change your mind and we often do.

The big fallacy really is this. If you have abundance, someone else will have to have less.

WRONG ANSWER. There is abundance for everybody and anyone can choose it without penalizing anybody else.  Ignorance is not bliss and poverty is not a spiritual quality.

Abundance is. Wealth is a good thing. When we have more resources, we can help more people, our family and the community. We create more options for growth, expansion and improvement.

Remember what Mae West said:

“I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor. Believe me, rich is better.”

You can have your cake and eat it too. And you can try every flavor. Dig in.

Choose abundance. It is your right.

I AM Michael Barrett, I AM a Core Health Facilitator and I Love Abundance.

Healthy Wealthy Boomer Men Organic Grooming

Over the last thirty five + years, I’ve tried all kinds of products and have been buying organic since the 70′s wherever possible and as the budget allowed. Now more than ever, it is essential to help our bodies counteract the negative effects of environmental toxins. Normally, we write about toxic thinking or attitudes and how to handle properly correct these issues. And that includes what we breathe, what we put on our skin in addition to what we eat.

Just thought it might be nice to change the tone and focus on doing something nice for ourselves and for the women we are close to.

Over the years, the Herban Cowboy scents have consistently been my favorite choices. Women love them and they always make me feel clean and refreshed after showering or shaving.

Buying organic was always important in the past. The difference now is that we have superior access to information compared to the past and are rapidly becoming better informed as a result. And with such a dramatic increase in availability of organic products, it’s a good idea across the boards to support the organic industry for products we like.

Apparently, the best way to vote now a days is to vote economically. As a consumer you can determine the direction and growth of the economy by voting for your own favorites. We do this BY BUYING THEM. Congress and the White House are agenda driven in contrast to consumer spending which reflects what people actually want.

There is a store in Sarasota Florida named the Persnickety Cat.

And what does that have to do with buying organic grooming products? Nothing really except that while I have always loved the Herban Cowboy products, they have been hard to get in retail. Kind of like a persnickety cat…

I know that there are probably all types of distribution politics involved – including big marketing budget demands of both large retailers and distributors. Since I can not find them easily locally, I have decided to create an Amazon store to get them for myself and anybody else who might be interested.

See what you think about the products I use for organic grooming for men yourself. I’m confident you’ll like them a lot.

I AM Michael Barrett and I AM a Healthy Boomer Who Uses Organic Grooming Products.

What’s the Difference between a Broke Boomer and a Wealthy Boomer?

A millionaire mind.

Six years ago – what seems like a lifetime in so many ways – the chain of events in my life led me to a seminar event in Seattle called the Millionaire Mind Intensive. The energizing, expanding power of that event had a huge impact on my life and, in retrospect, became the turning point for me. Imagine – 2000+ strangers converged and participated full on for 72 hours, creating an unspoken bond unlike any other group experience I had experienced before.

It was such a hugely positive magnetic attractor field created by that initial 3 day experience, that it took six years before it was fully clear to me what had actually happened.  The energy of the whole experience captured me like high water during a Montana spring run off and swept me into a new life.  A week after attending that event as a participant, I was in Vancouver BC, on my first of three working interviews to be a member of Core Team working for Peak Potentials.

For the next 18 months, the energy continued to expand through 28 events in 28 cities. Looking back, there was such a magnitude of change that it took a number of years for me to expand enough to energetically match what had happened to me.

Since that time, my primary focus has been to look deep within, to clear out the junk, the emotional trauma and the defective thinking and behavioral patterns that had unconsciously become my own internal defaults through life experience.

It’s funny how we think we know what we know until we understand something fully and realize we didn’t. Understanding comes from the heart, not the mind.

In many ways being part of Core Team is such an accelerated learning experience spiritually, emotionally and mentally, that it truly tested my mettle.

met·tleNoun: A person’s ability to cope well with difficulties or to face a demanding situation in a spirited and resilient way: “the team showed their true mettle“. Wikipedia dictionary

It made me stretch in spite of my flaws and shortcomings to meet my self imposed challenge head-on.

In June 2011, it has been a full four years since I was in the room for a Peak Potentials event. During that four years I have not been idle, in fact, I have continuously focused on shrinking the gap between what Peak Potentials training demanded of me in 2005-2006 and what I have been able to become as a result of that full fledged launch into change and self growth.

The Tampa MMI last weekend confirmed that my work has not been in vain. The period of time between 2006 and 2011 has been tumultuous, exciting and even devastating at times.

Over the last two years, my intensive work in Core Health:

• as a participant first, and
• as a certified facilitator second

has given me the key to my own internal freedom and expansion. Practicing, mastering and teaching Core Health has created a net result where the following is true:

• My Mind is My Friend
• I Know Who I AM
• I AM Participating 100% in My Heart and Energy
• I AM 100% Free of Anger
• I Live the Truth that Everything Truly Is Energy

Attending the MMI in Tampa, masterfully led by Doug Nelson with passion, grace and full power,  verified for me that the difference between a Broke Boomer and a Wealthy Boomer is a Millionaire Mind.

Doug Nelson is Peak Potential’s lead trainer. He has written a book entitled: Catch Fire – How to Ignite Your Personal Economy. It will be released soon. Go buy one. This guy’s awesome.

We are all energy beacons, emitting the vibrational truth about who we really are to all around us at all times.

Bleep, Bleep, Bleep. We are constantly sending out a wave signature that defines exactly who we are at any given moment. And the energy never lies, it is merely an objective transmission of our energy blueprint.

What Doug Nelson confirmed for me, is that I have a millionaire mind and the MMI provided for me the next course adjustment in my educational and professional life. The expansion continues.

Being in the energy of the MMI is such a dramatic contrast to the incessant whining and complaining in the media and wherever people get together and talk about the economy lately. It reminded me why the Law of Attraction actually works and what the difference is between normal thinking and the millionaire mindset.

• The normal mind says:  This can’t be done, it will  never work. Did you hear the door close?
• The millionaire mind says: What do I need to do or learn to figure out how to do this and who knows how to do what I don’t understand yet? Is that filled with possibilities? Yes, it is.

Obviously the old methods and the old paradigm are no longer working. Learn what you need to let go of and DO SO. The old way is not working.

In every major economic crisis in history, those who are open, who are seeking, seek and find the right knowledge and a plan to  prosper immensely. The fact is that there is always opportunity and abundance is the natural state of the universe. The only place where this is not true is in the mind of man.

Change your mind. Choose something else. Find out what you need to do to cultivate your own Millionaire Mind. Financial intelligence is the answer.

If you think investing in more 401k’s and accumulating social security will provide you a decent lifestyle in retirement, wake up. They won’t. Pull your head out of the sand and get moving. If you honestly believe that if we wait long enough the debt crisis will go away by itself, you are delusional.

What can you do about it?  Change yourself. Change your mind. Get back to your pure core – where you have a Millionaire Mind.

I AM Michael Barrett and I AM a Certified Core Health Facilitator and I Have a Millionaire Mind.

Robert Kiyosaki is a real live wealthy boomer.

Somewhere around 2004-5, the wizards of Wall St and all the television pundits made every effort to discredit Kiyosaki when he predicted severe issues on the financial horizon. They painted a picture of Kiyosaki being a crackpot particularly when he stated categorically that:

“Your house is not an asset, it is a liability AND the stock market is headed for some real serious problems.”

Perhaps what happened in the residential real estate market from late 2007 to 2011 and the financial crisis – beginning in late 2008 – validates those statements for you. It certainly does for me.

Six or seven years later, the television and media pundits and financial experts don’t like to admit that Kiyosaki was not only NOT a crackpot, he was right.

Rich Dad Poor Dad

My first exposure to wealthy boomer Robert Kiyosaki was his book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” (which has sold over 26 million copies) about 12 years ago, maybe longer. Subsequent to that we have played many games of Cash Flow, heard Robert speak live and read more of his books including:

• Retire Rich, Retire Y0ung
• Increasing Your Financial IQ
• currently reading: Conspiracy of the Rich – The 8 new rules of money

Kiyosaki’s mission is expanding widespread financial intelligence through education, changing our financial future by playing the money game with the 8 new rules of money.

Most of us are still trying to make money within the confines of a dying paradigm. That is the paradigm of big banks, the Federal Reserve “Bank” and the whole concept of working for a living, investing in a 401K for your “future” and paying  the highest tax rates.

Kiyosaki reminds us that The Fed:

• Is not federal
• Has no Reserves and
• IS NOT a bank

He points out that the rules changed when Nixon took us off the gold standard. That combined with the Fed’s Power to print money converted our money system from a commodity backed currency to a system of IOU’s and BELIEF that the government would make good on the debt.

Once this happened all bets were off and it required us to learn the new rules to do well in the new economy. Kiyosaki points out very convincingly that the idea of continuing to listen to the Army of Financial planners – who are working for the entities benefiting by those investments is ludicrous.

Do Your Homework

Learn the new rules of money and quit buying into the media hype and the “EXPERTS” who have been wrong way more than they have been right over the last ten years.

And this advice comes from a man who is a self-made multi-millionaire, an expert in real estate investing and rental income property management, successful best selling book sales and marketing in a HUGE way, market trading and entrepreneurship in multiple markets – over and over again for a number of years.

He shows us that the old paradigm is not working anymore, it is dysfunctional. From a practical standpoint, we all need to find out what is working and what will be working 2 years, 5 years and 15 years from now.

Financial Literacy

Financial literacy is an essential ingredient to long term economic stability.  It is the key to expanding wealth across the boards - not just within an elite group. Robert Kiyosaki is making an effort to redefine what being a wealthy boomer is all about.

He is saying wealth is a good thing and that anyone can achieve it. Wealth is a function of being well informed and making intelligent decisions with that information. Wealth is both a responsibility and an opportunity.

Solutions to many of our problems lie in eliminating financial illiteracy and raising our collective financial IQ. This idea corresponds to the principles of the Healthy Wealthy Boomer philosophy which says:

To be healthy, create physical, emotional, mental, Spiritual and financial balance and harmony.  Abundance is a natural default of the universe, it is our right to be wealthy.

Robert Kiyosaki is a wealthy boomer and he genuinely wants to share his knowledge and expertise with anyone who is willing to learn and create their own wealth.

Get the Cash Flow Board Game and play it, it’s a blast. Read his books and subscribe to his newsletter. It is interesting and informative.

I AM Michael Barrett.

May 2011 Heart Forgiveness Workshops Forming Now in Sarasota…

A primary Healthy Wealthy Boomer recommendation is participating in a Heart Forgiveness Workshop because  it helps release toxins, balance our emotions and create the relaxation response.

Anger releases toxins into the body that linger for a sustained period of time in the body. These toxins create many long term negative side effects.

Releasing anger permanently is such an important tool for balance and clarity. We all can benefit by learning to live without anger and that’s what we do in Heart Forgiveness Workshops.

Time and again we see people change, expand and release. Years of anger smoldering beneath the surface – the kind of anger that we are often not consciously aware that we have inside – gone,  just like that.

Heart Forgiveness is a highly effective, interactive, 4 session workshop done in groups of less than fifteen people.

This month we are starting two new Heart Forgiveness groups and one Core Health Group:

1. Heart Forgiveness Intensive where we do all four expansion levels starting the week of May 9.
2. Heart Forgiveness Group that will run for two weeks beginning the week of May 16th.
3. Core Health 1 – Expansion Levels 1-6:  Building A Solid Self

Get more information and details about May Heart Forgiveness Workshops and how to sign up here:

May Heart Forgiveness Workshops

Whats Best for You

Are You Ready To Release Anger from Your Life Once and For All?

Join the many satisfied participants – and healthy boomers – who have already taken and enjoyed great results from Heart Forgiveness and Core Health. Testimonials from other people about Heart Forgiveness and Core Health Workshops.

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you or people you care about in the workshops.

I AM Michael Barrett and I Am a Healthy Boomer and Heart Forgiveness Facilitator.

Healthy Wealthy Boomer Authenticity

Are you authentic?

Why is being authentic such a big deal and so appealing?

Because, authenticity is interwoven into our health and wealth as a fundamental ingredient of being a Healthy Wealthy Boomer.

Authenticity is only difficult when you are trying – instead of being - authentic  and people see the difference. People know inherently when you are being real and coming from the heart. It’s something we read through all the unspoken things, intuitively.

Most people – who seem real – are.

Expressing authenticity is also a sign of health.

From personal observation, we watch time and again as participants in Core Health workshops and Heart Forgiveness workshops release old baggage, trauma, confusion and emotional junk.  This happens through participating in the processes of the workshops which are designed to clean out the junk and leave the “good stuff”.

The result?

What’s left are the positives – the natural part in each of us.

Participants begin to reconnect to their inner core of health and to take their identity from within themselves – again – as they did when they were young children. In the process many rediscover their own authenticity.

Their individual-ness becomes more visible, active and available in their behavior and attitudes. It is as if a dormant computer program gets activated and the “real person” – the authentic version of themselves – steps forward to participate in life – again.

Authenticity also is a big part of long term, healthy business relationships.

It impacts people in business, customers who buy from us and most things financial. Integrity, trust, credibility and reliability are part of the picture. Like the old business adage says: People like to do business with their friends.

We want to be friends with authentic people. Of course we want to do business with them.

In my experience around hundreds of speakers and trainers (behind the scenes) when I worked for Peak (and seminars I have attended), I have observed the following to be true:

Authenticity is fast becoming synonymous with walking our talk – where walking our talk is not just a coy 10 second sound bite for maximum “PR” benefit.

It is, by contrast, a quality – admired by all.

It is both an attribute and a symbol of strength of character.

What is it about Authenticity - or Being Authentic - that we like so much?

Authenticity is uncommon – particularly in the media and politics.

So, it stands out more dramatically than if it were common place. As a result, authenticity is becoming pronounced – as in “strongly marked, distinct”.

We admire risk takers who openly express independent thought and challenge the validity of the status quo. We are attracted to people who are willing to be vulnerable and take the chance of failure in front of others.

We ask ourselves: ”How do they do that? That’s scary. I wish I could do that.”

There is enormous peer pressure to conform in today’s society:

• to be careful what we say
• how we say it
• who it we say it to

The interesting thing is that this effort to modify and alter individual behavior for the good of the many is having the reverse effect.

Inherently in human nature, we are attracted to truth.  Somehow – on a non-conscious level – we always know the difference when someone speaks the truth or represents the truth or holds us accountable to the truth.

Here is a quote from Lisa Barone of outspokenmedia…

“While I’m sure you’re a very complex and interesting person, the core of you is simple. It’s the you that exists when you’re not trying too hard to be anything else. That’s what people want.”

Here are several web definitions of authenticity that strike a harmonious note:

Undisputed credibility wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Authentic – conforming to fact and therefore worthy of belief; “an authentic account by an eyewitness”; “reliable information” wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

The quality of being genuine or not corrupted from the original; Truthfulness of origins, attributions, commitments, sincerity, and intentions; The quality of being authentic (of established authority)  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/authenticity

Authenticity Is Appealing

Because it is so rare.

Authenticity includes a component of being singular – or the attributes of singularity – the only one like it.

We are attracted to singularity because, by definition, there can be only one.

• the quality of being one of a kind; “that singularity distinguished him from all his companions”

and further…

• strangeness by virtue of being remarkable or unusual
  wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

• the state of being singular, distinct, peculiar, uncommon or unusual; a point where all parallel lines meet; a point where a measured variable reaches unmeasurable or infinite value…en.wiktionary.org/wiki/singularity

Authenticity is living and being the real “us” and through that expression, the finest example of what and who we are because we are all “singular” and unique.

Each – when being fully authentic – is the only living expression of who we are in the universe.

I AM Michael Barrett and I AM a Core Health Facilitator. We’d love to see you participate in one of our live workshops and help you discover your true authentic self again.  You’ll be glad you did. See what others are saying: Core Health Testimonials