A “Rush” to Authenticity

Thank you Rush Limbaugh! 

I’m happy that you can’t help but to be your authentic self. You have just done what many have attempted to do for years – unite us and get the Authenticity Movement® started!

Your recent comments about college student Sandra Fluke succeeded in giving you the shock factor you crave. I know this is who you are and why as a society we even know your name. What I guess you didn’t bank on was how un-bankable these comments would be. And you have exposed how ‘the old boys’ support each other. Thanks for the continued revelation.

But now that you have been so authentically transparent, the country has rightfully stood up to you and your outrageous remarks. Even some of the old boys are backing away. I guess when they got home and faced the women in their life they were struck with a personal reality hit them in the face – or maybe in some other body part. Do you think your male support will put you over pillow talk?

It’s evident that you also didn’t consider that women make 90% of the buying decisions for their households. And guess what – they are not buying you! Now that it is touching your pocketbook do you admit that you’ve gone too far? But then again maybe you haven’t. Because if you hadn’t opened your mouth and spouted what you did, the Authenticity Movement wouldn’t be gaining such momentum.

For me, your words have had a great benefit. I’ve often wondered where to find authenticity in America. People seemed to be quite apathetic and most seemed to not only believe but be deeply influenced by what television, billboards and other media advertisements were telling them. I wondered if people could see through the multitude of efforts that are made to separate people from their money for things that have little meaning and less need in their lives. But people do it all the time and focus on things more than people. But you changed all that Rush. You tapped the soul of many people who like me, have been looking for the incident that would get the movement started. And you helped create the “Rush” to Authenticity.

First you have united the women. We are only eight years away from the hundred year anniversary of the woman’s suffrage movement. I guess you started Movement #2. Thanks Rush. Women of all ages, ethnicities and roles have been stepping out from everywhere to protest you and your ideas. And we have you to thank for it.

Secondly you have aroused the Millennial Generation. I am so proud of them. Unlike you and many of your supporters, these young people value human dignity and put great value in building a society that honors collaboration over competition. They seek a world of authenticity.

And third – isn’t it interesting when the same thing you used to discredit us is what is used to discredit you? Now it’s not just media, it’s social media and these women Millennial’s understand it and use it with great efficiency. 

So thank you Rush for getting the Authenticity Movement started. You have touched the hearts of those in our world who truly believe we are here to get along with authentic respect for each other throughout our journey in life. The world and its opinions don’t belong to you and your posse. It’s a different world now and you either join it or step aside while we get the Authenticity Movement started.

Norma T. Hollis, America’s Leading Authentic Voice Doctor® is the founder of the Authenticity Movement, an effort honor the authentic gifts and talents within each of us and be the person we were born to be. Take the Authenticity Assessment and receive other free gifts at GiftsFromNorma.com.

The Academy Awards of Politics

Did you watch the Oscars? I was at a friend’s home playing cards with my monthly group of bid whist players. This month we decided to have a different kind of fun and dressed like one of the characters. Since my name is Norma Jean my friends encouraged me to dress as Marilyn Monroe. So I did.

I showed up in one of my mother’s gowns, did my makeup like Marilyn including the mole on the face and even put on a blonde wig. As a matter of fact I won the award as the best costume although when I looked in the mirror I didn’t recognize Marilyn or myself.

As I watched the awards my mind drifted to the presidential campaign. I’m not aware of an academy award type celebration for political candidates so I pondered what that would look like. I examined the list of 24 award categories that are presented and considered whether any of these awards would fit our current candidates.

I found a few that were relevant then I looked at them through the eyes of authenticity. I am an authority on public speaking and finding your authentic voice, so I’m beginning to look at these political candidates in this light. I created my own awards based on the authenticity of the candidates. Here’s my take:

Best Screenplay Adaptation - Mitt Romney gets this award for his skill at attempting to adapt his personality and voice to the interests of the voters. Romney adapts the screen play not just to play to voters. He changes the script to appease Super Pac supporters, middle class America, women, his hometown, even it seems…his principles.

Best Animated Short Film – Speaker Newt Gingrich for the passionately animated way he expresses himself. He’s the most animated of all the candidates. You can always count on his passion although you might not have a clue what he’s going to say. 

Best Documentary Feature - Ron Paul who keeps you thinking and keeps the story going. 

Because he is great researcher his story is a great documentary. There is consistency in values, beliefs and integrity.

Best Film Editing - Rick Santorum for his skill at extracting edits to meet personal views. Santorum has great skill at taking universal concepts and extracting the part that meets his personal views then imposing his belief system on all of us.

Best Original Story – President Barack Obama for his success at utilizing innovative practices to claim presidential success. As the first president to win through social media campaigning he has created an original way to keep the conversation going.

And one final award:

Best Display of Authenticity

I selected this topic because I am America’s Leading Authentic Voice Doctor® and an authority on assessing authenticity in people and organizations. When I apply the concepts of authenticity to the political candidates I’m actually surprised at what I discovered because the winner is: Rick Santorum.

The reason I selected Santorum is because he has such an authentic way of sharing his beliefs. His message is consistent and unmistakable. While we may not agree with his belief system he is steadfast in it, one of the tenets of authenticity. What you see is what you get and that too is authenticity. Only thing is that it doesn’t resonate authentically with so many people. Even though he wins the Best Display of Authenticity award, Santorum may not be the authentic solution in this election.

Presidential candidates often have script writers to write, edit and research their script. But as the populace we generally don’t have that luxury. So who is writing your script?